US-Led Coalition Hands Over Kirkuk Base to Iraqi Security Forces

US soldiers stand guard during the handover ceremony of Qayyarah Airfield, Iraqi Security Forces, in the south of Mosul, Iraq early Friday, March 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan)
US soldiers stand guard during the handover ceremony of Qayyarah Airfield, Iraqi Security Forces, in the south of Mosul, Iraq early Friday, March 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan)
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US-Led Coalition Hands Over Kirkuk Base to Iraqi Security Forces

US soldiers stand guard during the handover ceremony of Qayyarah Airfield, Iraqi Security Forces, in the south of Mosul, Iraq early Friday, March 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan)
US soldiers stand guard during the handover ceremony of Qayyarah Airfield, Iraqi Security Forces, in the south of Mosul, Iraq early Friday, March 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan)

The US-led coalition in Iraq withdrew Sunday from a military base in the country's north, military sources told the German news agency on Sunday.

The sources said the operation was completed during a military ceremony held in the presence of Iraqi military officers and Coalition forces operating at the base.

The military base is the third that Iraq has received from the international coalition forces this month.

A few days ago, US troops with the coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq officially handed over the Qayyarah airbase to the Iraqi military as part of their redeployment plan in the country.

Iraq’s news agency, NINA, quoted the Joint Operations Command as saying: "Based on the results of the fruitful dialogues between the Iraqi government and the international coalition, the site that was occupied by the international coalition mission inside the K1 camp in Kirkuk Governorate was returned today to the Iraqi forces after the international coalition withdrew from it, according to its commitment to return the sites it had occupied to the Iraqi forces.”

Meanwhile, the German army announced it would withdraw from Iraq some of its soldiers present in the country as part of the US-led international coalition to fight ISIS, following the COVID-19 pandemic spreads in Middle Eastern countries.

Soldiers who are not essential for ongoing missions on the ground will return to Germany, Bundeswehr commanders confirmed on Sunday. Some troops already landed in Germany on Sunday morning, according to Germany's DPA news agency.

Iraq has 506 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 42 deaths.

Last week, the US-led coalition said it has suspended training of Iraqi forces over coronavirus fears. It said the Coalition is evacuating non-essential staff from Iraq.



Sudan Calls on Security Council to Impose Sanctions on RSF

Smoke is seen rising in Khartoum, Sudan, April 15, 2023. (AP)
Smoke is seen rising in Khartoum, Sudan, April 15, 2023. (AP)
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Sudan Calls on Security Council to Impose Sanctions on RSF

Smoke is seen rising in Khartoum, Sudan, April 15, 2023. (AP)
Smoke is seen rising in Khartoum, Sudan, April 15, 2023. (AP)

Sudan called on the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its backers in order to break the siege on al-Fasher city in Darfur.

In a statement on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said Sudan welcomes a statement issued by the Council on Thursday on the RSF attack on al-Fasher.

The Council had expressed its grave concern over the attack and the rising violence in North Darfur. It called for holding the RSF and others to account for crimes against all civilians.

The Foreign Ministry also called for ending “foreign meddling” that is fueling the war and instability in Sudan.

It urged more “effective measures” to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolution 2736, saying the RSF has proven that it does not heed demands that are not followed by punitive measures and deterrent steps against its leaders and regional sponsors.

The RSF has met Security Council demands with escalating attacks on refugee camps and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid to al-Fasher as part of its “genocide campaign”, continued the ministry.

It is time for the international community to take tangible steps against officials who are responsible for atrocities, it stressed.

The RSF seized the Zamzam refugee camp on April 11 after a three-day attack.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said over 400 civilians, including women and children, as well as 12 aid workers have been killed.

Over 400,000 people have fled Zamzam to other regions of al-Fasher.