Special to WorldTribune.com Iraqi Kurds, feeling stiffed by the Iraqi government out of their share of oil revenues, will export crude independently in 2016. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said the move was needed amid a continuing slump in oil prices after Iraq failed to deliver on its promise of a 17 percent share of […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iran and Turkey quietly came to the aid of Kurdistan in the war against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani said neighboring states have sent weapons to help block the ISIL advance in September 2014. Barzani identified two of the suppliers as Iran and […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Kurdistan has claimed the killing of the military commander of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Officials said the Kurdish Regional Government confirmed the death of ISIL military chief Abu Abdullah in heavy fighting near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The officials said Abu Abdullah, also known as […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has pledged a more aggressive military deployment in Iraq. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has approved a more than 50 percent increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq. The officials said the troops would engage in training and mentoring of Iraqi military […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Germany has announced arms shipments to the Kurdish Regional Government. The Berlin government has agreed to send a range of weapons and munitions to KRG forces in northern Iraq. The German Defense Ministry said the arms would suffice for 4,000 Kurdish troops, known as Peshmerga, assigned to fight Islamic State […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iran has become the first country to supply weapons to the Kurdish Regional Government. Officials said Iran marked the first country that provided arms and military equipment to KRG. They said the supply marked a turning point in long tense relations between Kurdistan and Teheran. At the same time, the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — A U.S. energy producer has suspended drilling operations in Kurdistan. Hess Corp. was said to have suspended operations and evacuated non-essential staff from the autonomous region in northern Iraq. Hess has been operating the Dinarta and Shakrok fields, 16 percent of which owned by minority partner Petroceltic. The Kurdistan Regional […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has reported arms shipments to the Kurdish Regional Government. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama approved delivery of weapons to Kurdish security forces, called Peshmerga, in northern Iraq. They said the arms included anti-tank guided missiles, mortars, assault rifles and a range of munitions. “We’re […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States, upon request from Iraq, has been directed to seize a shipment of crude oil from Kurdistan. A U.S. judge in Texas ruled that a cargo of 1 million barrels of Kurdish crude could be seized once it enters American waters. Judge Nancy Johnson agreed with Iraq that […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Despite the offensive by Al Qaida, Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan has maintained its crude oil sector. Industry sources said the Kurdish Regional Government has continued oil exports and development amid the drive by Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant toward Baghdad. They said Western contractors have […]