This is Beirut

Iraq's Faces Lowest Water Reserves in 80 Years

This is Beirut, 25/05 15:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq Tigris River Euphrates River Water Climate Change

Iraq's water reserves are at their lowest in 80 years after a dry rainy season, a government official said Sunday, as its share from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers shrinks. Water is a major issue in the country of 46 million people undergoing a serious environmental crisis because of climate change, drought, rising temperatures and declining ...

Iraq Seeks Deal to Swap Kidnapped Academic for Jailed Iranian

This is Beirut, 24/05 14:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq Elizabeth Tsurkov

Baghdad is working on a deal to free kidnapped Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov in exchange for an Iranian jailed in Iraq for murdering a US civilian, security sources said Saturday. The deal depends on US approval, the senior Iraqi security officials told AFP, asking to remain anonymous because the matter is considered ...

Weapons Smuggling to Lebanon Foiled at Iraq-Syria Border

This is Beirut, 21/05 10:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria Lebanon Weapons Smuggling Border Iraq

A significant cache of weapons destined for Lebanon has been seized by Syrian security forces in the border region of Al-Boukamal, east of Deir Al-Zor, according to local sources cited by Houna Loubnan. The arms reportedly originated from Iraq. The seizure was the result of a large-scale security operation targeting an arms trafficking network ...

PKK Urges Turkey to Ease Leader's Solitary Confinement for Any Peace Talks

This is Beirut, 20/05 15:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

PKK iraq Turkey kurds

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has said Turkey should ease prison conditions for its founder Abdullah Öcalan, declaring him the group's "chief negotiator" for any future talks after a decision to disband. The Kurdish group, blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies, announced on May 12 it had adopted a decision to disarm and disband ...

Oil Exploration Threatens Iraq’s Legendary Mesopotamian Marshes

This is Beirut, 19/05 17:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Marshes Iraq oil Mesopotamia

In southern Iraq, the legendary Mesopotamian Marshes face a new threat: oil exploration.

Baghdad Declaration Calls for Gaza Ceasefire and Reconstruction

This is Beirut, 17/05 17:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Arab League Baghdad Declaration Iraq Gaza

Arab leaders urged the international community Saturday to fund their plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip after U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated a proposal to take over the Palestinian territory. An Arab League summit in Baghdad said in its final statement that it urges "countries and international and regional financial institutions to provide ...

Salam at Arab Summit: Lebanon Turns a New Page

This is Beirut, 17/05 15:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon 34th Arab Summit Baghdad Iraq Israel

Lebanon has entered a new chapter in its history by restoring state sovereignty and recommitting to national reforms, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Saturday at the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad, Iraq. “We meet today at a time when Lebanon has turned a new page in its history by restoring the state’s sovereignty over its entire ...

Arab Summit Host Iraq Pledges $40 Million for Lebanon and Gaza Reconstruction

This is Beirut, 17/05 14:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iraq Arab League Lebanon Gaza

Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose country is hosting the 34th Arab League summit, said Saturday it would provide $40 million for the reconstruction of Lebanon and Gaza after wars with Israel. Iraq backs the creation of an "Arab fund to support reconstruction efforts" after crises in the region, Sudani told Arab leaders in ...

Lebanese and Iraqi Prime Ministers Discuss Closer Ties Before Summit

This is Beirut, 16/05 22:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Iraq Arab Summit Nawaf Salam Energy

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Friday with his Iraqi counterpart, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in Baghdad to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation ahead of the 34th Arab Summit. Talks focused on energy, economic ties, and cultural exchange, with both leaders emphasizing the need to strengthen Arab unity in the face of regional ...

Lebanon at the Baghdad Summit: A Message of Arab Reconnection

This is Beirut, 16/05 14:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel Saudi Arabia Lebanon Iraq Nawaf Salam Syria

On the eve of his departure for Baghdad to lead the Lebanese delegation at the Arab summit, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a firm message outlining his government’s intentions to reestablish Lebanon’s standing in the region. “Lebanon intends to fully reconnect with its Arab environment and regain its place on the regional scene,” Salam ...

Lebanon and Iraq Deepen Energy Ties with Renewed Oil Agreement

This is Beirut, 06/05 18:27 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Iraq Central Bank Baghdad Energy Oil agreement

Lebanon and Iraq have renewed a key energy deal through which Baghdad will supply Beirut with two million tons of crude oil, now under new payment terms that reflect shifting regional dynamics. In a notable departure from past arrangements, Lebanon has agreed to settle its dues in US dollars via direct transfers from the Banque du Liban, ending ...

A Complicated Fuel Deal

Christiane Tager, 05/05 21:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Iraq dollars oil

It appears that the fuel partnership with Iraq is under strain – or even under high tension. Since July 2021, Iraq has been Lebanon’s main fuel supplier thanks to a $700 million contract, renewed in 2023, bringing the total to $1.4 billion. In return, Lebanon had committed to delivering Lebanese goods and services, particularly in the medical ...

Iraq