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.



Gaza Rescuers Say 72 Killed by Israeli Fire

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Gaza Rescuers Say 72 Killed by Israeli Fire

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli fire killed at least 72 people in the Palestinian territory on Thursday, including 21 who had gathered to receive aid in central and southern Gaza.

Updating an earlier figure, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP the death toll had risen to 72, "due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip since dawn today -- 21 of them were waiting for aid.”

The Israeli army told AFP that troops had fired "warning shots" at "suspects" approaching them in the Netzarim area where the civil defense agency said 15 people were killed waiting for aid, but that it was "not aware of any injured individuals.”