Iraqi parliament elects Latif Rashid as new president

Turkey’s wave of air attacks against Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria have reportedly hit oil assets run by international oil companies.

Since the launch of Operation Claw-Sword, Turkish strikes have widely targeted civilian and energy infrastructure, wreaking havoc and paralyzing economic life in northeast Syria.

The United States' top ally in Syria warned that unless Washington and the Kremlin push back more firmly Turkey will launch a ground offensive against his forces that will further undermine the battle against the Islamic State.

As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns of a possible new ground incursion into neighboring Syria, officials from the Kurdish-controlled region are pleading with the Biden administration to intervene.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is dealing inappropriately with the citizens at the border areas of Sulaimani, Halabja and Garmian provinces, Bafel Talabani stated in a meeting with the US ambassador to Iraq.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has rebuffed Russia's efforts to arrange a meeting with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, citing Turkey's upcoming elections and the presence of Turkish troops on Syrian soil.

In his first interview with international media following Tuesday's drone strike on his main headquarters in northeast Syria, Mazlum Kobane (also known as Mazloum Abdi), the commander of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said that the most likely target of a potential Turkish ground offensive against the Kurdish-controlled areas would be his native city of Kobani.

The Joint Chairman of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of the Euphrates Region condemned the drone attack of the Turkish army on the building of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration and considered these attacks to be aimed at destroying the autonomous administration and the democratic experience of northern and eastern Syria.

Prof Birgit Ammann believes it has to be made clear that there is also a lot of serious critique against both the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the People's Defense Units (YPG) and their political environment- within and outside the Kurdish communities and that that the ban of both groups is totally outdated in Germany. A professor from the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, she also said it is virtually impossible and unnecessary to figure the number of the Kurds in the world because Kurds do not need a number to justify their claims.

The Kurdish National Council announced it would hold its fourth congress after several years of delay.

Meral Aksener, leader of the nationalist opposition IYI (Good) Party, plans to meet with President Bashar al-Assad in Syria to talk about ensuring the safe return of Syrian refugees in Turkey and a joint fight against terrorist organizations in Syria that pose a security threat to both countries, local media reported on Friday, citing the party’s spokesman.

The Iraqi Prime Minister has decided to form a dedicated committee to settle the outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad, particularly for disputed oil and gas matter among the two sides.

The Iraqi Electricity Ministry announced that it had reached an agreement with Iran on importing more gas.

The Commander-in-chief of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said on Tuesday he still feared a Turkish ground invasion despite U.S. assurances and has demanded a “stronger” message from Washington after seeing unprecedented Turkish deployments along the border.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Iraq's progress has enemies who may not openly express hostility but do not accept its legal government, so Iraq should stand firm against the will of the enemy by relying on the motivated and young people.