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Iraqi FM Warns from Tehran Against Military Threats in Iraq, Kurdistan

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, receives his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran (AP)
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, receives his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran (AP)
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Iraqi FM Warns from Tehran Against Military Threats in Iraq, Kurdistan

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, receives his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran (AP)
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, receives his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran (AP)

Iraq's Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, has denounced threats of military actions or bombings against Iraq or the Kurdistan region.

Iraq says it has moved to disarm Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and has begun moving them away from the country's border with Iran.

In a press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Hussein confirmed the start of the disarmament of Iranian Kurdish factions.

He indicated it was unreasonable to have excellent relations between the two countries while Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi Kurdistan are threatened by bombing or launching a military campaign.

Hussein urged the Iranian government to steer clear of such aggressive measures, suggesting resorting to dialogue and security agreements to resolve issues through negotiations. He highlighted the Iraqi constitution, which prohibits any group from using its territory to attack another country.

The minister elaborated that "security cooperation between Iraq and Iran hinges on adhering to the constitution." He stated that disarmament efforts have been carried out on groups along the Iraq-Iran border, and refugee camps have been established under the protection of the UN refugee agency.

Hussein emphasized that the plan and its implementation were a collaborative effort between the central Iraqi and Kurdistan regional governments.

The top diplomat pointed out that Iraq and Iran enjoy good relations, hoping they could resolve issues through dialogue. He invited Iranian media to visit the Kurdistan region to observe the security agreement's implementation, revealing that the plan's execution will conclude in two days.

For his part, the Iranian FM hoped that Iraq would fulfill the terms of the security agreement in the coming days.

He accentuated Iran's commitment to its security and expressed satisfaction in hearing "positive updates from the Iraqi side."

Amir-Abdollahian remained optimistic that these updates would translate to concrete actions in the immediate future, reiterating that the “terrorist region” must be eradicated under the current agreement to uphold the esteemed history of Iraq-Iran relations.

State agency IRNA cited Amir-Abdollahian as acknowledging Iraq's significant position in Iranian foreign policy, emphasizing the exemplary relations and close collaboration between the neighboring nations.

Additionally, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces have reportedly stationed artillery and tanks on the border with Iraq's Kurdistan region, according to Tasnim news agency.

Hussein's visit comes ahead of Iran's September 19th deadline for the Kurdistan regional government to act against Kurdish factions opposing Tehran.

Tasnim said the troops' deployment is to maintain combat readiness and ensure the security of the northwestern borders.

The agency reported an informed source that indicated the removal of bases of separatist groups in Iraq's Kurdistan region began hours ago.

The report detailed plans to remove all party bases, including the Kurdish Freedom Party, PJAK, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party from the areas near Iran's border.

The factions are set to be relocated deeper inside Kurdistan's territory.

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Arab World

Syria Sentences Assad-Era Top Muslim Cleric to Life Imprisonment

Ahmed Hassoun during proceedings before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. (SANA file photo)
Ahmed Hassoun during proceedings before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. (SANA file photo)
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Syria Sentences Assad-Era Top Muslim Cleric to Life Imprisonment

Ahmed Hassoun during proceedings before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. (SANA file photo)
Ahmed Hassoun during proceedings before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. (SANA file photo)

A Syrian court on Monday handed a life sentence to Ahmed Hassoun, the country's former grand mufti under ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, convicting him of crimes including inciting sectarian strife and exploiting his position.

Hassoun, the 10th Assad-era figure to be sentenced under the new authorities, was Syria's top Muslim cleric for 16 years, known for his close ties to the former president and frequent appearances alongside him on religious occasions.

Arab World

Uganda and Burundi Military Officials Visit Israel to Discuss Gaza Troop Deployment

23 August 2026, Palestinian Territories, Gaza Strip: People check the damage after an Israeli airstrike on a house belonging to the Al-Awwar family, damaging several neighboring homes in the Al-Maghazi camp. Photo: Moiz salhi/dpa
23 August 2026, Palestinian Territories, Gaza Strip: People check the damage after an Israeli airstrike on a house belonging to the Al-Awwar family, damaging several neighboring homes in the Al-Maghazi camp. Photo: Moiz salhi/dpa
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Uganda and Burundi Military Officials Visit Israel to Discuss Gaza Troop Deployment

23 August 2026, Palestinian Territories, Gaza Strip: People check the damage after an Israeli airstrike on a house belonging to the Al-Awwar family, damaging several neighboring homes in the Al-Maghazi camp. Photo: Moiz salhi/dpa
23 August 2026, Palestinian Territories, Gaza Strip: People check the damage after an Israeli airstrike on a house belonging to the Al-Awwar family, damaging several neighboring homes in the Al-Maghazi camp. Photo: Moiz salhi/dpa

Military officials from Uganda and Burundi visited Israel last week to discuss deploying troops to Gaza as part of an international security force envisioned by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for the fragile ceasefire, according to officials.

A Board of Peace official told The Associated Press that Ugandan officials joined a Burundian military delegation, and that Uganda is finalizing details of its participation after its parliament approved the troop contribution this month, The Associated Press said.

Nothing has been finalized with Burundi, but the official said they look forward to starting the process.

“We shared significant knowledge with one another, and the Burundi representatives expressed interest in our mission,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss talks with potential troop-contributing countries ahead of any agreement.

A Burundian military official told the AP that three other senior military officers led the delegation to Israel and that Burundi appeared intent on joining. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

It was not clear what Uganda or Burundi might be offering or what they might receive in return. Spokespersons for their militaries did not respond to requests for comment.

Progress on the international force has been slow

If Burundi moves ahead, the African nations would be the latest to join the international force for Gaza after Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania made commitments. Uganda has committed around 1,200 personnel, and Morocco has committed up to 500. Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania in total have committed around 80.

Indonesia earlier said it was preparing to send 8,000 troops — by far the largest commitment — but put that on hold after the US and Israel attacked Iran.

The 20,000-strong force would be led by US Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers. Troops committed remain far short of that goal.

Last month, Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. According to the deal, the International Stabilization Force would be deployed to areas of the Palestinian territory administered by an incoming technocratic committee, and Israeli forces would withdraw.

The force would help monitor the ceasefire, train Palestinian police and secure the delivery of aid, among other tasks.

The ceasefire that took effect in Gaza last October has stalled due to disagreements regarding Israel’s withdrawal from the strip and Hamas’ disarmament. A US delegation met for hours earlier this month with the Hamas leader and then with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to press them forward. Hamas has agreed to the new US deal.

Netanyahu has rejected it, saying Israel will not withdraw from any of the roughly 60% of the territory it controls in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed. Even after Netanyahu's meeting with the US team, which included negotiator Jared Kushner, officials offered no concrete commitment by Israel.

Uganda and Burundi have peacekeeping experience from Somalia Paul D. Williams, director of the security policy studies program at The George Washington University, said Uganda and Burundi have gained considerable peacekeeping experience through long-term deployments in Somalia as part of an African Union force resisting the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group.

Their countries' leaderships have “shown they are willing to tolerate high numbers of casualties without withdrawing,” he said.

Williams added that, with the mission in Somalia winding down, both countries will be searching for ways to accrue financial and material support for their militaries: “Deploying to Gaza with US support is one way to do that."

A Ugandan military officer with knowledge of the upcoming deployment said troops were being selected to go to Gaza. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the press.

 

Arab World

Syria, Israel Hold US-Mediated Talks to Ease Tensions

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, August 22, 2026. (Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, August 22, 2026. (Reuters)
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Syria, Israel Hold US-Mediated Talks to Ease Tensions

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, August 22, 2026. (Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, August 22, 2026. (Reuters)

Syria and Israel held high-level, US-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday aimed at easing tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, Syria's state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source at the foreign ministry.

The talks focused on practical mechanisms to halt Israeli strikes, arrests and targeted operations, and on reviving negotiations towards a security ‌agreement that could ‌lay the groundwork for a broader future accord, SANA ‌said.

The ⁠two sides also discussed ⁠efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Türkiye and to prevent their rivalry from spilling onto Syrian territory.

A diplomatic source and a Syrian government source told AFP that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency Roman Gofman.

Shaibani told Reuters on Saturday that Damascus expected security negotiations with Israel to resume soon, although he added that there was a lack of trust between them.

Talks had been suspended since the start of the Iran war, while Syria cut off contact entirely after Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase ⁠last week, according to Shaibani.

Washington has for more than a ‌year sought to broker a security agreement between ‌Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Shaibani said the two sides had agreed ‌on paper to “almost everything” around the beginning of the year, including arrangements for security ‌zones in southern Syria and a buffer zone where only United Nations forces would be present, but Damascus doubted Israel's willingness to implement the agreement.

The Israeli prime minister's office did not reply to a request for comment on Shaibani's remarks.

At Sunday’s meeting, SANA said, Syria indicated ‌that its immediate priorities remained an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Bashar al-Assad's overthrow on December 8, 2024, and the full ⁠restoration of a ⁠1974 disengagement agreement.

Damascus also told the Israeli delegation it would not accept arrangements restricting its right to rebuild and develop its armed forces or determine its alliances and partnerships, SANA said.

Syria reiterated that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights were Syrian territory but said discussions over the region's final status were premature, according to the SANA report.

Israel has carried out repeated strikes on Syrian military sites since Assad's fall, saying its actions were necessary to protect its security.

Syria has denied posing a threat to Israel and has demanded an end to Israeli strikes and incursions.

Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, a move recognized by the United States but not by most of the international community.

Security agreement

In his interview with Reuters on Saturday, Shaibani said Syria respected Israel's security concerns, but that Israel must respect those of Syria, including Israel's use of its airspace, Israeli raids and arrests in the south.

He said that around the ‌beginning of the year, the sides had "agreed on paper to almost everything" regarding a security deal that would require Israel to stop attacking Syria and was tied to its withdrawal from ⁠territory seized after Assad fell.

The ⁠deal would include several security zones in Syrian territory near the Israeli border, including a buffer zone where only the United Nations would be present, and others where Syrian forces would deploy in varying degrees of force.

But he said Israel had sought to evade implementation, adding: "We did not see they had the real will to reach an agreement."

The priority now is to "stop Israeli aggression even before reaching a security agreement", Shaibani said. "Then perhaps we can open the topics of peace and the Golan."

US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said on Tuesday that Washington was working to establish a mechanism to prevent conflict among Syria, Türkiye and Israel.

Shaibani said there was no agreement yet on the mechanism, which he said must stop attacks and pave the way for the security deal rather than "entrenching ... Israeli occupation."

Shaibani said negotiations over the security agreement had been frozen since the start of the Iran war, but he expected ‌them to restart. Contact ‌between Syria and Israel was cut after the airbase strike, he said.

"We believe there should be ‌contact, ⁠especially with a ⁠party that constantly threatens the security of Syria. But if this contact doesn’t bring results, then we don’t need it," Shaibani said. "We do not trust Israel currently."

"Israel has tried to maintain its security through brute force and it hasn’t succeeded" anywhere, ‌Shaibani said. "I believe negotiations will resume soon."

No date has been set.

"The US is trying ‌continuously to put pressure on Israel to return to the dialogue table," he added.

Asked how optimistic he was, Shaibani said: "It’s very hard to bet on ‌Israel." But Syria had "very great hope" of building stable relationships with its neighbors.

"Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace, for ‌diplomacy" and regional stability.