PM Abadi urges Islamic State fighters to surrender as Mosul battle nears end
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has urged Islamic State militants to surrender as government troops close in on the group’s last entrenchments in western Mosul.
Speaking to reporters in his weekly press briefing late Tuesday, Abadi called upon IS members to surrender, promising to grant them “a fair trial” in that case.
“Fighting in Mosul should proceed in a calculated pace,” Abadi stated during the conference. “Our intelligence capabilities have developed, and we are ahead of the enemy.”
Iraqi government forces have become close to retaking western Mosul and declaring the full recapture of the city that fell in IS grip in 2014. The eastern section was retaken in January.
On Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, spokesperson of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said Iraqi troops became in control over 89.5 percent of territory at western Mosul, having killed more than 16000 militants since the launch of Mosul operations in October. Other commanders had predicted to recapture the city before the end of this month.
Iraqi government forces are eyeing the ancient, densely structured and populated Old City, the place where Islamic State’s supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the establishment of an “Islamic Caliphate” in 2014. Troops besieged the area for weeks from the south, but turned to the northwestern axis to invade the city earlier this month. IS fighters are believed to have been holding hundreds of thousands at that area as human shields.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/showthread.php?49173-PM-Abadi-urges-Islamic-State-fighters-to-surrender-as-Mosul-battle-nears-end
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BGG (Dinar Guru) – Iraqi Day…(not a terrible news source)… tweeted this… #ISIS CALIPHATE HAS ENDED. #Iraq forces storm 4 districts in #Mosul today & gains are incredible, only 2 districts left under ISIS control. “gains are INCREDIBLE”… Earlier today [Sunday] the Fox News Ticker said that Iraqi Spec Ops and U.S. backed-Commandos had breached the final line of defense and fortifications held by ISIS in Mosul. They could actually have Mosul completely liberated by tomorrow [Monday] (if they make the same gains as today). Not that I am saying that – or predicting it… I am just putting some context on things. I care greatly about the actual fruition of our investment.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer
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Operation to retake Hawija postponed to after Mosul offensive, governor says
The operation to drive out ISIS militants from the Sunni stronghold of Hawija is delayed till the end of the ongoing offensive in Mosul and border regions near Syria, Kirkuk Governor Najmadin Karim said Tuesday amid growing pressure on Iraqi army to launch the operation.
The city and its immediate localities had a population of 500,000 people before it was captured by the ISIS militants in mid-2014 but it is estimated that around half of the residents have fled the area, mostly to the nearby Kirkuk city adding to its dramatic refugee crisis.
“They have openly said that before Mosul operation is complete, the Hawija offensive will not start and now they have also said that ISIS-held territories in Anbar province on the Jordan-Syria border must be liberated before the operation to retake Hawija begins,” Karim told reporters in Kirkuk after meeting with Arab Sunni groups who have demanded the government to step up the operation.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday that Hawija operation will begin after the liberation of Mosul from the ISIS militants where the extrimist group is engaged in fighting against the advancig Iraqi forces in the last remaining districts in western Mosul.
Iraqi forces have pushed back the militants in most areas near Hawija, and the city has virtually been sieged by Peshmerga forces since August last year. But the incursion of the army into the city has been postponed largely to avoid costly street and house to house clashes inside the city where ISIS has had time to build fortified bases including ditches protected by planted landmines.
Iraqi and Kurdish authorities also fear that incursion of the predominantly non-Sunni forces into the city could trigger a wider ethnic gun-battle across the contested areas else where in the country. Hawija has been at the center of multiple Sunni insurgencies and popular uprisings since 2004.
Sunni groups from Hawija have in the past shown support to participating in the operation and said over 6000 local volunteers are prepared to join the action to reduce Sunni anxiety in the face of an army offensive.
“We will put more pressure until our voice is heard and our areas liberated,” said Hatam Tayi, head of a Sunni faction from Hawija adding that a large demonstration will be held in Kirkuk in the coming days to pressure the government to launch the offensive.
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“In America, we don’t worship government. We worship God” – President Trump
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Army Commander: Iraqi Forces to Drive ISIL out of Western Mosul by Friday
An Iraqi Army official in Nineveh province said he expects full liberation of the Western side of Mosul by Friday.
“Iraqi troops managed to retake most regions and districts in Western Mosul from the ISIL terrorists,” an Iraqi army commander told Sputnik, expecting the whole region to be freed by Friday.
In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Federal Police Chief Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat announced that his troops were in control of 80 percent of Iqtisidayeen and 17 Tamuz (July 17th) districts, in addition to eight other pivotal targets that were previously retaken.
“The troops shelled ISIL’s defense lines as well as their headquarters North of the Old City and killed dozens of the militants. Fifteen sq/ km were freed, 168 booby-trapped vehicles were destroyed, 200 landmines were removed while 24 bombs were defused,” he added.
“Six families detained by ISIL in 17 Tamuz were freed. They were kept for several days inside one of the houses with the doors locked and the house booby-trapped to prevent them escape,” he added.
“The total number of families evacuated from battlefields have reached 850 so far since the start of the last phase of military operations in Western Mosul on May 6,” Jawdat said.
In a press conference, the Joint Operations Command declared on Tuesday controlling 89.5 percent of Western Mosul and killing 16,467 members of the ISIL since beginning of operations in Western Mosul.
Iraqi commanders had predicted recapturing the remaining parts of the city this month.
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Parliamentary calls for the formation of a Supreme Council of oil and energy under the supervision of Abadi
BAGHDAD – A member of the oil and energy parliamentary committee Ali Faysal al-Fayadh on Wednesday called for the formation of a higher council for oil and energy under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, whose task is to oversee and plan the Iraqi oil policy, manage contracts and agreements and partnerships.
Al-Fayadh said in a statement received by Iraq News, “At a time when there is an increasing need to develop and expand the interest in the oil and energy portfolio, which represents the vital artery and the most important for the Iraqi individual, we call for the formation of a higher oil and energy council in the country. Oil contracts and the follow-up of export contracts and the development of oil industries, and make the Council, the Supreme Authority and not limited to marketing company oil Sumo, which dominates the Iraqi oil sector and is the only party controlling the conclusion of contracts for the export of crude oil as well as export contracts and Esther ED derivatives “.
Al-Fayyad added that “there is foggy and unclear in many of its transactions (Sumo) and its contracts with international companies, but the Supreme Council of Oil and Energy will remove all the question marks placed on the general management of the energy file, especially that it will be under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister and the membership of each of the oil ministers Foreign affairs, finance, electricity, planning and personalities with expertise and expertise in the oil field. ”
He continued that “most of the world’s oil has higher boards of wealth management and the conclusion of agreements and deals and the presence of the Council will be important at the moment, especially as Iraq depends on the revolution oil as a primary source of resources,” and called on the parliamentary blocs and political “to support this proposal and translated on the ground to preserve wealth And not leaving it in constant loss. ”
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A consultative meeting of the three presidencies and leaders of the political blocs
Baghdad / Range Held three presidencies and a number of leaders of the political blocs, a consultative meeting, which discussed a number of topics, including the preparation of the requirements of the upcoming elections and the latest developments in the battle to liberate Mosul.
“The Peace Palace in Baghdad hosted a consultative meeting between the three presidents and leaders of a number of political blocs to discuss political and security developments as well as regional and international developments,” the statement said.
The presidential statement said that “the meeting was attended by President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Speaker of Parliament Salim al-Jubouri, Vice President Nouri al-Maliki, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Aram Sheikh Mohammed, The Kurdistan Democratic Party Fadhil Mirani, a member of the Political Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Adnan Mufti, and the head of the coalition of Arab Saleh al-Mutlaq.
“The meeting focused on the need to move forward to prepare the laws and requirements for the holding of the upcoming elections, as well as to accelerate the completion of the process of selecting the Council of the High Commission for Elections,” the Presidency said.
“The meeting was followed by the victories achieved by our armed forces to organize the preacher in the battle to liberate Mosul, And the legislation of the laws of the Federal Court and the Federal Service Council, “stressing at the same time” to provide full support to the government in its actions against any violation of the rule of law. ”
The meeting also discussed ways to speed up the return of displaced people, continue initiatives to achieve community reconciliation and work to strengthen Iraq’s status at the regional and international levels.
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Iraqi forces recapture western Mosul’s al-Rifaie district, a major IS bastion
Iraqi government forces recaptured on Wednesday al-Rifaie district, a major area held by the Islamic State where intense battles have been running to retake the region.
The Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service took over the district completely and raised the Iraqi flags above its buildings.
Al-Rifaie is one of a handful of northwestern Mosul neighborhoods which Iraqi forces have been sweeping through over the past two weeks on its way to invade the strategic Old City, the most significant IS-held target where the group first declared the establishment of its rule in 2014.
Earlier this week, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said it controls 89.5 percent of western Mosul territory and that more than 16000 militants were killed since operations launched to liberate Mosul in October.
Some generals were quoted saying they predict the city to be free before the end of ths month.
In a relevant context, Maj. Gen. Najm al-Jubouri, a senior commander of the JOC’s Nineveh Operations, said Iraqi forces had started erecting bridges to facilitate the movement of civilians from the western region to the eastern side which government troops recaptured in January.
Five bridges linking the city’s two sides above the Tigris River were destroyed by fighter jets ahead of launching the western Mosul offensive in February as part of a plan to prevent IS members from running from the east to the west.
“Security troops are about to set up bridges linking Hawi al-Kanisah (northwest) with the east,” Jubouri said, adding that the step aims to speed up the movement of civilians.
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“Iraqi oil”: the process of exporting Kirkuk oil is not clear and beyond the control of the central government
A spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Asim Jihad, during his conversation with Roudao correspondent, Mustafa Koran
The spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Assem Jihad, that “despite disagreements and differences in views on the subject of oil agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government, but hope remains always, and seek to accelerate the creation of a new agreement to serve the national interest.”
“We are always seeking an agreement that serves the citizens in all Iraqi provinces, as well as the Kurdistan region, and therefore we must work on this subject in a common national spirit, and look for the national stage,” Jihad told the network.
Jihad said that “despite the lack of implementation and commitment from both sides on the previous oil agreements, but the people remain one, and therefore must always remain hope because we are all Iraqis in the end.”
On the issue of non-disbursement of the “Petrodollar” of the province of Kirkuk, the spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, “Kirkuk province has become a complex and difficult issue, and there are a lot of things out of control, and the federal government does not have authority over all the oil fields in Kirkuk, Not clear, and all this leads to the non-disbursement of (petrodollar) of the province of Kirkuk. ”
As for the city of Basra, which is a source of the economy of Iraq, which suffers from marginalization in all respects, Assem Jihad said that “the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Technical, and its work is to explore and the issuance and sale of oil, and the return of cash to the central government, The Petrodollar issue, where this amount is spent permanently. ”
With regard to the establishment of a province in Basra, and its economic impact on Iraq, Jihad said: “We do not want to anticipate events and judge this issue, the subject was an idea, but not realized until this moment, and when it is realized there will be another talk about this subject.”
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BGG (Dinar Guru) – Article: “Iraq offers compensation settlement and Kuwaiti debt against investment” Quote: “…the meeting also discussed the file of compensation with the State of Kuwait and ways to settle through the window of investment inside Iraq.“. two separate items talked about – how to pay back Kuwait (not to be confused with) – their eagerness to settle investments inside Iraq? One of the big problems needing dealt with – is they have few mechanisms in place to safe guard investors. Why would the IMF care about Iraqi investors. They don’t – this is referring to OUTSIDE investors. Period. Really good news – entering final talks – it appears.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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Transport announces the opening of a direct air line between Baghdad and Belgrade at the end of this month
BAGHDAD – A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, Salim Musa, announced on Tuesday the opening of a direct air link between Baghdad and the Serbian capital Belgrade at the end of this month in the absence of “obstacles” administrative, indicating that the Minister of Transport Kazem A cup has been working for some time on the opening of direct air links between Baghdad and the European capitals to restore the Iraqi Airways to the reality.
He explained, “These efforts were strengthened by the opening of direct flights between Baghdad and some countries, where was going to Serbia and the holding of several meetings and agreements resulted in the creation Formula to open a direct line with Belgrade and accepted with Athens, ” Pointing out that “the collection of direct visa from the airport needs efforts should be made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and there is an actual approach to this matter.”
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Kaperoni (Dinar Guru) – Article: “ATMs for MasterCard card users” …it is fun to watch all the pieces be put in place for the economy to take off. Iraq is literally going from the stone age to the 21st century with technology in a few years.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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Iraq Stock Exchange discusses technology solutions in Beirut for its applications
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi stock market opened Monday in the Lebanese capital of Beirut its conference on the applications and solutions of technology trading securities, stressing the need to bring investments to the securities market.
“The conference is currently being held in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, the second of its kind since last year in the United Arab Emirates. There were also conferences and workshops between the two conferences,” said Taha Ahmed Abdel Salam, A knot inside Iraq and yielded positive results supported the market in his work. ” He added that “the conference was attended by a group of senior officials of the Central Bank of Iraq and a number of ministries of the Iraqi state, adding brokerage firms and international investment companies.”
He pointed out that the aim of the conference is to achieve the objectives related to bringing investments, correcting and correcting the trends adopted by financial markets and plans, especially their relationship with financial institutions, as well as with the market elements represented by joint stock companies and brokerage companies, specifically investors.
“The Iraqi Stock Exchange Law speaks about the capital market in Iraq, which consists of key elements supporting the development of the market and the Securities Commission, which is an organization of the rules of instructions needed by the market as well as joint stock companies to disclose their data and review levels of performance annual and quarterly.
Abdul Salam expected that “the meetings of the conference will witness further discussions and meetings between investment companies and those interested in stock markets.”
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Adam Montana (Dinar Guru) – [What will happen to the other major currencies when the CBI RV’s the IQD/USD exchange rate? The countries using the EUR, the GBP, the CHF, the JPY, and the CNY all have international corporations invested in Iraqi oil with contracts based on today’s exchange rates. How will a radical upward IQD/USD RV (which effectively decreases the value of the USD against the IQD) affect the EUR/USD and the GBP/USD and the CHF/USD and the JPY/USD and the CNY/USD exchange rates? Will these other major global currencies also be devalued and what in your opinion will that do to an already stressed global economy?] This is a great question, because it opens up the floor to discuss how an RV is really a zero-sum game, mostly because we are talking about a fiat currency. When the FED prints more USD, we don’t actually gain that money. It just dilutes the dollar a little bit more. IQD, and an RV of the currency, works the same way, just on a global scale. My opinion is that almost every other currency will take a slight hit, and then rebound once the IQD rate stabilizes, and within about a month all currencies will be back to normal… except the IQD will be dramatically different than it was a month prior.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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Parliament votes tomorrow on the proposed law on the operation of the first graduates
(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) The House of Representatives will resume on Tuesday its regular session to vote on two draft laws.
A statement of the Council, received by the agency {Euphrates News}, a copy of it, tomorrow’s session includes “the completion of the vote on the draft law to reform inmates and depositors, and vote on the proposed law to run the early graduates.”
The meeting will also discuss the recommendations of the Education Committee regarding school buildings and an oral question addressed to the head of the Federal Audit Bureau, as well as the report and discussion of the draft law granting the employee a long standard leave and handling the conditions of the contractors.
The statement said the meeting included “the report and discussion of the draft law on the residence of foreigners, and the report and discussion of the draft law on delegation of powers.”
The House of Representatives lifted on 30 April last, its normal to Tuesday, the ninth of May, after voting on a parliamentary resolution prohibiting the attendance or participation of politicians or officials conferences in and outside Iraq without the consent of the Iraqi authorities.
Read More: http://www.dinarupdates.com/member.php?47292-MadDScout
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Deputy for the citizen: The next battle requires the return of the work of factories stalled
(Baghdad: al-Furat News) The MP from the mass of citizen Mohammed al-Masoudi, on Monday, that the battle of Iraq next requires the return of the work of government plants stalled.
“There are instructions issued to the local governments not to approve and according to the powers granted to them to promote the transfer of employees of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals to the rest of the ministries to preserve the competencies in them and not to empty, and because the Iraqi industry and only The future vision of both the Iraqi parliament and the federal government is on the verge of a major industrial boom. ”
He added that “the Iraqi industry suffers from several problems trying both the parliament and the government to eliminate or reduce them, including the high cost of production of one commodity compared to competition of foreign goods because of high costs of production, especially with regard to energy, in addition to the financial allocations related to loans Support and facilities for the establishment of Iraqi national industries and the reluctance of the investor to enter the Iraqi market for lack of financial cover and a strong bank protects him.
He pointed out that “the federal government is working on the abolition of the Bramir law on the settlement of the salaries of industry and dependence on the advances granted by the government, and thus deprive workers in this sector of financial allocations and irregular in their salaries and their withdrawal to the ministries that may provide them with these financial resources.”
Masoudi pointed out that “the battle of Iraq next will be in one aspect save hundreds of government factories stalled and return them to the ranks of Arab industry at least.”
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Iraq: Lack of accuracy in statistics confuses business
Baghdad – Journal News A number of specialists attributed the reasons that led to the weakness in the availability of accurate statistics for the trade of services in Iraq to the exceptional circumstances experienced by the country during the past years, which greatly affected the provision of statistical data.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, Abdul-Zahra al-Hindawi, told the “Journal News” on Tuesday, “The statistical data on many important joints turned into projects that seek the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning achieved by the adoption of United Nations organizations, especially data on population and health “But with regard to the commercial aspect,” there are some problems in this sector, especially in the field of trade exchange between Iraq and other countries. ”
On the other hand, the Iraqi economic expert, Majid al-Suri, in a statement to the “Journal News” on Tuesday, that the statistics on the file of international trade in the field of services “exist but suffers from lack of coordination both by the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Oil.” A statistic issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Planning in respect of services imported to Iraq while there are no services exported from Iraq. ”
He pointed out that “the confusion in the registration of statistics has a negative impact as it is the basis of scientific analysis and auditing and the development of strategies and auditing and planning and therefore the lack of accuracy on these statistics cause a major imbalance can not be overcome by all specialists in the various fields, whether economic or social.
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Iraqi Dinar/Dollar auction 05-17-17 (most recent listing)
Currency Auctions Announcement No. 3444
This daily currency auction was held in the Central Bank of Iraq on the 05-16-2017
| DETAILS | NOTES |
| Number of banks | 36 |
| Number of remittance companies | 11 |
| Amount sold at auction price (US$) | 159,812,043 |
| Amount purchased at Auction price (US$) | —– |
| Total offers for buying (US$) | 159,812,043 |
| Total offers for selling (US$) | —– |
Read More: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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| CURRENCY | CODE | SELL | BUY |
| US dollar | USD | 1184.000 | 1182.000 |
| Euro | EUR | 1309.386 | 1308.731 |
| British pound | GBP | 1526.413 | 1525.650 |
| Canadian dollar | CAD | 870.332 | 869.897 |
| Swiss franc | CHF | 1195.960 | 1195.362 |
| Swedish krona | SEK | 134.697 | 134.630 |
| Norwegian krone | NOK | 139.419 | 139.349 |
| Danish krone | DKK | 176.007 | 175.919 |
| Japanese yen | JPY | 10.433 | 10.427 |
| Special Drawing Rights |
SDR | 1625.940 | 1625.127 |