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US, Iraq Agree to Redeploy Coalition Forces

Officials of the International Coalition during a meeting in the security zone in Baghdad (AFP)
Officials of the International Coalition during a meeting in the security zone in Baghdad (AFP)
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US, Iraq Agree to Redeploy Coalition Forces

Officials of the International Coalition during a meeting in the security zone in Baghdad (AFP)
Officials of the International Coalition during a meeting in the security zone in Baghdad (AFP)

Iraq’s Joint Operations Command announced the first technical meeting between the US and Iraqi military leadership to discuss the redeployment plan of the coalition forces.

Iraq’s Lt-Gen Abdul-Amir al-Shammari met with US Lt-Gen Paul Calvert within the framework of the technical-security talks agreed upon in the strategic dialogue last April, the Joint Operations Command revealed on Saturday.

The statement said that the US side reiterated its respect for Iraqi sovereignty, explaining that the US-led international coalition is in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government to provide advice and support to defeat the ISIS terrorist group.

“It will include specific mechanisms and timings to complete the redeployment of the combat forces of the international coalition outside of Iraq,” it added.

They agreed “on an action plan to implement the outcomes of the strategic dialogue between Iraq and the United States and that the plan will be implemented during the next session of talks that will be held in Baghdad or Washington in July or August of 2021,” it stated.

Strategic expert Maan al-Jubouri told Asharq Al-Awsat that the success of the previous rounds between the two parties led to the continuation of this strategic dialogue.

Iraq achieved positive results during previous rounds of dialogue, which were a problem for previous governments or the current government, because of the pressure of political forces to ensure the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

Jubouri added that this matter was embarrassing for the government, because the method used by the political forces, whether they are militias or armed factions, is a major problem for Iraqi diplomacy and government.

It also negatively affects the economy and indicates that the security situation is not under control.

Jubouri explained that based on these data, technical negotiations were launched between the two military leaderships, which represents the fourth round of the Iraqi-US dialogue.

The new round will achieve more solid and clear results, and it is expected to have better outcomes in the interest of the Iraqi government, according to the expert.

The US understands that the Iraqi government is under pressure, said Jubuori, stressing that all the facts confirm that Baghdad will enter a new phase within the framework of its agreement with Washington, including the redeployment of the forces and reducing their number in Iraq, which will remain within the framework of advisory, logistical support, intelligence, and air force experts only.

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Arab World

Erdogan: War Must be Stopped 'Before it Engulfs Entire Region in Flames'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, March 9, 2026. Mustafa Kamaci/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, March 9, 2026. Mustafa Kamaci/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
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Erdogan: War Must be Stopped 'Before it Engulfs Entire Region in Flames'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, March 9, 2026. Mustafa Kamaci/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, March 9, 2026. Mustafa Kamaci/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

The war raging in much of the Middle East must be stopped before it engulfs the entire region at increasing cost to the global economy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

"This war must be stopped before it becomes bigger and completely engulfs the region in flames," he said, describing the Middle East as "once again enveloped in a smell of blood and gunpowder".

"If diplomacy is given a chance, this is entirely possible," he insisted, a day after Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi effectively ruled out negotiations with Washington, saying Tehran had had "a very bitter experience of talking with Americans".

The war, sparked by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has caused death, displacement and destruction while roiling oil markets and leading to a spike in oil prices.

"If this senseless, lawless and irregular war continues, there will be more loss of life and property, and the cost to the global economy will increase even further," Erdogan added, saying Türkiye was pursuing efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

Since the war began, Tehran has retaliated with strikes across the Middle East.

Aside from two ballistic missile interceptions in Turkish airspace by NATO defense systems over the course of five days, Türkiye appears to have been spared.

Türkiye has no natural gas or fuel supply problems and currently does not foresee any, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said ⁠on Wednesday, despite worries ⁠about supply constraints pushing prices higher.

Arab World

Iran Military Says to Hit US, Israeli Economic Targets in Region

A photograph shows the damage in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A photograph shows the damage in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Iran Military Says to Hit US, Israeli Economic Targets in Region

A photograph shows the damage in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A photograph shows the damage in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

"The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centers and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

It urged people across the region to refrain from going within one kilometer of banks.

Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.

Arab World

Report: Drone Hits US Diplomatic Facility in Iraq, No Injuries Reported

The US embassy headquarters in Iraq is pictured in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
The US embassy headquarters in Iraq is pictured in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
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Report: Drone Hits US Diplomatic Facility in Iraq, No Injuries Reported

The US embassy headquarters in Iraq is pictured in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
The US embassy headquarters in Iraq is pictured in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone on March 8, 2026. (AFP)

A drone struck a major US diplomatic facility in Iraq on Tuesday amid the US-Israeli air war on Iran, but there were no injuries and everyone was accounted for, according to a US official and an internal State Department alert seen by Reuters.

The drone hit the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, next to the Baghdad airport, impacting near a guard tower, the internal alert from the Department seen by Reuters said. Individuals at the facility were ordered to "duck and cover", it said. A separate alert said everyone was accounted for.

The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Washington Post ‌first reported the ‌incident and said a total of six drones were launched ‌toward ⁠the compound in ⁠Baghdad and that five were shot down. It also said the attack was likely carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions.

Iraq condemned the attacks near the Iraqi bases but did not mention the damaged US facility, according to the Washington Post.

"The (Iraqi) Ministry of Defense stresses that it will not stand by as a spectator. Rather, it will firmly confront and pursue ... all parties involved," ⁠the ministry said in a statement cited by the newspaper.

The US ‌and Israel began attacks on Iran on ‌February 28. Iran has responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf countries with US ‌bases.

Raising the stakes for the global economy, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said ‌it would block oil shipments from the Gulf unless US and Israeli attacks cease.

The United States and Israel pounded Iran on Tuesday with what the Pentagon and Iranians on the ground called the most intense airstrikes of the war, despite global markets betting that President Donald ‌Trump will seek to end the conflict soon.

Trump has said the strikes were aimed to eliminate what he called imminent threats from Iran, citing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its support for the Hamas and Hezbollah groups.

Iran, which denies seeking a nuclear weapon, has called the attacks an unlawful violation of its sovereignty. Iran does not have nuclear weapons. Israel is believed to be the only country in the region with nuclear weapons, while Washington is also nuclear-armed.

Israel says 11 civilians have been killed in Iranian attacks. Iran's UN ambassador said on Tuesday the US-Israeli strikes had killed more than 1,300 civilians.