This is Beirut

Iraq's Prohibition Zeal Threatens Baghdad's Boozy Subculture

This is Beirut, 22/12 09:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iraq christians alcohol Yazidis prohibition

The smell of dampness rises through the dust at a private club in central Baghdad, one of many shut in a crackdown on alcohol sales in Iraq. "We appealed to all authorities in the country, but no one listened to us," said the owner, a Christian who asked not to be named. Although a law banning the sale and import of alcohol was passed in 2016 ...

Blinken on ME Tour: Pledges to Work with Iraq Against IS Jihadists

This is Beirut, 13/12 17:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Antony Blinken United States Iraq ISIS syria

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised Friday to work with Iraq to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in neighboring Syria. On a regional tour devoted to a suddenly-changed Syria, the top US diplomat flew to Baghdad from the Turkish capital Ankara and headed into talks with Iraqi Prime ...

Is Democracy Possible in the Arab World?

Marc Saikali, 12/12 07:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Bachar el-Assad Democracy Morocco Iraq syria

The Assad family, more accurately known by the name "Al-Wahesh" (the savage), has surpassed all limits of hatred and brutality. After the dictator and his cronies fled, the world, horrified, discovered the full extent of the crimes against humanity that had been the norm in a country left in ruins. In Lebanon, we have long known, through our own ...

Iran, Iraq Join Syria in Warning Rebel Advance Threatens Whole Region

This is Beirut, 07/12 09:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Iran Syria Iraq war

Iran and Iraq issued a joint statement with Syria on Friday warning that sweeping rebel gains at the expense of President Bashar al-Assad's forces posed a danger to the whole region. "Threats against Syria's security constitute a danger for the stability of the region," said the statement issued after a meeting of the three countries' foreign ...

Iraqi Cleric Sadr, Rebel Leader Jolani Call for Iraq's Non-Intervention in Syria

This is Beirut, 05/12 20:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Abu Mohammad al Jolani Syria HTS Iraq Moqtada Sadr

Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr urged his country Thursday to stay out of the fighting in neighbouring Syria triggered by a lightning rebel offensive launched last week. Sadr stressed in a post on X the "necessity of Iraq's government, people, parties, militias, and security forces not getting involved in the Syrian issue," urging ...

Iraqi Armed Group Calls on Baghdad to Deploy in Support of Assad

This is Beirut, 03/12 09:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Hezbollah Iraq

Iraq's powerful Iran-aligned Kataeb Hezbollah armed group has called on Baghdad to send troops to Syria to support the Damascus government against a rebel offensive. Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, made the appeal in a statement shared on pro-Iranian Telegram channels late Monday. Excerpts were also posted on its official website. The ...

Iraq Deploys Armored Vehicles to Border With Syria

This is Beirut, 02/12 17:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq Syria Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Iraq sent armoured vehicles on Monday to reinforce its long border with Syria, in a bid to ease concerns after a surprise offensive in the neighboring country by Islamist-led insurgents. The lightning offensive by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions saw government forces lose full control of Syria's second city ...

Iraq to Debate Revised Bill After Underage Marriage Outcry

This is Beirut, 01/12 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq Marriage Crime

Iraq's parliament will review contentious legal amendments Sunday, including a reworked family law bill that has sparked civil society outrage over fears of a resurgence in underage marriages. The proposed amendments would let people choose between religious or state regulations for family matters, such as marriage, inheritance, divorce and ...

Iraq Accuses Israel of Seeking Pretext for Future Attack

This is Beirut, 20/11 16:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Iraq UN attacks

Iraq has accused Israel of attempting to legitimize an attack on its territory, after the Israeli foreign ministry protested to the United Nations about attacks by Iraqi militants. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of armed groups backed by Iran, has claimed almost daily drone attacks targeting Israel in recent months, which they ...

Israel: Fires Near Jerusalem Not From Houthi Missile

This is Beirut, 11/11 14:17 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Yemen Jerusalem Iraq

Fires that blazed on Monday west of Jerusalem were not caused by debris from an intercepted missile fired from Yemen and claimed by the Houthis, firefighters said. Israeli firefighters and the military had earlier said that blazes around Beit Shemesh about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Jerusalem had been caused by the missile's debris and its ...

Palestinian and Shiite Population Relocations

This Is Beirut, 10/11 17:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine Shiite Iraq

It has been over a year since the conflict started in Gaza, yet the Biden administration has struggled to broker a lasting ceasefire. This challenge primarily stems from the entrenched positions and demands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists on Hamas disarmament and the transfer of governance in Gaza to the Palestinian ...

Iraq Inaugurates Docks for Major New Gulf Port

This is Beirut, 07/11 18:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gulf Iraq port docks

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani inaugurated five docks on Thursday at a major new port the country is building on its narrow Gulf coast. Grand Faw Port on Al-Faw Peninsula is intended to provide a new freight link between Asia and Europe via upgraded rail and road infrastructure through Iraq and Turkey. Dubbed the Iraq ...

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