The US embassy complex in Baghdad. AFP
The US embassy complex in Baghdad. AFP
The US embassy complex in Baghdad. AFP
The US embassy complex in Baghdad. AFP

Iraq asks Iran to intervene to halt attacks on diplomatic missions


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraq asked neighbouring Iran to intervene to stop the targeting of diplomatic missions in the Green Zone, Iraq's foreign minister said on Monday.

The embassies of several western countries, including the US, are in the Green Zone. It is considered a safe area in Baghdad, but has been the target of several rocket attacks in the past year.

“The government has taken several security and military measures since the attacks on the Green Zone began and by taking political steps to overcome these such as reaching out to Iran which occurred during my visit to Tehran,” Fuad Hussein said during an interview with Al Arabiya.

The Iraqi minister described the attacks as an “embarrassment” to the government.

Mr Hussein said that Iraqi forces had arrested several perpetrators who they suspected were linked to the attacks.

“We are working hard to stop these attacks from occurring,” he said.

Mr Hussein indicated that Washington may take drastic measures if its embassy is continuously targeted.

Baghdad accuses “outlaw groups” of launching the attacks but Washington blames Iranian-backed militias but no side has claimed responsibility.

“The government is working to place weapons under its control before elections this year,” he said, adding that the UN is working alongside the government to ensure its success.

Rockets have often been fired at the embassy to protest the presence of US troops in Iraq.

Tensions between Iran and the US increased during the last year following rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting American forces and US airstrikes against militia groups this year.

In early January 2020, a US strike killed a top Iranian general, Qassem Suliemani, and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in Baghdad.

Mr Hussein said he rejected foreign interference in his country's internal affairs, stressing that the tension between Washington and Tehran has negatively impacted Iraq’s security.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump has vowed to reduce the number of US forces stationed in Iraq before leaving office.

This week the Pentagon said the drawdown of troops in Iraq has been completed. There are now 2,500 US service members in the country.

In response to the American strike that killed Suliemani the Iraqi Parliament voted to remove all foreign troops from the country.

SPEC SHEET

Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD  dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz

Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core

Memory: 8/12GB RAM

Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB

Platform: Android 12

Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW

Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps

Front camera: 40MP f/2.2

Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare

Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC

I/O: USB-C

SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano

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Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE

The%20specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)

Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)

Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)

Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)

How much of your income do you need to save?

The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.

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Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.

 

ACC 2019: The winners in full

Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia

Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi  

Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia  

Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki

Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky

Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
 

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The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)