عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Iraq Halts Direct Flights with Belarus to Stem Human Trafficking

German police officers detain a migrant, reportedly coming from Iraq through Belarus and Poland, during a patrol near the German-Polish border, in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, October 28, 2021. (Reuters)
German police officers detain a migrant, reportedly coming from Iraq through Belarus and Poland, during a patrol near the German-Polish border, in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, October 28, 2021. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Iraq Halts Direct Flights with Belarus to Stem Human Trafficking

German police officers detain a migrant, reportedly coming from Iraq through Belarus and Poland, during a patrol near the German-Polish border, in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, October 28, 2021. (Reuters)
German police officers detain a migrant, reportedly coming from Iraq through Belarus and Poland, during a patrol near the German-Polish border, in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, October 28, 2021. (Reuters)

Iraq's Foreign Ministry said on Friday it had halted direct flights to Belarus from Iraq, in a bid to protect Iraqis against human trafficking gangs.

"The Iraqi embassy in Moscow and Warsaw coordinate Iraq's efforts for the voluntary return of those who are stranded at the Belarus border," the Iraqi state News Agency quoted the ministry spokesperson as saying.

"Iraq has stopped direct flights between Iraq and Belarus," he added.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
TT
TT

Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday that the state will begin disarming southern Lebanon, particularly the south Litani region, to establish its presence across the country.
"We are in a new phase - in this new phase, we will start with south Lebanon and south Litani specifically in order to pull weapons so that the state can be present across Lebanese territory," Mikati said.

Mikati's remarks followed a meeting with newly elected President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. Aoun was elected as the country's new head of state by parliament on Thursday, ending a vacancy in the presidency that had persisted for over two years.

In his address to parliament, Aoun pledged to control weapons outside the state's control, saying the government is the sole entity authorized to possess and use military force and weapons.
A ceasefire agreement that ended the 13-month-conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in November has given the Lebanese party 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces are also required to withdraw from the area over the same period.
The ceasefire agreement says Israeli forces will move south of the Blue Line “in a phased manner” within 60 days. The Lebanese army’s troops will deploy “in parallel” to the positions.