Iraq

Pope Francis has called for an end to violence and extremism, on the first ever papal visit to Iraq.

In a speech after being welcomed by Iraqi President Barham Salih, Pope Francis said he was very pleased to come to Iraq, which he described as the "cradle of civilisation".

The pontiff is making his first international trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis starts a historic trip to war-battered Iraq on March 5, defying security fears and the pandemic to comfort one of the world's oldest and most persecuted Christian communities.

A volley of rockets targeting an airbase in Iraq's Kurdistan region killed a foreign civilian contractor and wounded five others, the U.S.-led coalition said.

The attack late on Feb. 15 was the first time in nearly two months that Western military or diplomatic installations have been targeted in Iraq, after a string of similar incidents.

Turkish Red Crescent on Jan. 31 opened its new office in Iraq's northern province of Erbil.

The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish Red Crescent head İbrahim Altan, Turkey's Consul General in Erbil Hakan Karacay, and other officials.

Altan said they have been carrying out relief work in Erbil since 2016.

The Turkish defense minister and the chief of general staff paid an official visit to Baghdad on Jan. 18.

Turkey and Iraq agreed to continue fighting terrorists trying to disrupt peace and stability in their common region, the Turkish president announced on Dec. 17. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's remarks came at a joint news conference following a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi who is in Turkey to discuss regional, bilateral and economic ties.

Turkey has said it will lend necessary support to Iraq in its efforts to clear the country from the PKK ahead of a key visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to Ankara where improving cooperation in the fields of economy and security will be the main course of talks.

The PKK terrorist organization, which attacks Turkey from regions in Iraq where it has nested, also challenges Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 12. 

Turkey will continue its cross-border operations against the illegal PKK group in northern Iraq if Baghdad continues to overlook the group's presence in the region, the Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 13, urging Iraqi authorities to cooperate with Ankara.

Turkey on June 4 reopened its customs gates with Iran and Iraq after months of closure due to COVID-19, Turkey's trade minister said onTwitter.

The Habur and Gürbulak customs gates have been reopened for international freight transport, said Ruhsar Pekcan.