Iraq

Iraqi forces launched an airborne assault on rebel-held Tikrit on June 26 with commandos flown into a stadium in helicopters, at least one of which crashed after taking fire from insurgents who have seized northern cities.

Iraqi forces launched an airborne assault on rebel-held Tikrit on June 26 with commandos flown into a stadium in helicopters, at least one of which crashed after taking fire from insurgents who have seized northern cities.

Four Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers, including Turkish obsever Mehmet Kılıç, were released by the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in an apparent goodwill gesture on June 27.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on June 27 that kidnapped Turkish observer Kılıç's release was obtained following intense diplomacy.

The Turkish Economy Ministry has asked for Turkish companies to inform the government about their
business ties in Iraq amid the violence and political turmoil, which threatens all economic activities.

Israel told the United States on June 26 Kurdish independence in northern Iraq was a "foregone conclusion" and Israeli experts predicted the Jewish state would be quick to recognise a Kurdish state, should it emerge.

Iraq’s self-ruling Kurds outlined plans to swiftly ramp up oil exports now that their forces have seized control of Iraq’s main northern oil fields.

Kurdish Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami told Reuters the Kurds had plans to increase their exports eight-fold by the end of 2015, including pumping oil from the fields taken by Kurdish fighters two weeks ago.

Israel offered Thursday to help moderate Arab nations threatened by a lightning offensive by Islamic militants in Iraq, as the country's top diplomat met with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
      

Syrian fighter jets bombed positions of Islamist insurgents near the border with Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki backs actions of Damascus against the militants led by Sunni extremist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) who control significant parts of the country's territory and also have some gains in Syria.

The Syrian air force carried out air strikes targeting militants on the Syrian side of the Iraq-Syria border this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the BBC on Thursday.
      

The Syrian air force carried out air strikes targeting militants along the Iraq-Syria border this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the BBC on June 26.

Maliki told the British broadcaster he "welcomed" any such strike against militants led by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but noted Baghdad did not request the aerial raids which took place on June 24.