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Iraqi President Calls for Int’l Action to Face Regional Challenges

Iraqi President Barham Salih meets with Spanish Ambassador to Iraq Juan Jose Escobar in Baghdad on Wednesday (INA)
Iraqi President Barham Salih meets with Spanish Ambassador to Iraq Juan Jose Escobar in Baghdad on Wednesday (INA)
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Iraqi President Calls for Int’l Action to Face Regional Challenges

Iraqi President Barham Salih meets with Spanish Ambassador to Iraq Juan Jose Escobar in Baghdad on Wednesday (INA)
Iraqi President Barham Salih meets with Spanish Ambassador to Iraq Juan Jose Escobar in Baghdad on Wednesday (INA)

Iraqi President Barham Salih called on Wednesday for joint international action to confront challenges and ease tensions in the region.

During a meeting in Baghdad with the Spanish Ambassador to Iraq, Juan Jose Escobar, on the occasion of the end of his mission, the President stressed the need for international cooperation in facing the common challenges of combating terrorism, in addition to the importance of solidarity, supporting the stability of the region and easing the tensions surrounding it.

A presidential statement said Salih also appreciated Spain’s supportive stances for Iraq in combating terrorism within the international coalition as well as supporting stability.

The Iraqi President’s invitation for joint international actions on regional challenges came as Baghdad prepares to host the first conference of regional neighbors at the end of August, with the aim of discussing the political and security challenges facing the region.

The conference is scheduled to be held at the summit level during the last ten days of August and would not be limited to Arab or Islamic countries neighboring Iraq but would extend to other states in the regional neighborhood.

Meanwhile, head of the National Power of the State Coalition Ammar Al-Hakim stressed the importance of developing relations between the US and Iraq to serve the interests of both countries.

Hakim held talks Wednesday with US Ambassador Matthew Tueller on the political developments in Iraq and the region, as well as the outcomes of the strategic dialogue between Iraq and US.

“The importance of these relations is to serve the interests of two countries, and the need to proceed with the adoption of dialogue as a way to resolve differences and spare the region the repercussions of tensions and conflicts between its countries," said Hakim.

Also on Wednesday, the European Union Delegation to Iraq warned against fraud in the coming parliamentary elections, expected to be held in Iraq next October.

Martin Huth, the European Union ambassador to Iraq, said there are concerns about the security and human rights environment in which the elections will take place.

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Salam: $12 Billion Needed for Lebanon’s Post-War Reconstruction

Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
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Salam: $12 Billion Needed for Lebanon’s Post-War Reconstruction

Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the cost of the country’s recovery following the latest destructive war with Israel is estimated at approximately $12 billion, stressing that the goal “is not only to rebuild, but to build back better through a more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent approach.”

Speaking at a roundtable on the “Emergency Support Project for Lebanon,” Salam outlined the urgent need for international funding to rehabilitate critical services and public infrastructure severely damaged by the war.

The event gathered diplomats from Arab, European, and Western countries, alongside representatives from global institutions and aid organizations.

“Lebanon stands at a critical crossroads,” Salam said in his opening remarks. “Despite hopes for a summer of renewal, the country is grappling with the devastating consequences of the Israeli war, which has cost many lives and crippled essential infrastructure nationwide.”

According to Salam, the Nabatieh and South Governorates suffered the most destruction, followed by parts of Mount Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs. The economic toll has been steep, with Lebanon’s real GDP contracting by 7.1% in 2024, compared to just 0.9% the previous year. Since 2020, Lebanon’s economy has shrunk by nearly 40%, deepening an already severe financial crisis.

To address this, the government launched the Lebanon Emergency Assistance Program (LEAP) initiative, a $1 billion framework designed to transition from immediate relief to long-term reconstruction.

Salam described LEAP as a transformative agenda, not merely a stopgap measure. The program focuses on restoring services, rebuilding infrastructure, and laying the foundation for climate-resilient and inclusive recovery.

LEAP prioritizes transparency and regional equity, with mechanisms across ministries to ensure aid reaches the communities most in need. “This is not a project Lebanon can undertake alone,” Salam said. “We are calling for coordinated international support within a unified, state-led framework that strengthens national institutions and rebuilds public trust.”

“The collapse of Lebanon’s financial sector is not just due to crisis,” he added, “but to years of poor governance and impunity. Meaningful reform is no longer optional, it is essential.”

In a related development, Salam revealed that over 500 weapons depots in southern Lebanon have been dismantled as part of broader efforts to restore state authority. He also confirmed enhanced security at Beirut’s international airport, while reiterating calls on Israel to halt its attacks and withdraw from disputed border areas.