A flag flying in front of excess gas being burnt off at a pipeline south-west of Basra in southern Iraq. AFP
A flag flying in front of excess gas being burnt off at a pipeline south-west of Basra in southern Iraq. AFP
A flag flying in front of excess gas being burnt off at a pipeline south-west of Basra in southern Iraq. AFP
A flag flying in front of excess gas being burnt off at a pipeline south-west of Basra in southern Iraq. AFP

Rockets land near Halliburton oil site in Iraq's Basra


  • English
  • Arabic

Rockets landed near a site managed by US oil company Halliburton and state-run businesses in Iraq’s southern city of Basra early on Monday, without causing damage or casualties, industry and police sources said.

Police said that three Katyusha rockets landed near the sites at the Burjesia residential and operations headquarters west of Basra at about 3am local time.

Officials from the state-run Basra Oil Company, that operates oil production in the south, said the attack did not affect production and export operations.

A rocket launcher and some unused rockets were found in a nearby farmland area, local police said.

Almost all foreign staff have left the country due to the global coronavirus pandemic and so the accommodation was largely empty.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and police said they sent additional forces to carry out a search operation in the area.

The attacks came as US forces withdrew from Al Taqaddum airbase and handed over operations to Iraqi forces at the weekend.

“The transfer of Taqaddum (Habbaniya) airbase is another step forward in the ongoing partnership between Iraqi Security Forces and the anti-ISIS international military Coalition,” Brig Gen Vincent Barker, the coalition's director of sustainment, said.

Over the last month, the coalition transferred four bases to the Iraqi security forces as it consolidates it resources into a smaller number of key locations.

"This wouldn’t be possible without the Iraqi security forces’ proven capability to bring the fight to ISIS," Brig Gen Barker said.

Coalition spokesman, Col Myles Caggins, said the withdrawal came "after months of planning".

At least 500 coalition troops left the air base, transferring $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in property to the Iraqi government.

Col Caggins said that the Iraqi Ministry of Defence "remains strong against ISIS in Anbar Province".

Al Taqaddum airbase hosted US Marines plus Italian, Canadian and Spanish forces.

The withdrawal is a result of the victory over ISIS but also in response to repeated attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militias that has pushed the US into changing footing in the country. The current coronavirus outbreak is also thought to be speeding up the process as it halts most training programmes for Iraqi soldiers.

Some Western troops are being pulled out of Iraq altogether and those who remain are being taken to larger centres.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have increased during the last few months in Iraq after the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and Kataib Hezbollah founder Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis.

They were killed in a US operation in Baghdad in early January which triggered a series of tot-for-tat attacks between the two in Iraq.

Several US soldiers and contractors, as well as a British soldier, have died in attacks since the start of the year.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

In numbers

- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100

- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100

- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India

- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100

- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

Company Profile

Company name: NutriCal

Started: 2019

Founder: Soniya Ashar

Based: Dubai

Industry: Food Technology

Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount

Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia

Total Clients: Over 50