Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Iraqi government condemns US airstrikes as violation of sovereignty, 22 NOV
Iraqi government condemns US airstrikes as violation of sovereignty
Shafaq News/A spokesperson of the Iraqi government on Wednesday condemned airstrikes carried out by the United States in the country on Tuesday, calling them a "violation of sovereignty."
In a statement, government spokesman Basem al-Awwadi said that the airstrikes, which targeted a convoy of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces-PMF) in the Jurf al-Nasr area, were conducted without the knowledge of Iraqi authorities.
"The Iraqi government is concerned about the recent escalation in the country, which includes the US airstrikes," al-Awwadi said. "We condemn the attack on Jurf al-Nasr, which was an flagrant violation of sovereignty and an attempt to disrupt the stable security situation in Iraq."
Al-Awwadi stressed that the Iraqi government is the only entity responsible for implementing the law and holding violators accountable.
"The presence of the US-led coalition in Iraq is to support the Iraqi armed forces," he said. "The airstrikes are a clear violation of the coalition's mandate to fight ISIS in Iraq. The coalition is called upon to refrain from acting unilaterally and to respect Iraqi sovereignty."
"Any armed activity carried out outside the military establishment is condemned and is a threat to the national interest," al-Awwadi said. "The government will take the necessary measures to defend Iraq's interests."
Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has ordered the military and security forces to carry out their duties and enforce the law.
"The security of Iraq and its stability have been achieved through the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs," al-Awwadi concluded. "It is the responsibility of all to preserve them."
US jets carried out airstrikes in Iraq early on 22 November, targeting what the US Central Command (CENTCOM) claims were "Iran-linked" facilities south of the capital, Baghdad.
A US official told ABC News that the "strikes were conducted against a Kataib Hezbollah operations center and a Kataib Hezbollah Command and Control node."
The US attack, which targeted the town of Jurf al-Nasr (formerly known as Jurf al-Sakhr), reportedly killing eight people. Kataib Hezbollah announced that five of its members were among those killed.
Wednesday's airstrikes came in response to daily attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria. This is the fourth round of airstrikes carried out by Washington in response to the surge in attacks against its troops.
The Iraqi resistance announced on 21 November it had targeted the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq twice, as well as the Al-Shaddadi base in Hasakah, northeastern Syria.
The bases were struck "with appropriate weapons," which "directly hit" all their targets.
The Ain al-Assad base was hit with close-range ballistic missiles, resulting in eight injuries and material damage, according to two US officials.
US bases in Iraq and Syria have come under almost daily fire by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a coalition of Iraqi armed factions that banded together last month to confront US forces in rejection of Washington's support for Israel.
The attacks are launched "in response to the crimes committed by the enemy against our people in Gaza."
"US forces have been attacked approximately 66 times since October 17. Thirty-two separate times in Iraq, and 34 separate times in Syria," the Pentagon announced on Tuesday evening. At least 60 US soldiers have suffered traumatic brain injuries and other injuries.
https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Iraqi-government-condemns-US-airstrikes-as-violation-of-sovereignty
U.S. Dollar Value Climbs in Baghdad and Erbil Markets Amid Regional Conflicts, 22 NOV
U.S. Dollar Value Climbs in Baghdad and Erbil Markets Amid Regional Conflicts
In a recent development, the U.S. dollar’s value has witnessed a surge in the Baghdad and Erbil markets. As per a report by Shafaq News, the dollar prices escalated in the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya stock exchanges, climbing to 158,500 dinars against 100 dollars, a noticeable rise from the preceding day’s rate of 158,150 Iraqi dinars against the same.
Local Markets Respond to the Dollar’s Rise
Local markets in Baghdad reported an upturn in selling prices, with the rate soaring to 159,500 Iraqi dinars, whereas the purchasing price stood at 157,500 dinars for every 100 dollars. In the city of Erbil, the selling price was quoted at 158,300 dinars against the dollar, while the buying price was slightly lower at 158,200 dinars for every 100 dollars.
Government Efforts to Stabilize Exchange Rate
In response to the escalating dollar prices, the Iraqi Private Banks League (IPBL) has announced its support for governmental efforts aimed at lowering the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in the parallel market. These attempts are closely linked to the recent measures adopted by the Central Bank of Iraq and the government concerning trade financing using new currencies – steps that signify a move towards reducing the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in the parallel market.
Impact on Iraq’s Security Scenario
Meanwhile, Iraq’s security scenario is tense with recent U.S. strikes leading to the unfortunate demise of five members of the Kataib Hezbollah militia in their stronghold of Jurf al-Sakhar, located south of Baghdad. The U.S. conducted two series of strikes in Iraq this week, marking the first publicly reported responses on Iraqi territory to a series of recent attacks, indicating an escalation in the regional conflict tied to the Israel-Hamas war.
"RV UPDATE" BY WALKINGSTICK, 22 NOV
Walkingstick (KTFA)
[Aki Iraqi Bank Friend Update]
Number 1 [Aki’s Boss] has informed Aki the CBI is going to have…’All hands on meeting’ to share the results of a recent CBI meeting. These meetings are continual and only with the banks, no politicians.
These meetings were with all the upper management of every bank in Iraq…IOO they’re talking about the new exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar and the new small category notes…We told you there would be one last rate change on the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar. Aki suggested to us it would be 1,200 to 1…
WALKINGSTICK: …Look more for 1000 to 1 because when they get there then they can lift the three zeros.
Electricity: All government buildings will run on solar energy, 22 NOV
Electricity: All government buildings will run on solar energy
Economy News-Baghdad
The Ministry of Electricity reported that it is proceeding with a project to convert all government buildings in the country to work with solar energy, revealing that they will be linked to an electronic system to monitor their performance.
The rapporteur of the national initiative, head of the quality management department at the ministry, Shaima Mazhar Sadiq, said in a statement to "Al-Sabah" that the ministry is proceeding with its project aimed at converting all government buildings to work with solar energy, and within the objectives of the national initiative to support energy and reduce the volume of emissions, especially after allocating 90 billion dinars for its first phase.
She indicated that the buildings will be linked to an electronic system to monitor their performance centrally by the ministry's Energy Research Department on the national (your) platform in cooperation with the National Data Center Department of the Council of Ministers, revealing that her ministry had begun converting 550 government buildings to work with solar energy, including 290 schools in Baghdad and the provinces.
Sadek stated that a specialized team from the canceled Ministry of Science and Technology had revealed buildings qualified to convert their work to solar energy instead of electricity, as well as reduce the volume of emissions emitted by that energy, which causes significant pollution.
She explained that the United Nations program provided advisory support and expertise in the field of implementing such projects, pointing out that the Ministries of Electricity and Environment are the concerned authorities to implement the project to convert buildings to work with a renewable energy system, especially after it became a serious environmental pollution.
DOLLAR AUCTION.. WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT STOPPING THE CENTRAL BANK’S PLATFORM FOR CURRENCY CONVERSION? WITH NT GOAT COMMENTS, 25 DEC
DOLLAR AUCTION.. WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT STOPPING THE CENTRAL BANK’S PLATFORM FOR CURRENCY CONVERSION? A responsible source in the Central...
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Frank26 [Bank story] This time we didn't go down, we just called [the bank]... We said we want to see if we can exchange some cu...
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Bank appointment for Currency EXCHANGE Instructions/Checklist Bank Name_________________________________________ Bank 800#____________...
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Walkingstick All these meetings that the CBI had with all these agencies that were helping them with their monetary reform are done. Al...