BAGHDAD: A French reporter released after being held for three weeks in Iraq will be free to leave in two days, when his case is closed after bail proceedings are finalized, a security official said yesterday.
Nadir Dendoune, who was detained in January for allegedly taking unauthorized photographs of security installations but freed earlier this month, is currently at the French embassy in Baghdad, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Dendoune was arrested while reportedly visiting Iraq to compile a series of stories on the upcoming 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country for French magazines Le Monde Diplomatique and Le Courier de l’Atlas.
Iraqi judicial sources claimed that Dendoune, who also holds Australian and Algerian passports, was arrested carrying a camera with which he took pictures of the Iraqi intelligence service headquarters, army and police.
Dendoune’s sister Houria told AFP from Paris, however, that her brother was arrested while taking pictures of a water treatment plant.
French reporter free to leave Iraq soon
French reporter free to leave Iraq soon
Iraq takes full control of air base after US withdrawal, defense ministry says
- An Iraqi army colonel confirmed the US forces withdrawal from the base
- There were a few soldiers remaining due to some logistical issues
BAGHDAD: US forces have withdrawn from Iraq’s Ain Al-Asad Airbase, which housed US-led forces in Western Iraq, and the Iraqi army has assumed full control, the Iraqi defense ministry said on Saturday.
In 2024, Washington and Baghdad reached an understanding on plans for the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq and a move toward a bilateral security relationship.
Ain Al-Asad has hosted US and coalition troops for years and has been repeatedly targeted by Iran-backed armed groups during periods of heightened regional tensions, including after the 2020 US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
An Iraqi army colonel confirmed the US forces withdrawal from the base, saying there were a few soldiers remaining due to some logistical issues. He did not give further details for security reasons.
It was not immediately clear when the withdrawal started, but the initial plan stipulated that hundreds of troops would leave by September 2025, with the rest departing by the end of 2026.
