Saturday, February 3, 2024
US strikes on IRGC, Iran-backed militias to ‘continue:’ Biden, 3 FEB
US strikes on IRGC, Iran-backed militias to ‘continue:’ Biden
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States will “continue” to carry out strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria in retaliation to the killing of American soldiers and drone strikes on US bases in the region, President Joe Biden said on Saturday.
“This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militias use to attack U.S. forces,” Biden said in a statement.
“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing,” he added.
A large-scale American retaliation campaign was launchedon Friday against IRGC-Quds Force and affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria, striking more than 85 targets with over 125 precision munitions, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). 1
The strikes were ordered in retaliation to the deaths of three US soldiers in a drone strike carried out by pro-Iran militias on a US military base in Jordan last Sunday.
“Let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond,” Biden stressed.
Numerous facilities including “command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, and missiles, and unmanned vehicle storages” were struck, CENTCOM said.
Iraq condemned the US strikes as “a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and an undermining of the efforts of the Iraqi government” at a time when the government and hardline Iraqi politicians are seeking to expel forces of the US-led coalition from the country.
“The cities of Qaim and the Iraqi border areas are subjected to American airstrikes,” said Major General Yehia Rasool, military spokesperson for Iraq’s prime minister, who called the strikes “a threat that will drag Iraq and the region into unforeseen circumstances.”
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called the strikes “the start of our response,” saying that Biden “has directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable for their attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces.”
“These [attacks] will unfold at times and places of our choosing,” Austin stated.
American troops and bases in Iraq and Syria have come under about 140 rocket and drone attacks since mid-October by Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups condemning Washington’s support for Israel in its war against the Gaza Strip, according to the latest tally from the Pentagon.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups affiliated with the IRGC, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks on US interests in Iraq and Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Britain-based war monitor, said that 18 pro-Iran militiamen were killed in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province, near the Iraqi border, by suspected American strikes.
Around 2,500 American troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria are leading an international coalition through Operation Inherent Resolve that has assisted Kurdish, Iraqi, and local Syrian forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), which once held swathes of land in Iraq and Syria but was declared territorially defeated in 2019.
"RV UPDATE" BY MARKZ, 3 FEB
MarkZ
[via PDK] ...rumors...from every corner of the “blogisphere” …they are saying the CBI has released rates to the government of Iraq and Iraq has released those to all the central banks in the world including the US…and that everything is locked and loaded. That is the chatter.
https://dinarevaluation.blogspot.com/2024/02/markz-bruce-notes-2-feb.html
[via PDK] My Iraqi contacts have said that the CBI has sent the new rates to the government. So the rumor is the CBI has released the rates to the Iraqi government...I have heard similar things from US bankers - that all rates are now set and fixed. So imo it’s “any moment” A number of contacts are still remaining silent because they have signed an NDA.
“ The US Treasury requests Iraqi cooperation to limit funding for armed factions” This is all part of what’s going on as Iraq cleans up. And yesterday - again in Iraq - they started openly talking about the exchange rate and the value of the dinar.
Comment: I hear more and more groups are under NDA’s. MarkZ: We are hearing of more and more… My banking contacts still feel If we have to sign one - it will be about the amount we get...we are definitely close.
https://dinarevaluation.blogspot.com/2024/02/rv-update-by-markz-2-feb.html
International community should play role in protecting Kurdistan Region security, says PM Barzani, 3 FEB
International community should play role in protecting Kurdistan Region security, says PM Barzani
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The international community should play an important role in protecting the security of the Kurdistan Region and its constitutional rights, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani told the Norwegian ambassador.
The remarks by Prime Minister Barzani came as he received Espen Lindbæck, the Norwegian Ambassador to Iraq and Jordan, in Erbil on Wednesday.
Barzani and Lindbæck discussed the bilateral ties and the latest developments in Iraq and the region.
The premier expressed his appreciation for Norwegian solidarity and support, stressing the international community should play an important role in protecting the Kurdistan Region’s security and guaranteeing its constitutional rights.
Norway-Kurdistan Region relations have been characterized by strong economic cooperation and political support. With Norway's significant investments in the Kurdistan Region's oil and gas sector, both regions have benefited from mutually beneficial trade partnerships.
Furthermore, Norway has been a vocal advocate for the Kurdistan Region's political aspirations, providing diplomatic support and fostering dialogue between the region and the international community.
The Norwegian oil company DNO on Dec. 19, 2023, said it had increased production from its licensed Tawke field in the Kurdistan Region, with its current December average approaching 90,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd).
https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33915-International-community-should-play-role-in-protecting-Kurdistan-Region-security,-says-PM-Barzani"RV UPDATE" MNT GOAT, 3 FEB
Mnt Goat
Article: "THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RESPONDS TO THE US SANCTIONS: LET US SELL OIL IN
CURRENCIES OTHER THAN THE DOLLAR" Quote: "Imposing sanctions on Iraqi banks would undermine and obstruct the steps taken by the Central Bank to adjust the stability of the dollar exchange rate and reduce the selling gap between the official and parallel rates." ...the TRUTH finally comes out. This is what is causing the inability of the CBI to take the necessary steps to adjust the stability of the dollar exchange rate? ...if they the CBI did this diversification it would adjust the parallel market rate very quickly and then…..The Central Bank of Iraq decided just recently to restore the mechanism for financing Iraq’s foreign trade, starting next March. This is all part of slowly phasing out the electronic platform as they said they would do as 2024 rolls on. The Central Bank said in a letter addressed to the banks, which Al-Iqtisad News reviewed, that for the purpose of organizing financing operations for requests to enhance external balances, it was decided to implement the new requirements and mechanisms starting from March 1, 2024.
He added that banks wishing to enhance their balance with correspondent banks in all currencies should appoint an external auditor for the purposes of reviewing transfers in advance of the process of sending transfers. Banks wishing to enhance the balance must provide us with information about the names of the companies they wish to contract with within a maximum period of February 29, 2024. So, basically what the CBI wants is to know where the money is going and for the banks to certify it, by auditing.
https://mntgoatnewsusa.com/latest-mnt-goat-newsletter/
https://dinarevaluation.blogspot.com/2024/02/status-of-rv-by-mnt-goat-1-feb.html
TIDBIT FROM NADER FROM MID EAST, 24 NOV
Nader From The Mid East We will not go more than $4 so don't waste your time and ask question about $16, $8, $11 and $12. Don'...
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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...