Baghdad News

Iraqi security forces have launched a manhunt for American journalist Shelley Kittleson, abducted Tuesday in central Baghdad. Following a high-speed chase and the arrest of one suspect, authorities are racing to locate the veteran war correspondent.

Local elections Iraq last took place in 2013. They were postponed because of the war against Islamic State militants who took over large parts of Iraq but were eventually defeated.

India has formally requested Iraq to rebuild the Baba Nanak Gurdwara The matter was raised by Indian National security advisor Ajit Doval The Baba Nanak Gurdwara is a significant religious site for the Sikh community

Iraq protestors breached parliament on Saturday. Iraq's Prime Minister urged protestors to keep their agitation peaceful. Followers of an influential Shiite cleric are protesting formation of the next government by Iran-backed parties.

In Iraq's capital Baghdad, the dust storm once again increased the problems of the people. The storm turned dark in the last day, the speed of vehicles slowed down on the roads. Even many people started having trouble breathing.

The Iraqi security forces have killed three Islamic State (IS) militants and arrested eight others CTS forces also arrested two leaders of the extremist organization

One rocket was destroyed in the air by the C-RAM defense system and the other landed near the zone`s festival arena damaging two cars. 

The attack took place around midnight Three rockets landed on the edges of the airport in southwestern Baghdad No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack

The assailants in four vehicles attacked the post in the city's Al-Radhwaniya district using grenades and automatic weapons, the sources said. 

Iraq’s military said in a statement on Monday that two Katyusha rockets had fallen late on Sunday in Baghdad`s Jadiriya area, near the heavily fortified Green Zone, without causing any casualties. One of the rockets landed near the Babylon hotel, which is used by Iraqi travelers and sometimes for government meetings, the military said in the statement. The Iraqi military blamed “terrorist groups” for the attack and said the rockets were fired from an area in the western part of the capital.

The British embassy in Baghdad said that an IED attack took place against British diplomatic vehicles on Tuesday, but caused no injuries.

The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan.

The incident took place at around 12 a.m. on Sunday when unknown militants fired the rockets at the zone, which houses some of the main Iraqi government offices and the US embassy, the official told Xinhua news agency.

The rockets hit the high-security `Green Zone` in Baghdad which houses a number of foreign diplomatic missions, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Iraqi authorities.

Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday. 

Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed last Friday in US drone strikes near Baghdad airport.

Iran said on Sunday (January 5) it was taking a further step back from its commitments, although it also said it would continue to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog. Its announcement coincided with a major escalation of tensions with Washington following the US killing of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Friday in Baghdad.

A resolution passed by a special session of parliament said the government should cancel its request for assistance from a US-led coalition. Parliament resolutions, unlike laws, are non-binding to the government. But this one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible.

Strikes had been carried out against two targets linked to Iran in Baghdad on Thursday, U.S. officials told Reuters. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to give any further details.

The militia members were hosting "important guests" at Baghdad airport who were being driven in two militia vehicles that were struck by two rockets, said the militia sources.