Iraq

An opposition lawmaker applied to court on June 26 to lift the coverage ban imposed on the kidnapping of 80 Turkish citizens by Sunni militants in Mosul, Iraq on June 11.

Sezgin Tanrıkulu, deputy leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), made his appeal to an Ankara court citing in his petition his constitutional right for freedom of expression.

The prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) held talks in Ankara on June 26, amid growing unrest in Iraq. Both Nechirvan Barzani and Turkish officials agreed on the need for the establishment of an inclusive Iraqi government as soon as possible. 

Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Northern Iraq (KRG), has held talks in Ankara in the early hours of June 26 to discuss the deepening unrest in Iraq.

Syrian warplanes bombed Sunni militants' positions inside Iraq, military officials confirmed Wednesday, deepening the concerns that the extremist insurgency that spans the two neighboring countries could morph into an even wider regional conflict. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned against the threat and said other nations should stay out.
     

Powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has vowed to "shake the ground" under the feet of advancing Sunni militants, as Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki warned rivals against exploiting the crisis to sideline him.

The struggle for Iraq’s soul is getting more intense every passing day. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which spearheaded the latest uprising from predominantly Sunni areas, has continued to advance towards the south, capturing new towns along the way to Baghdad. Last week, it took control of strategically located Qaim, Rutba, Rawa and Anah in the Anbar Province.

Turkey raised fears on June 25 over potential spillover from turmoil in neighbouring Iraq, as NATO promised not to hesitate to defend its ally from the widening conflict.    

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on June 25 ruled out forming a national emergency government to confront a Sunni militant offensive that has overrun large parts of the country.

"The call to form a national emergency government is a coup against the constitution and the political process," Maliki said in a televised address.

Al-Qaeda's Syrian offshoot on June 25 made an oath of loyalty to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant at a key town on the Iraqi border, a monitor said.

US military advisers have begun arriving in Baghdad to help the Iraqi army in fighting against the Sunni insurgency.

A total of 300 US military advisers and troops are expected to be stationed in Baghdad. Initially they will not be involved directly in the fighting, but will carry out surveillance and plan the combat operations, Al-Jazeera reports.