Drones Hit Near Iraq’s Erbil

An elevated view of empty streets in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. (AFP)
An elevated view of empty streets in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. (AFP)
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Drones Hit Near Iraq’s Erbil

An elevated view of empty streets in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. (AFP)
An elevated view of empty streets in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. (AFP)

Three explosives-laden drones hit near the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, where the United States has a consulate, Iraqi Kurdish officials said Saturday.

The attack came as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a pro-Iran paramilitary alliance opposed to the US presence in Iraq, held a military parade near Baghdad attended by senior officials.

The drone attack occurred overnight, the anti-terrorist unit in Kurdistan said, with two striking a house and causing damage while the payload on the third did not explode.

The US consulate condemned the assault in a tweet, saying "this attack represents a clear violation of Iraqi sovereignty".

US interests in Iraq have come under repeated attack in recent months but the use of drones is a relatively new tactic.

The United States consistently blames Iran-linked Iraqi factions for rocket and other attacks against Iraqi installations housing its personnel.

Since the start of the year there have been 43 attacks against US interests in Iraq, where 2,500 American troops are deployed as part of an international coalition to fight the ISIS group.

The vast majority have been bombs against logistics convoys, while 14 were rocket attacks, some of them claimed by pro-Iran factions that aim to pressure Washington into withdrawing all their troops.

In April, a drone packed with explosives hit the coalition’s Iraq headquarters in the military part of the airport in Erbil, the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital.

The tactic poses a headache for the coalition, as drones can evade air defenses.

In May a drone packed with explosives hit the Ain Al-Asad air base housing US troops.

On June 9 three explosives-laden drones targeted Baghdad airport, where US soldiers are also deployed. One was intercepted by the Iraqi army.

Earlier that day five rockets were fired at Balad air base, where American contractors are based, causing no casualties or damage.

The attacks on the airport and Balad came as Iraqi authorities released PMF commander Qassem Muslih.

Muslih had been arrested on May 26 by police intelligence on suspicion of ordering the killing of Ihab al-Wazni, a pro-government activist shot dead earlier that month by unidentified gunmen on motorbikes.

On Saturday, the PMF held a military parade in Diyala province bordering Baghdad.

It was marking the seventh anniversary of the group which in 2014 to battle the ISIS group that had seized almost one third of Iraq in a lightening offensive.

At the parade, PMF displayed various weapons including rocket launchers mounted on vehicles, according to footage broadcast on Iraqi state television, to an audience comprising Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.



Lebanon’s Salameh to Remain in Detention until Hearing Is Scheduled, Sources Say

Riad Salameh Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, 11 November 2019. (EPA)
Riad Salameh Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, 11 November 2019. (EPA)
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Lebanon’s Salameh to Remain in Detention until Hearing Is Scheduled, Sources Say

Riad Salameh Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, 11 November 2019. (EPA)
Riad Salameh Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, 11 November 2019. (EPA)

Former Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh, who was arrested on Tuesday over alleged financial crimes, will remain in detention at least until a hearing is scheduled, likely next week, two judicial sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

After the hearing, the presiding judge can decide whether to keep Salameh in detention, the sources said, adding that no decision had yet been taken. One of them said the judge was expected to schedule a hearing for early next week.

Reuters could not immediately reach a lawyer for Salameh.

Salameh, 73, was the bank governor for 30 years but his final years were marred by the collapse of Lebanon's financial system along with charges of financial crimes, including illicit enrichment through public funds, by authorities in Lebanon and several Western countries.

The state-owned National News Agency said prosecutor Ali Ibrahim, to whom the case was referred by public prosecutor Jamal al-Hajjar on Wednesday, charged Salameh with "embezzlement, theft of public funds, forgery, and illicit enrichment", before referring the case to investigating judge Bilal Halawi, who will set the date for the hearing.

Two judicial sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Salameh had been held on charges of accruing more than $110 million via financial crimes involving Optimum Invest, a Lebanese firm that offers income brokerage services.

The authorities have not published the charges against him.

Neither Salameh nor his lawyer responded to requests for comment on Tuesday. Salameh has previously denied all accusations of financial crimes.

Tuesday's charges are separate from previous charges of financial crimes linked to Forry Associates, a company controlled by Salameh's brother, Raja. The brothers - who deny any wrongdoing - were accused of using Forry to divert $330 million in public funds through commissions.