Iraq Starts Regulating Arms Licenses

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during a vote in Sudani's cabinet at the parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, October 27, 2022.
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during a vote in Sudani's cabinet at the parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, October 27, 2022.
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Iraq Starts Regulating Arms Licenses

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during a vote in Sudani's cabinet at the parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, October 27, 2022.
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during a vote in Sudani's cabinet at the parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, October 27, 2022.

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday a set of methods and mechanisms through which ordinary people can obtain licenses to carry weapons, which are mostly light arms such as pistols and light automatic machine guns.

According to the regulations published by the ministry, the process of obtaining a license to carry weapons begins with receiving the approval of the Minister of Interior, followed by the certification of official documents and biometric information, and a medical examination for the person wishing to obtain the license.

The mechanism also includes a forensic firearm examination, and a letter supporting the submission of an application to undergo a training course on the use of weapons at the Police College.

In the second stage, the process of obtaining the license goes through comprehensive audits, leading to the delivery of the license through the specialized committee in the Ministry of Interior.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani is seeking to contain the differences between the Sunni and Kurdish political blocs. On Wednesday, Sudani met with the deputy head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, who is also a leader in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

He also met separately with the president of the region, Nechirvan Barzani, and the head of the regional government, Masrour Barzani.

The three meetings focused on the intra-Kurdish differences that could hinder the government’s efforts in the reform and development processes.

Sudani also held three meetings with Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Halbousi with the aim of settling differences.

He also held talks with the leader of the Azm Coalition, Muthanna al-Samarrai, and Ahmed al-Jubouri. Both sides have major differences with al-Halbousi, which made the prime minister insist on his efforts to achieve a certain level of concord to implement his government’s reform program.



UN Says ‘Deliberate’ Choices ‘Systematically’ Depriving Gazans

04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
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UN Says ‘Deliberate’ Choices ‘Systematically’ Depriving Gazans

04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)

The UN aid chief said Wednesday that recent "horrifying scenes" of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid were the result of "deliberate choices that have systematically deprived" them of essentials to survive.

A US and Israeli-backed group operating aid sites in the Gaza Strip announced the temporary closure of its facilities on Wednesday, with the Israeli army warning that roads leading to distribution centers were "considered combat zones".

The announcement by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation follows a string of deadly incidents near the distribution sites it operates.

On Tuesday, 27 people were killed in southern Gaza when Israeli troops opened fire near a GHF aid site, with the military saying the incident was under investigation.

"The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat," UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement.

"Emergency medical teams have confirmed treating hundreds of trauma cases. Yesterday alone, dozens were declared dead at hospitals after Israeli forces said they had opened fire.

"This is the outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive."

He echoed the call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for immediate independent investigations, saying they were not isolated incidents, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.

"No-one should have to risk their life to feed their children," said Fletcher.

The GHF began operations a week ago, but the UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.

Meanwhile the United Nations has described the amount of aid allowed into Gaza, after Israel partially lifted a more than two-month total blockade, as a trickle.

"We must be allowed to do our jobs: we have the teams, the plan, the supplies and the experience," said Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

"Open the crossings -- all of them. Let in life-saving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift the restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in.

"Ensure our convoys aren't held up by delays and denials. Release the hostages. Implement the ceasefire."