Barham Salih

ISIL claimed responsibility early on July 20 for a suicide bombing that ripped through a busy market in the Iraqi capital ahead of Eid holiday celebrations, killing nearly 30 people, according to medical sources.

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.

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

Turkish president held separate phone calls with Iraqi and Qatari leaders to discuss cooperation in combating the novel
coronavirus outbreak, the Communications Directorate said on May 22. 

Turkey voiced support April 22 for the formation of a stable government in Iraq as efforts toward that end continued in the capital Baghdad. 

"We support the formation of a stable government in our brotherly neighbor Iraq, particularly at a time when the whole world is facing dire difficulties," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

Multiple rockets fell on March 14 morning inside Iraq's Taji military base that houses U.S.-led coalition troops, for the second time in a week, Reuters reported on March 14.

An Iraqi colonel inside the base told Reuters he heard at least 10 rockets hit the base and said he could now hear sirens blaring.

Iraq condemned overnight U.S. airstrikes on March 13, saying they killed six people and warning of dangerous consequences for what it called a violation of sovereignty and targeted aggression against the nation's regular armed forces.

The death toll from anti-government protests in Iraq has risen to 556, Iraq's Independent High Commission for Human Rights said on Feb. 2.

A statement from the press office of Ali al-Bayati, a representative of the commission, said those who doubt the figure should reveal their evidence.

Iraq's president on Feb. 1 assigned the country's former communications minister to form a new government.

Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi announced President Barham Salih's mandate to form the new government on Twitter.

He also addressed protestors urging them to continue their demonstrations until a change was achieved in the country.

Turkey has joined an international diplomatic campaign to defuse tension between the United States and Iran after the assassination of the latter's top military figure with calls on all related parties to act with restraint and common sense to avoid a larger conflict in an already unstable Middle East.