in Iraq
Iraq
Islamic State Trying to Rise Under the Radar
Washington — The Islamic State terror group, whose name once inspired fear across swaths of the Middle East and beyond, may be seeking to regain its reputation, pushing a new campaign it says is focused on killing the group’s enemies wherever they can be found.
Starting with its claim of the terror attack on the Iranian city of Kerman on January 3, killing nearly 90 people, Islamic State social media accounts have quickly pumped out claims for some 100 other attacks across Africa, the...
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China Circumspect After International Court Ruling on Israel
Johannesburg, South Africa — In a carefully worded response this week, China voiced its support of the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, or ICJ, ruling that orders Israel to desist from the killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Experts tell VOA that privately China has reservations about the use of such courts to deal with allegations of genocide, which could have awkward implications for Beijing.
“We hope that the ICJ’s provisional measures can be effectively implemented,” said Foreign...
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Turkish Assault on Syrian Kurdish Forces Fuels Talk of American Pullout
Turkish warplanes continue to pound U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria that are fighting Islamic State militants. As Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, Turkey’s assault is fueling speculation among observers that Washington could be preparing to pull out and cut back its support for Kurdish forces in Syria.
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With Bonfires, Hope, Iran's Minority Zoroastrians Mark Sadeh Holiday
TEHRAN, Iran — Lighting fires that brightened the night sky, followers of Iran's minority Zoroastrian religion marked the Sadeh festival in several cities Tuesday, celebrating the end of the coldest winter days.
Every year on January 30, Zoroastrians gather after sunset to celebrate the 50 days and 50 nights remaining until spring. Sadah, which means "the 100," is an ancient feast from when the religion was the dominant faith in the powerful Persian empire, which collapsed...
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US Targets Iranian, Hezbollah Financial Network With Sanctions
WASHINGTON — The United States imposed sanctions on three entities and one individual based in Turkey and Lebanon on Wednesday for giving "critical financial support" to a financial network used by Iran's Quds Force, or IRGC-QF, and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
"These entities have generated hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of revenue from selling Iranian commodities, including to the Syrian government," the U.S. Treasury Department said in a...
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Red Sea Container Shipping Down 30% Over Attacks, IMF Says
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Container shipping through the Red Sea has dropped by nearly one-third this year as attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels continue, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.
"Container shipping ... has declined by almost 30%," said Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia department, adding that "the drop in trade accelerated in the beginning of this year."
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 30...
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Israel Calls to Disband UNRWA
Israel calls for disbanding UNRWA, the United Nations agency that aids Palestinians, after Israel presented evidence that at least 12 UNRWA staffers participated in the October 7 massacre. Several major donors have suspended funding. Palestinians say that UNRWA fills a vital role in distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from Jerusalem. (Camera: Ricki Rosen; Produced by: Bakhtiyar Zamanov)
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An Impeachment Push, and a Militia’s Surprise Move
Plus, broadcasting layoffs on TikTok.
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Israeli Forces Strike Northern and Southern Gaza Amid Push for New Halt in Fighting
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Iran Wary of US Response After Deadly Attack on Troops
Tehran, Iran — Iranian commentators warned Tuesday of a U.S. military retaliation after Washington pledged a "very consequential" response to troop deaths, but largely agreed that a full-blown war was not in the offing.
U.S. President Joe Biden blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq" for Sunday's drone strike on a remote Jordan desert base near Syria and Iraq that killed three U.S. soldiers.
The first American military deaths in an...
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WHO Says Defunding UNRWA a 'Distraction' from Dire Situation in Gaza
Geneva — The World Health Organization warns that defunding UNRWA, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, threatens to worsen the already dire situation of more than 2 million civilians in Gaza, many of whom are facing starvation, ill health and the threat of death from the spread of infectious diseases.
More than a dozen countries, including the United States, suspended funds to UNRWA following allegations that some of the agency’s staff members...
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White House Vows Response to Drone Strike Blamed on Iran
The White House says it’s not seeking war with Iran, amid President Joe Biden’s vow to respond to a drone strike that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan, an act Washington blames on Iranian-backed militias. Congress is pressuring the White House to strike back, which is likely to further escalate and expand the conflict sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli citizens. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from Washington.
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Houthi Ship Attacks Disrupting Global Supply Chain
Hundreds of cargo ships traveling from Asia to Europe are now avoiding the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route due to persistent attacks and hijackings by Houthi militants responding to the Israel-Hamas war. The International Chamber of Shipping, a major trade group, says these incidents have caused significant disruptions in global trade, leading to increased costs and delays. Jonathan Spier narrates this report from Alfonso Beato in Barcelona, one of the main ports in Europe handling cargo...
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What Groups Are in Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance?’
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Confusion Over Incoming Drones May Have Led to Deadly Attack in Jordan, US Military Says
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Pakistan, Iran Agree to Broaden Anti-Terror Cooperation After Missile Strikes
Islamabad — Pakistan and Iran agreed Monday to broaden political and security cooperation to confront terrorism after exchanging unprecedented missile strikes earlier this month against alleged militant bases in each other’s territories.
The understanding stemmed from a meeting Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani hosted with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, in Islamabad.
"There was an agreement to cooperate to fight terrorism in our respective areas. We...
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