Iraq’s parliament enacted a controversial bill amending a 1988 anti-prostitution law to impose penalties on same-sex relationships. The amendments adopted during a session attended by 170 out of 329 lawmakers, introduce severe penalties for same-sex relations and transgender identities.
An explosion took place at the Calso military base in Iraq late on Friday night targeting a facility housing pro-Iranian paramilitaries. The base located approximately 50 kilometers south of Baghdad in the province of Babil serves as a headquarters for the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a Shiite paramilitary group integrated into regular army.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles targeting what they claimed were Israeli spy headquarters in Iraq’s Kurdish region and alleged ISIL (ISIS) positions in northern Syria.
The United States has conducted airstrikes in Iraq, targeting three facilities used by the Kataib Hezbollah and groups. This attack comes in response to an attack on Erbil Air Base that injured three U.S. troops, with one in critical condition.
The Turkey air force conducted air strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, targeting 29 locations with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This military action comes in the aftermath of killing of 12 Turkish soldiers in the two days in northern Iraq.
An enormous fire broke out during a wedding celebration in the town of Qaraqosh, situated in Nineveh province. The fire, which ejected late at night, has killed over 100 individuals and left more than 150 others injured, making it perhaps of the deadliest fire in recent memory in Iraq.
A 2,800-year-old stone tablet has been returned to Iraq by Italy and put on display in the country after nearly four decades. The tablet is inscribed with complete cuneiform text, which is a system of writing used in ancient Babylon.
Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has announced plans for a $17 billion transportation project aimed at facilitating the flow of goods from Asia to Europe.
