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Iraq Discusses Increasing Cooperation with NATO to Defeat ISIS

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. AFP file photo
Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. AFP file photo
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Iraq Discusses Increasing Cooperation with NATO to Defeat ISIS

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. AFP file photo
Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. AFP file photo

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein thanked NATO for its support to Baghdad in defeating the terrorist organization ISIS.

During talks with NATO Secretary-General Jans Stoltenberg in Brussels, the Iraqi FM said he recognized NATO for backing Baghdad in defeating the extremist group.

He stressed the importance of the role played by the international community and NATO in particular in training Iraqi security forces and developing their military capabilities in order to achieve the final victory over the remnants of ISIS, and to eliminate its cells.

Hussein and Stoltenberg also tackled the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between the two sides to complete the supplementary arrangements document for the work of the NATO mission in Iraq.

Hussein called on the European Commission to remove the name of Iraq from the list of high-risk countries in terrorist financing and money laundering.

His request came at a meeting with Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the European Union, at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.

The Iraqi FM invited the relevant authorities in the commission to accelerate the launching of dialogue with the relevant technical authorities in Iraq in order to complete the evaluation of Iraq's performance, and remove it from the list.

He extended an invitation to Borrell to visit Iraq at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss means of strengthening bilateral relations between the two sides.

The EU had placed Iraq and several countries on its money-laundering list for posing significant threats to the financial system of the Union because of failings in tackling money laundering and terrorism financing.

In Brussels, Hussein discussed the government's decision to hold early elections next June.

He also affirmed Iraq's commitment to respecting the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, expressing his categorical rejection of Iraq turning into an arena for conflict between rivals, or a starting point for aggression against any other country, stressing the need to support Iraq's efforts to be a stabilizing factor.

On Thursday, the Security Media Cell announced that 4 ISIS hideouts were destroyed in an airstrike by international coalition aircraft in the Hamrin Mountains.

Separately, four members of the 16th Brigade in the Popular Mobilization Forces were killed in an attack by ISIS elements and an explosive device exploded targeting their convoy while they were heading to support PMF fighters in the village of Sheikh Sami Al-Assi, in Taza district, south of Kirkuk.

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Experts Warn Floods to Continue to Impact Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
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Experts Warn Floods to Continue to Impact Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)

Although Yemen's rainy season nears its end, experts on Thursday warned of heavy showers in several areas across the country, nevertheless with a decrease in their frequency and intensity.

Heavy downpours in war-torn Yemen over the past weeks have triggered flash flooding and landslides, causing significant casualties and damages in properties and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, experts and meteorology centers forecast scattered rains on the easternmost province of Mahra, the western highlands in the provinces of Taiz, Ibb, Lahj, Rayma, Dhamar, Sanaa, Al Mahwit, Amran, Hajjah and Saada, as well as the western coast in the provinces of Hajjah, Hodeidah and Taiz, and the plains in the provinces of Abyan, Shabwa and Hadramaut.

In forecasts posted on social media, the experts warned of thunderclouds carrying huge amounts of rain, accompanied by hail, thunder and strong winds, urging residents to take the necessary precautions.

Since early this month, Yemen has witnessed a drop in rainfall. In July and August, Yemen experienced severe flooding due to prolonged heavy rainfall, fueled by unusual weather patterns. Numerous governorates across the nation were impacted, especially the governorates of Hodeidah and Al Mahwit.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) this week warned of a deepening humanitarian disaster in Yemen as ongoing floods, which began in March and intensified in July and August, continue to devastate multiple governorates.

The floods have displaced tens of thousands of families, destroyed vital infrastructure, and fueled the rapid spread of cholera.

Floods have severely impacted the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Marib, Saada, and Taiz, with nearly 268,000 individuals affected as of last month.

IRC warned that while rainfall has stopped in September, the risk of additional flash floods remains high due to already saturated ground and poor drainage systems.

Severe Impact of Floods

IRC said that floods have severely impacted the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Marib, Sadah, and Taiz, with nearly 268,000 individuals (38,285 families) affected as of last month, according to OCHA reports.

It said the heavy rains, expected to persist into September, have caused widespread destruction of homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure, further limiting access to food - an issue that more than 17 million Yemenis are already struggling with due to conflict, economic decline, and rising food prices, all exacerbated by the climate crisis.

In Taiz alone, an estimated 70 to 100% of agricultural land has been destroyed. While rainfall has stopped in September, the risk of additional flash floods remains high due to already saturated ground and poor drainage systems.

The IRC urgently called on the international community to scale up financial and logistical support to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by this disaster. Without timely action, the situation in Yemen will continue to deteriorate, putting more lives at risk, it warned.

Rapid Spread of Cholera

“Yemen is facing a crisis on multiple fronts—ongoing conflict, severe flooding, and now a cholera outbreak that has been rapidly spreading across several governorates,” IRC’s Acting Country Director in Yemen, Isaiah Ogolla, said.

Ogolla said people’s lives are at immediate risk, and the destruction of water and sanitation facilities is likely to worsen the spread of the disease.

“In response, the IRC is launching emergency operations in the hardest-hit districts of Hajjah, Hodeidah, Al-Mahwit and Taiz, providing cash assistance to approximately 2,000 affected households,” he said.

The IRC acting country director noted that the initial phase will focus on addressing immediate needs, with further assessments planned to guide potential interventions in water and sanitation, such as establishing water points and emergency latrines.

Ogolla said the IRC and its partners have conducted assessments across the affected areas, revealing that nearly 9,600 people have been displaced due to the floods in Taiz, Hajjah, and Hodeidah.

The floodwaters have severely damaged water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, increasing the risk of further cholera outbreaks across these regions.

On Tuesday, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KsRelief) distributed emergency shelter aids to those affected by torrents and floods in the Mawza district of Taiz Governorate.

The emergency aid included 100 tents and 370 shelter bags, benefiting 2,220 individuals affected by floods.