Washington Stresses that Iraq Has Control over its Airspace

US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski. (X platform)
US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski. (X platform)
TT

Washington Stresses that Iraq Has Control over its Airspace

US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski. (X platform)
US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski. (X platform)

US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski stressed on Tuesday that her country was not controlling Iraqi airspace and that American forces did not take part in the Israeli attack against Iran over the weekend.

Speaking at the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum in Erbil, she said the US views Iraq as a sovereign nation and based on that, it does not impose control over its airspace.

The American military did not take part in the attack Israel launched against Iran and was not involved in carrying out the strikes, she went on to say.

Baghdad had filed a complaint to the United Nations and its Security Council over Israel’s use of its airspace to launch the attacks, deeming the move a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.

Israel carried out precise strikes against facilities where rockets are built and other vital facilities in response to an attack by Tehran against Israel earlier this month.

On the deployment of American troops in Iraq, Romanowski said they are stationed there to defeat ISIS remnants.

Baghdad has taken the decision to shift relations from military to other domains and the US is seeking to empower the Iraqi armed forces to take the reins in consolidating security, she added.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani informed Washington that his government will have the sole responsibility in making decisions about security in Iraq, she stressed.

This will greatly help consolidate stability in the region, she went on to say.

Moreover, the ambassador said the US is keen on empowering Iraq in using its sources of energy and its wealth in a modern and beneficial way.

On Iran’s gas supplies to Iraq to fuel its power stations, Romanowski said Tehran is under sanctions and hopes that no party would violate them and send funds to Iran.

That is why the US wants Iraq to continue connecting its electricity grid to those in neighboring countries, rather than rely on imports from Iran and risk violating sanctions, she explained.



Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
TT

Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)

The Lebanese government has approved funding to recruit 1,500 new military personnel in the Lebanese Army as part of an initiative to increase military presence along the southern border, amid Israel’s ongoing hostilities.
The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Defense as an advance, a decision highlighted by the Minister of Information for its political and international significance, particularly in relation to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the caretaker government emphasized that continued and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon amount to crimes against humanity. He stated that a primary pathway to a resolution involves halting hostilities against the country, fully implementing Resolution 1701, and electing a new president to restore institutional order, stability, and initiate reconstruction.

Mikati condemned what he described as an international failure to stop Israel’s actions against Lebanon, which include attacks on towns and villages, civilian deaths, and strikes against medical and relief personnel.
“We condemn and hold the international community responsible for the continuation of Israel’s genocidal war on Lebanon, its destruction of towns and villages, killing of civilians, assassination of army personnel, and targeting of medical teams, civil defense, relief teams, and journalists.
“Additionally, the attacks on UNIFIL, which represents international legitimacy, make targeting UNIFIL an assault on the international community and the Security Council. This destruction continues to affect hospitals, schools, and educational centers,” stated Mikati.
On the international front, Mikati highlighted the solidarity shown by world figures, referring to his discussions with leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister. This was further demonstrated during the Paris Conference in Support of Lebanon -late on October- he underlined, specifically thanking France for its humanitarian efforts and military support.
But he added: “But unfortunately, Israel is blatantly disregarding all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty across air, sea, and land, pledging to confront any Israeli violations.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari assured that funds to recruit 1,500 additional soldiers are available and that the government encountered no issues regarding this allocation.
Nasser Yassin, the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, announced that the cabinet approved fuel allocations for 541 shelters in mountainous regions over 300 meters in altitude to ensure winter heating. Yassin also detailed efforts concerning the people displaced as the result of the Israeli hostilities in Lebanon.
He highlighted that there are 44,000 families in 1,138 shelters and an additional 147,000 families housed within communities.