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Iraq Condemns EU Mission for Displaying LGBTQ Flag

The Victory Arch, in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone home of foreign embassies. (AFP)
The Victory Arch, in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone home of foreign embassies. (AFP)
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Iraq Condemns EU Mission for Displaying LGBTQ Flag

The Victory Arch, in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone home of foreign embassies. (AFP)
The Victory Arch, in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone home of foreign embassies. (AFP)

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned foreign embassies for offending the country’s “norms and values” by hoisting the LGBTQ flag.

The ministry issued a statement denouncing the move of the EU and other foreign missions operating in Iraq, saying it contradicts the moral principles and values as well as social norms of the country.

“We remind all the missions operating in Iraq to adhere by the laws of the country and follow diplomatic norms,” it said.

The EU, Canada, and UK diplomatic missions in Baghdad raised the rainbow flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which triggered backlash.

The Iraqi parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee denounced the act for offending the country’s values and called upon the foreign ministry to play its role in ensuring such violations do not occur in the future.

A number of Iraqi lawmakers demanded the closure of foreign embassies in Baghdad that raised the gay pride flag.

Sadiqun bloc MP Hassan Salem demanded the closure of these embassies, stating that the “immoral action” reflects a disgraceful behavior towards Muslims and respected customs and traditions.

Salem added that the EU mission and these embassies did not respect the religion, morals, and customs of Iraqi society, calling for a firm government stance to say such actions are not welcomed.

MP Salam al-Shammari, of the Sairoon block that is backed by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, also categorically rejected the move, saying Iraq is a country built on religion and ethics, and it is not possible to allow any behavior that deviates from these principles.

The development marks a precedent for Iraq as no other government has had to deal with it.

Observers believe that the timing of incident is “inappropriate, and embarrasses Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government” that was sworn less than two weeks ago.

Leader of the Sairoon bloc, Sabah al-Saadi, asked Kadhimi, in his capacity as acting foreign minister, to take harsh measures against the EU mission and foreign embassies for raising a “flag symbolizing homosexuality” and disregarding all of the Iraqi people’s the religious beliefs, customs and traditions.

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Arab World

Israel Says No Restriction on Troops ‘Eliminating Threats’ in Lebanon

FILE -Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)
FILE -Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)
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Israel Says No Restriction on Troops ‘Eliminating Threats’ in Lebanon

FILE -Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)
FILE -Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)

Israel's defense minister said Sunday that Israeli forces had standing orders to act against any threat they encountered inside Lebanon, insisting that troops would remain in the so-called security zone established within Lebanese territory. 

"There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on Israeli soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats... As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have made clear: Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon," Israel Katz said in a statement, referring to an area extending roughly 10 kilometers (six miles) into Lebanese territory that Israel is occupying. 

Katz's remarks came shortly after Iran warned that it would not enter talks on a broader agreement with Washington unless the war in Lebanon comes to an end. 

Israeli ‌strikes killed ‌at least ‌20 people in Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanon's state ‌news agency NNA reported, a ⁠day ⁠after a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect after months of escalating violence.

Arab World

Iran Says Lebanon Conflict 'Main Topic' in US Talks

Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 20, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 20, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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Iran Says Lebanon Conflict 'Main Topic' in US Talks

Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 20, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 20, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Iran said on Sunday that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon between Israel and militant group Hezbollah will top the agenda in talks with the United States in Switzerland, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country's oil.

"The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today's talks," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a video shared by IRNA state news agency.

Tehran said on Thursday it had signed a deal with Washington to end months of hostilities that began on February 28 following US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Under the agreement, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon was also due to stop, said AFP.

Iran's military announced on Saturday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again over ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

But there were no reports of fresh strikes in Lebanon after Saturday evening and Baqaei said since Saturday "a fragile cessation (in Lebanon) has been established".

He added that Tehran would also pursue the issue of its frozen and inaccessible funds during the talks.

"The issue of making available Iran's frozen or restricted assets, as well as the discussion related to issuing the necessary licenses for the sale of Iranian oil, will also be on the agenda," he said from Switzerland.

Iran has not officially disclosed the value of its frozen assets, though media reports have estimated them at more than $100 billion, largely frozen since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that toppled the US-backed shah.

According to Baqaei, the Iranian delegation will meet the US delegation in a "quadrilateral meeting" that will also include mediators Pakistan and Qatar.

Arab World

UN Security Council Warns of 'Imminent Risk of Mass Atrocities' in Sudan

A child looks at Sudanese women lining up to receive aid at the Al-Afad camp for displaced people in the town of Al-Dabba, northern Sudan, on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Ebrahim HAMID / AFP)
A child looks at Sudanese women lining up to receive aid at the Al-Afad camp for displaced people in the town of Al-Dabba, northern Sudan, on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Ebrahim HAMID / AFP)
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UN Security Council Warns of 'Imminent Risk of Mass Atrocities' in Sudan

A child looks at Sudanese women lining up to receive aid at the Al-Afad camp for displaced people in the town of Al-Dabba, northern Sudan, on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Ebrahim HAMID / AFP)
A child looks at Sudanese women lining up to receive aid at the Al-Afad camp for displaced people in the town of Al-Dabba, northern Sudan, on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Ebrahim HAMID / AFP)

The United Nations Security Council said Saturday it is concerned over the "imminent risk of mass atrocities" in Sudan as it called on paramilitary forces encircling El-Obeid to back down.

The majority-Muslim southern city, in the Kordofan region, has been under siege for several months by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023.

"The members of the Security Council expressed concern at the imminent risk of mass atrocities and demanded the RSF immediately halt its assault on El-Obeid," the Security Council said in a statement.

"Council members called on the parties to the conflict to immediately halt the fighting."

The UN has voiced fears that there could be a repeat of the atrocities committed during the October 2025 assault on the city of El-Fasher, which it said bore "hallmarks of genocide."

The UN said Friday that Pekka Haavisto, the secretary-general's special envoy for Sudan, had called rebel paramilitary forces chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to urge him not to attack El-Obeid.

Haavisto "underscored the need to urgently de-escalate the situation in El-Obeid and avoid any actions that may further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation and put civilian lives further at risk," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The official said aid workers were "preparing for the potential movements of large numbers of people" fleeing the city, and that "our humanitarian colleagues are doing the responsible thing, which is getting ready for the worst while hoping for the best."

Dujarric said Haavisto was also talking to countries with influence over the warring parties to encourage dialogue and prevent the assault.

The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million from their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.