Saudi’s oil facilities attacked, days after sabotage of the tankers
Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that two oil pumping stations outside of Riyadh were attacked by what they called “terrorists,” Reuters reported.
Middle East
Iraq would be a part of the battleground against Iran
An Iraqi-Arab tribal leader in Nineveh Governorate uncovers, “the Islamic Republic of Iran has provided the Popular Mobilization Forces (known as Hashd al-Shaabi) with ballistic missiles in order to target American military bases in the country.”
IRGC Quds commander visits Baghdad amid tensions with US
Qassem Soleimani, commander of Quds force from Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly visited Iraq last week after US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo warned Iran-backed militia groups on any possible act against US forces in Iraq.
Pompeo warns Shiite militias not to threaten US interests in Iraq
The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday night in an unannounced visit to meet with with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul al-Mahdi.
Iraq denies Iran’s claim over US permission for Baghdad to trade with Tehran
Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mehdi, denied on Tuesday a recent claim by Iranian ambassador in London, who stated that US will allow Iraq to do business with Iran, in exchange for an oil deal with Washington.
US to deploy carrier strike group in response to Iran
The United States is deploying a navy carrier strike group to the Middle East, declared National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday.
Suspect sentenced in Australia for attempting to blow up plane with explosives sent through Turkey
A suspect in connection to a 2017 attempt to detonate a bomb on an Etihad Airways flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi was sentenced in an Australian court on Wednesday as reported by N World News.
Hashd al-Shaabi formed because of Iran, commander says
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, commander of the Iraqi Shiite militia Hashd al-Shabi says that the umbrella organization was formed because of Iran’s support.
Regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia meet at Iraq-hosted conference
Arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Baghdad on Saturday as Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi seeks to mediate between the two in order to improve diplomatic relations.
Syria struggles with gas shortages following US sanctions on Iran’s oil
The Syrian government is facing a severe shortage of gas as the country has not received oil from Iran since October due to sanctions that were placed on Tehran by the United States.