BAGHDAD: British Prime Minister Theresa May made a surprise visit to Iraq on Wednesday, meeting her Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad as the war against Daesh winds down.
Iraq’s government released footage of May arriving in Baghdad, greeted by an honor guard, to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi on her first trip to Iraq as prime minister.
“In Iraq, we are working together to defeat Daesh and my visit comes at a critical moment as we see the caliphate collapsing with the fall of Mosul and Raqqa,” May told journalists.
“We want to ensure that Iraq can in the future provide that strong, stable and unified state that can provide the security, jobs and opportunities that all Iraqis want and deserve,” she added.
Abadi later said May’s visit showed Britain’s “support and help” in fighting Daesh. Some 600 British troops are deployed to the country. “Iraq is about to enter a new stage of rebuilding, reconstruction and investment,” Abadi said. “Today, we discussed with the prime minister the strengthening of economic and commercial ties between the two countries.”
May also visited Camp Taji, a coalition base north of Baghdad, where around 80 British troops are currently based. May will also visit Jordan and meet with King Abdallah on her trip.
May in surprise visit to Iraq
May in surprise visit to Iraq
Israel renews demolition order for refugee camp football pitch near Bethlehem
- The Aida field has been scheduled for demolition since November
LONDON: Israeli authorities on Monday renewed a demolition order for a seven-a-side football pitch in Aida Refugee Camp, north of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.
Munther Amira, head of the Aida Youth Center, said Israeli forces had informed the charity of the order to demolish the football field, claiming it was built without a permit.
He added that they posted the demolition order at the pitch gate in the Khallat Hamama area, on the outskirts of the Aida camp near the separation wall, according to official news agency Wafa.
The order gives the site owners a week to demolish it; otherwise, the Israeli authorities, which maintain a military occupation in the area, will carry out the work and the owners would be subject to fines and potential imprisonment.
The Aida football field has been scheduled for demolition since November last year.
