UN Security Council Condemns Kadhimi’s Assassination Attempt

The UN Security Council meets at the UN headquarters in New York, US. Reuters file photo
The UN Security Council meets at the UN headquarters in New York, US. Reuters file photo
TT

UN Security Council Condemns Kadhimi’s Assassination Attempt

The UN Security Council meets at the UN headquarters in New York, US. Reuters file photo
The UN Security Council meets at the UN headquarters in New York, US. Reuters file photo

The UN Security Council on Monday condemned the attempted assassination of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, stressing the need to hold the perpetrators of these heinous terrorist acts accountable, and bring them to justice.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on November 7, 2021,” UNSC said in a statement.

A drone laden with explosives targeted Kadhimi’s residence in Baghdad early on Sunday. The PM escaped unhurt.

Council members reiterated their support for Iraq's independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, democratic process, and prosperity.

They also reiterated that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” stressing the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of these heinous terrorist acts accountable, and bring them to justice.

They urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to actively cooperate with the Iraqi government and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

Council members noted that any terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever they were committed and by whomever committed.

They affirmed the need for all states to combat threats to international peace and security through terrorist acts, by all means in accordance with the UN Charter and other obligations under international law including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law.

The attack against Kadhimi came after protests in the Iraqi capital over the result of a general election last month turned violent.



EU’s Kallas Says She Hopes for Political Agreement on Easing Syria Sanctions

In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
TT

EU’s Kallas Says She Hopes for Political Agreement on Easing Syria Sanctions

In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing Syria sanctions can be reached at a gathering of European ministers next week.

EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Syria during a meeting in Brussels on Jan. 27.

European officials began rethinking their approach towards Syria after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president by opposition forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.

Some European capitals want to move quickly to suspend economic sanctions in a signal of support for the transition in Damascus. Others have sought to ensure that even if some sanctions are eased, Brussels retains leverage in its relationship with the new Syrian authorities.

“We are ready to do step-for-step approach and also to discuss what is the fallback position,” Kallas told Reuters in an interview.

“If we see that the developments are going in the wrong direction, then we are also willing to put them back,” she added.

Six EU member states called this month for the bloc to temporarily suspend sanctions on Syria in areas such as transport, energy and banking.

Current EU sanctions include a ban on Syrian oil imports and a freeze on any Syrian central bank assets in Europe.