Archive for the ‘Iraq’ Category

Iraq Humanitarian Transition Overview 2024 (June 2024) – Iraq – ReliefWeb

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Intoduction

During 2023, the efforts of the Iraq Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) focused on enhancing Government ownership by progressively handing over humanitarian operations and the coordination role to the line ministries in the Government of Iraq (GoI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This followed the complete deactivation of the Humanitarian Cluster system in December 2022, which was replaced by sectors, forums, and working groups, co-chaired with the relevant line ministries.

The GoI has assumed leadership in its respective sectors, with the UN and NGOs remaining actively involved as co-chairs and continuing to provide technical guidance and expertise.

To ensure continued coordination at the governorates level, Joint Coordination Forums (JCFs) have been established following extensive discussions led by the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator, with the Council of Ministers Secretariat and the Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCCC) of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The JCFs have replaced the pre-existing humanitarian coordination architecture, serving as nexus-type coordination body co-chaired by governorate authorities and a representative from the aid community, with memberships of humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors.

Iraq has witnessed significant advancements in the humanitarian sphere, with a notable reduction in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from seven million, as a consequence of conflict, to 1.1 million currently. Out of all IDPs, nearly 157,714 persons continue to live in IDP camps mainly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and in East Mosul, in Ninewa Governorate. Over 4.8 million individuals have been identified as returnees, with a relatively slow return movement witnessed in 2023 as the remaining IDPs caseload faces complex barriers and challenges hindering return.

In light of the humanitarian transition, the Iraq HCT has developed the Humanitarian Transition Overview (HTO) for the second consecutive year. While the 2023 HTO described the critical residual humanitarian needs and HCTs priorities, the 2024 HTO provides an overview of the humanitarian efforts conducted in 2023 and the support to IDPs provided by the Government. It also identifies the major humanitarian gaps and challenges which require continued attention both by the Government and the humanitarian community. Furthermore, it outlines progress in the Humanitarian Transition and achievements made under the Durable Solutions framework.

During the early stages of drafting the HTO, the GoI announced plans to close the remaining IDP camps and withdraw its services by 30 July 2024. Humanitarian and Durable Solutions partners are working jointly on a preparedness plan, ahead of the implementation of the decision. The UN continues its advocacy on dignified and voluntary choices for IDPs within the framework of the Roadmap for Accelerating the Implementation of the National Plan to Resolve Displacement in Iraq to ensure a more holistic response and a more sustainable solution to the displacement file.

The UN and its partners are committed to continue working with the GoI and KRG to address remaining humanitarian needs and ensure durable solutions for displaced populations residing in and out-ofcamps, including through their support under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), particularly its Strategic Priority 5 (SP 5) on achieving dignified, safe and voluntary durable solutions to displacement in Iraq, complemented where necessary by humanitarian interventions by UN and civil society partners.

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Iraq Humanitarian Transition Overview 2024 (June 2024) - Iraq - ReliefWeb

Hamas Considering Relocation From Qatar To Iraq – Report – I24NEWS – i24NEWS

Hamas is preparing to relocate its political leadership from Qatar to Iraq, as increasing pressure from both Doha and the United States pushes the group towards greater flexibility in Gaza ceasefire talks.

The move was approved by the Iraqi government last month, according to a report by theThe National on Monday.

Iran is expected to provide protection for Hamas leaders and their offices in Baghdad, the report added.

Discussions regarding the relocation were held last month between Hamass political leader Ismail Haniyeh and representatives of the Iraqi and Iranian governments. These talks were confirmed by a senior Iraqi MP and a political party leader with close ties to an Iran-backed armed group.

The potential move was also reviewed in a phone call between Haniyeh and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani. However, there is no unanimous agreement among Iraqi political factions regarding Hamass move to Baghdad.

"Some groups, especially the Kurds and some Sunnis, fear it will deepen tensions with the United States," the senior Iraqi MP told The National. "But despite the lack of consensus, the governments decision to host Hamas will stand."

In recent days, Hamas has opened a political office in Baghdad, led by senior official Mohammed Al Hafy, with plans to establish a media office in the coming weeks.

The relocation plan emerges amidst stalled Gaza ceasefire negotiations mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. Senior US officials have blamed Hamas for the impasse, citing the group's rejection of President Joe Bi

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Hamas Considering Relocation From Qatar To Iraq - Report - I24NEWS - i24NEWS

A leading human rights group calls on Iraq to halt deportations of Syrian refugees – ABC News

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi authorities in Baghdad and the administration in the semi-autonomous northern Iraqi Kurdish region have been arbitrarily detaining and deporting Syrian refugees to their country, a leading international rights group said Thursday.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said it has documented cases in which Iraqi authorities deported Syrians even though they had legal residency or were registered with the U.N. refugee agency.

The Syrians reported being arrested in raids at their workplace or on the streets, and, in two cases, at residency offices while trying to renew their permits.

According to UNHCR, Iraq hosts at least 260,000 Syrian refugees, with about 90% of them living in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. About 60% live in urban areas, while the rest are in refugee camps.

Human Rights Watch spoke to seven Syrians in Irbil and Baghdad between April 19 and April 26 who were being deported including four at the airport in Irbil waiting to be put on a flight, the statement said.

Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher with HRW, said the watchdog was unable to determine the total number of Syrians deported. The group said the deportations have left Syrians in Iraq living in fear.

By forcibly returning asylum seekers to Syria, Iraq is knowingly placing them in harms way, Sanbar said.

An Iraqi government spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Iraqi authorities have also made it increasingly difficult for Syrians to stay legally in the country.

The Iraqi Kurdish regional government in the north has at Baghdad's request suspended visa entry for Syrian citizens as part of broader efforts to regulate foreign labor in Iraq, restricting the Syrians ability to enter the Kurdish region for work or refuge.

Many companies in Iraq employ Syrian workers without legally registering them, making them work long hours for low pay.

New rules in the Iraqi Kurdish region require companies to register Syrian workers and pay social security contributions for them. However, some companies make the employees pay half of the social security fees from their salaries.

A Syrian worker in the Kurdish region told the AP that on-arrival fees for a one-month visa for Syrians used to cost $150. Those visas could be extended for up to a year. She spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing she could be deported.

Now, Syrians must be registered with a social security number showing their employer pays taxes on them, he said, otherwise they cannot renew their visas. In Baghdad, a one-year work visa that comes with a social security number costs $2,000.

Host countries that have sheltered Syrian refugees have increasingly pushed for their return home, where the country's war, now in its 14th year, is mostly frozen along the former front lines. The United Nations and rights groups say Syria remains unsafe for returns.

Human Rights Watch said that in July 2023, returnees from Iraq were reportedly tortured in Syrian military intelligence custody and conscripted into military service.

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A leading human rights group calls on Iraq to halt deportations of Syrian refugees - ABC News

Is Hamas planning to move to Iraq due to pressure from Qatar? – The Jerusalem Post

The Hamas leadership is considering relocating from Qatar, where it is currently residing, to Iraq, according to a report in The National in Monday.

The Iraqi government approved the move last month, a senior Iraqi MP disclosed in the report. Iran will allegedly assume responsibility for protecting Hamass leaders, offices, and personnel in Baghdad. However, according to a Ynet report, Hamas dismissed these claims, stating, "There is no truth in the reports suggesting Hamas is planning to leave Qatar and move to Iraq."

This arrangement follows discussions between Hamass political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and representatives from the Iraqi and Iranian governments. These talks were confirmed to The National by a senior Iraqi MP and a leader of a political party closely allied with an Iran-backed armed group.

"There is no consensus among Iraqi political groups on Hamass move to Baghdad," the senior Iraqi MP told The National. "Some, especially the Kurds and some Sunnis, fear it will deepen differences with the United States. But despite the lack of consensus, the governments decision to host Hamas will not be reversed." Baghdad has expressed its willingness to allow Hamas to maintain a high-profile presence in Iraq.

Although a date for the move has not been set, Hamas recently opened a political office in Baghdad, led by senior official Mohammed Al Hafy, with plans for a media office to follow in the coming weeks, the report stated. The Iraqi government has not commented on these developments.

The potential relocation comes amid stalled Gaza ceasefire negotiations mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. Senior US officials have blamed Hamas for the lack of progress, following President Joe Bidens ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the conflict.

Hamass decision to relocate to Iraq follows weeks of pressure from Qatar to accept US ceasefire proposals, which include an exchange of hostages and Palestinian detainees with Israel, the report claims.

Hamas officials have faced threats of expulsion from Qatar and punitive measures, including asset freezes, if they do not show negotiation flexibility. These warnings were conveyed during a meeting in Doha with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, following a visit by CIA Director William Burns, Washingtons chief ceasefire mediator.

The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been striving for months to broker a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict reignited after Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed approximately 1,200 people.

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Is Hamas planning to move to Iraq due to pressure from Qatar? - The Jerusalem Post

Ten Years Ago, ISIS Seized Power and Territory. What’s Happened Since? – PBS

Ten years ago, the terrorist group known as ISIS stunned the world when it seized wide swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and declared its own caliphate.

By the time territory from that self-proclaimed caliphate was fully retaken in 2019, ISIS had terrorized civilian populations in Iraq and Syria, carried out a genocidal campaign against the Yazidi religious minority, broadcast the beheadings of journalists and aid workers, and staged deadly terror attacks in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Manchester, Turkey and beyond.

This is one of the first terrorist groups saying, You know what? Were not going to hit and run, and were never going to participate in politics as you know it. We actually want to kill everyone who disagrees with us, counterterrorism expert Ali Soufan told FRONTLINE in 2014s The Rise of ISIS.

In that documentary and 17 others collected below, FRONTLINE has covered how the group that would evolve into ISIS gained strength in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, how it exploited the conflict in Syria, and how the long and costly U.S.-led fight against the group, with a civilian toll of its own, has played out in the Middle East and across the world.

FRONTLINEs documentaries and related reporting have also examined the continuing evolution of the ISIS threat, including how the group has solidified a foothold in Afghanistan. U.S. officials believe ISIS-Khorasan, or ISIS-K, an affiliate of the self-declared Islamic State that emerged in Afghanistan, was behind the suburban Moscow concert hall assault in March that killed more than 130 people and was the deadliest terror attack inside Russia in 20 years.

A decade after ISIS seized power, explore our reporting on the group, the fight against it, the civilian toll and the lasting ramifications below.

As ISIS burst onto the world stage and seized cities and towns in Iraq and Syria, filmmakers Michael Kirk, Jim Gilmore and Mike Wiser traced how the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, its aftermath and the decisions of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama contributed tothe groundwork for the terrorist groups evolution and ascent first as Al Qaeda in Iraq, and then as ISIS. The documentary chronicled the U.S.s role in Iraq from the invasion to the bloody emergence of a terror group that, as former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker told FRONTLINE, made [Osama] bin Ladens Al Qaeda look like Boy Scouts.

From filmmakers Martin Smith and Linda Hirsch, this documentary laid out the unheeded warnings, failures and missed opportunities that allowed a decimated Al Qaeda in Iraq to evolve and expand into ISIS. Reporting from Iraq as U.S. airstrikes against ISIS began, Smith offered a revelatory look at how ISIS grew in Iraq, how it gained strength in Syria, and how it developed and funded its brutal strategy.

How was ISISs founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, once a small-time criminal, able to build a brutal terrorist organization that would destabilize the Middle East and inflict violence around the world? This film showed how, in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Zarqawi developed what would become the foundation for ISISs playbook of fomenting sectarian violence among Muslims, stepping in to take advantage of power vacuums, and broadcasting brutality far and wide on the internet. From filmmakers Michael Kirk, Mike Wiser and Jim Gilmore, the film also explored how Zarqawis successor, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, followed Zarqawis method to make ISIS an even more powerful threat.

Martin Smith examined the Obama administrations struggle to deal with the deadly war in Syria, then in its fifth year and explored how the accompanying rise of ISIS heightened the stakes. The documentary also examined how the spiraling humanitarian catastrophe under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad allowed ISIS to flourish.

An on-the-ground investigation of the complexities of the U.S.-led fight against ISIS, this documentary from filmmakers Martin Smith and Linda Hirsch delved into the conditions that allowed ISIS to rise, and the role of powerful, Iran-backed Shia militias in Iraq that were accused of abusing civilians while fighting ISIS. Smith traveled to five countries with key roles in the anti-ISIS fight Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkey to report on successes, failures and challenges as ISIS lost ground in the region, but lashed out with attacks abroad.

From filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team, this two-hour documentary special explored how the 9/11 attacks ushered in an era of fear, mistrust and division in the U.S. and examined the legacy and aftermath of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the rise of ISIS.

This groundbreaking February 2014 FRONTLINE report documented ISISs presence in Syria months before the group became an international talking point. Correspondent Muhammad Ali found that three years into Syrias civil war, rebel forces werent just fighting Assads regime. They were also vying for control against a brutal group that was then little-known: ISIS. Ali, a Syrian native, filmed rebels as they tried to unify against ISIS and embarked on a battle to take back an ISIS-controlled town. The documentary was produced by Jamie Doran and James Jones.

Using undercover footage, this documentary presented firsthand accounts of women from the Yazidi religious minority who were abducted and enslaved by ISIS and who escaped its brutal reign. Some nights I cant sleep until the early morning hours because of the nightmares, Aeida, a 21-year-old Yazidi woman who was abducted by ISIS with her two young children, said in the documentary. Filmmakers Edward Watts and Evan Williams also followed an underground network that helped the women escape.

Read More: Where Are the Yazidis Today, Almost a Decade After ISISs Genocidal Campaign?

Described at the time by some military commanders as the deadliest urban combat since World War II, the battle to drive ISIS out of Mosul, Iraq, was brutal and grueling. Reporter Ghaith Abdul-Ahad reported from the frontlines of the fight.

Shot during the months-long battle to retake Mosul, this film from Olivier Sarbil, James Jones and Dan Edge followed four young soldiers on an Iraqi special forces squad, trained for intense urban warfare, as they dealt with the fight and the fallout. I have these dreams, then-staff sergeant Jamal al-Zain told FRONTLINE. My family tells me that I shout, ISIS, ISIS! Shoot him. When everyone is sleeping and Im awake, I break down and cry.

Shia militias played a crucial role in Iraqs fight against ISIS. But correspondent Ramita Navai found that some of the Iranian-backed Shia forces battling ISIS had themselves been accused of atrocities, including kidnapping, imprisoning, torturing and killing ordinary Sunni civilians whom the militias saw as ISIS suspects. On my journey through Iraq, Ive seen ISIS losing ground, but its come at a cost, Navai said in the film. Mistrust between Sunnis and Shias seems greater than ever. The challenge for Iraq now will be preventing this from starting yet another war.

From director James Bluemel, this film documented the story of the Iraq War, as told by Iraqis who lived through it. They shared their personal accounts and lasting memories of life under Saddam Hussein, the U.S.-led invasion of their country and the years of chaos that followed from the sectarian violence to the rise and brutal reign of ISIS. Everybody was terrified that ISIS would enter Baghdad at any time. They were close to the borders, only one hour away from us, a young woman named Sally Mars said in the film. They understood how to attack us mentally before they attacked us with weapons. They made us fear them.

Correspondent Najibullah Quraishi revealed on film the degree to which ISIS had gained a foothold in Afghanistan, and how the group was focusing its efforts on training a new generation of jihadists. Theyre completely different than the Taliban, Quraishi said of ISIS in the documentary. They are not after one country or one place or one district. Their aim is to have their groups, to have their networks all over the world.

Following a wave of deadly terror incidents, including ISIS-claimed attacks in Paris and Brussels that killed more than 170 people, FRONTLINE and ProPublica went inside Europes fight against terrorism. Correspondent Sebastian Rotella sat down with officials tasked with carrying out the fight against ISIS and Al Qaeda and examined missteps and systemic breakdowns that allowed known terrorists to launch an attack in the heart of Europe.

These documentaries told the first-person stories of refugees and migrants fleeing war, persecution and hardship including violence wrought by ISIS and the conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Our future has gone, Saed, an Iraqi man who was living in a refugee camp after fleeing ISIS, told FRONTLINE in Exodus: The Journey Continues. Saed, whose brother had worked as a translator for the U.S. Army, said, My only hope now is to leave this land, to be able to get to America.

Nearly 20 years after the U.S. drove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan, and as then-President Donald Trump said he wanted to end the war, reporter Najibullah Quraishi went on a dangerous journey inside both Taliban- and ISIS-held territory in Afghanistan. With filmmakers Karim Shah, Dan Edge and Monica Garnsey, Quraishi exposed the harsh reality that not only was the Taliban once again wielding power, but ISISs threat was also looming large.

Filmed on the ground in Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal under President Joe Biden, this documentary revealed how the Taliban takeover had transformed daily life in Afghanistan. Najibullah Quraishi also investigated how the Talibans rise to power in Afghanistan was intensifying the threat from Al Qaeda and ISIS both within the country and beyond. A longtime source told Quraishi that ISIS is a very serious danger, not just for Afghanistan but for the whole world.

Read More: The Backstory on ISIS-K, the ISIS Affiliate Believed Responsible for Moscow Attack

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Ten Years Ago, ISIS Seized Power and Territory. What's Happened Since? - PBS