Iraqi PM Visits Erbil, Opening New Chapter in Relations

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) shakes hands with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil. (Masrour Barzani on Twitter)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) shakes hands with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil. (Masrour Barzani on Twitter)
TT
20

Iraqi PM Visits Erbil, Opening New Chapter in Relations

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) shakes hands with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil. (Masrour Barzani on Twitter)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) shakes hands with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil. (Masrour Barzani on Twitter)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani kicked off on Tuesday a visit to the Kurdistan Region, his first since assuming his post in October.

He met with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and former Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani, and several senior officials.

Sudani is accompanied by a delegation that includes the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, planning, and migration and the displaced, deputy prime minister, secretary of the national security agency and several advisors.

After meeting Masoud Barzani, Sudani’s office said the PM underlined his “government’s keenness on reaching out to all political forces and achieving more understandings.”

For his part, Masoud Barzani welcomed the visit, expressing his support to Sudani’s government agenda, especially regarding articles on improving the Iraqi economy.

After meeting PM Barzani, Sudani praised the “spirit of collective work and cooperation and the sincere desire to resolve all differences between Baghdad and Erbil.”

He remarked that during the four months that his government has been in office “it has made strides in carrying out part of the political agreement” reached with Kurdistan.

He underscored keenness to resolve disputes and move on to “broader horizons of joint work and economic opportunities that would benefit our people in Kurdistan and all provinces.”

For his part, Masrour Barzani tweeted: “The PM's goodwill is recognized and important to restoring trust. The federal budget bill and progress on oil and gas give us stakes in our finances and lay foundations for deeper ties.”

Sudani had announced on Monday that an agreement was reached to resolve oil and gas disputes between Baghdad and Erbil. The agreement calls for depositing Kurdistan’s oil and gas revenues in one bank account, which the Iraqi and Kurdish prime ministers have access to.

Relations between the federal government in Baghdad and Kurdistan have been fraught with tensions for years. They have differences over disputed regions and the implementation of article 144 of the constitution related to the Kirkuk province.

Even though most of the disputes have remained unresolved and appear unlikely to be resolved any time soon, relations between Baghdad and Erbil were not always strained. Some observers have noted that ties between Erbil and the former Iraqi government of PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi were good.



Israel Expands ‘Security Annexation’ in Gaza

Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)
Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)
TT
20

Israel Expands ‘Security Annexation’ in Gaza

Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)
Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)

As Israel expanded its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked Palestinian outrage by entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he plans to seize large areas of land in Gaza and turn them into “security zones,” as well as in the West Bank to bolster Jewish settlements.

On Wednesday, Katz announced that Israeli forces would move into the Gaza Strip "to cleanse areas of terrorists and infrastructure" and seize large swaths of land to expand Israel's security zones.

The statement followed the deployment of an additional Israeli brigade in southern Gaza as part of an escalation in the offensive. The Israeli army’s Radio reported that the 36th Armored Division is leading the new ground operation in Gaza.

The Israeli military also ordered the complete evacuation of the Rafah area along the southern Gaza border, initiating incursions in the region, including targeting vast areas between Rafah and Khan Younis. This marks the largest evacuation order since Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire.

Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israeli forces have effectively taken control of areas in Rafah and are attempting to push further into other parts of the city, making it largely under their control.

The sources added that the incursion has begun in certain areas, while the military maintains fire control over others. It is expected that the forces will reach these areas at any moment, including parts of the southeastern region of Khan Younis, which lies close to Rafah.

In a provocative move, Ben-Gvir led an incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday. Since taking office as National Security Minister, Ben-Gvir has entered the site more than eight times, a move that has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the incursion, under the protection of Israeli police, and the eviction of worshippers. The Kingdom reiterated its condemnation of Israel's ongoing flagrant violations of the mosque's sanctity.

In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia also condemned the Israeli forces’ targeting of a clinic run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The Kingdom expressed its concern over the continued Israeli attacks on UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and their workers.

Saudi Arabia emphasized the need to protect UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and their personnel, urging the international community to take action to end Israel's relentless military actions, which disregard human values and international laws.

The Kingdom warned that the international community’s failure to deter such grave and persistent violations would undermine the prospects for achieving lasting peace, erode the credibility and legitimacy of international law, and negatively affect regional and global security and stability.