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.



Lebanon Ministry Says Two Dead in Israeli Strike on South

28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
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Lebanon Ministry Says Two Dead in Israeli Strike on South

28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)

Lebanon's health ministry said two people were killed Sunday in an Israeli strike on the country's south, as Israel said it hit Hezbollah operatives amid a fragile truce.

The toll in the "strike launched by the Israeli enemy on the town of Zibqin rose to two dead", the health ministry said in a statement, adding that the toll was final after earlier reporting one dead.

The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike targeting two Hezbollah operatives in the Zibqin area, adding in a statement that they were "attempting to rebuild Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites".

A fragile ceasefire in late November largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, but Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon.

The latest raid came after visiting US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus discussed the situation in south Lebanon with senior officials on Saturday.

On Friday, Israel killed a commander of Palestinian group Hamas in a pre-dawn raid in the south Lebanese port city of Sidon that also killed his adult son and daughter.

A day earlier, Israel's military said it carried out an air strike targeting a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Israel struck south Beirut, killing a Hezbollah Palestinian liaison officer, in only the second raid on the capital since the November 27 ceasefire.

Lebanon's health ministry reported four dead in that strike, including a woman.

Under the truce, Hezbollah was to redeploy its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Israel was to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic".