The United States has declared the leader of the Iran-backed Kataib Hizbullah (KH) militant group in Iraq a terrorist following a number of recent rocket attacks on bases hosting U.S. and other foreign troops in Iraq. A State Department official on February 26 said the United States had listed Ahmad al-Hamidawi, head of the armed faction of the group, as a "specially designated global terrorist." The action will freeze U.S. assets that he might hold and make any transactions with him a…

The Trump administration on Wednesday blacklisted a militia leader in Iraq, saying his group was responsible for a rocket attack that killed an American contractor in December and turned its snipers on civilian protesters last year. The State and Treasury departments said they had designated Ahmad al-Hamidawi, the secretary general of Kataib Hezbollah, as a “specially designated global terrorist.” Americans are prohibited from doing business with him. Kataib Hezbollah, also known as the Hezbollah Brigades, is a Shiite militia whose…

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Hannaa Jassem bends over a patient in a makeshift clinic on the edge of Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, one of a handful of women in an overwhelmingly male world of demonstrations and political confrontation. The 24-year-old works as a nurse in a hospital in Iraq’s capital during the week, and volunteers at its main protest site at weekends. As teargas spreads outside, Jassem stitches up wounds in an open-fronted shack supported by metal poles with walls covered in…

BAGHDAD -- One protester was shot dead and at least six wounded in renewed violence between anti-government demonstrators and security forces in central Baghdad on Sunday, Iraqi officials said. Separately, Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi received a call from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who congratulated him on his nomination and emphasized joint coordination between Iraq and the U.S. as relations between the two countries soured after a Washington-directed attack Jan. 3 near Baghdad airport killed top Iranian general Qassem Solimani.  One protester…

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) named Abdulaziz al-Mohammedawi as its new deputy commander following the assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis alongside the head of Iran’s al-Quds Force, Major General Qassem Soleimani, in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January. PMF official Abu Ali al-Basri announced on Friday the appointment of Mohammedawi, aka 'Abu Fadak' and 'the Uncle', who was a top commander of Iraq’s Hezbollah Brigades. He worked with Soleimani while he was organizationally linked with al-Badr Organization in…

Thousands of Iraqi Kurds Saturday rallied against poor public services and "corruption" among the ruling elite in their autonomous region, an AFP correspondent said. The rallies led by the New Generation movement, an opposition party, came amid ongoing protests since October in Baghdad and Iraq's south demanding an overhaul of the federal government. "Public services quickly," read another. The autonomous Kurdish region, which initially saw an economic boom when the rest of the country descended into violence after the 2003…

CAIRO (Reuters) - Iraq banned border crossings by Iranian nationals for three days from Thursday amid fears of the coronavirus, Iraq’s state news agency said on Thursday. The decision came after Iraqi Airways suspended flights to Iran. Two Iranians who tested positive on Wednesday for the disease have died, while three tested positive on Thursday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in Iran to five, the Iranian health ministry said. Source: Reuters

Report reviews human rights in 19 MENA states during 2019 Wave of protests across Algeria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon demonstrates reinvigorated faith in people power 500+ killed in Iraq and over 300 in Iran in brutal crackdowns on protests Relentless clampdown on peaceful critics and human rights defenders At least 136 prisoners of conscience detained in 12 countries for online speech Governments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) displayed a chilling determination to crush protests with ruthless force…

Iraqi security forces on Monday used pellet guns and slingshots in a confrontation with protesters near Baghdad's Khilani square. Gunshots were heard during the clashes, and riot police also used steel ball ammo and teargas, protesters said. A number of protesters were injured by steel ball ammunition and were treated by volunteer medics on site. Protesters and security forces have been clashing almost every day near the Khilani area, which is close to Tahrir Square, the main protest camp. An anti-government protest movement began…

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The top United Nations envoy to Iraq condemned on Monday the use of hunting rifles loaded with birdshot against peaceful protesters in Baghdad and urged the government to ensure those demonstrating are not harmed. The U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq said it had received credible allegations of protesters being targeted with hunting rifles, stones and firebombs on the nights of Feb. 14-16, leading to at least 50 injuries. At least 150 people were injured in the Shi’ite…