We call on those states responsible for the invasion and occupation of Iraq to terminate their illegal and immoral war, and express our solidarity with the Iraqi people in their struggle for peace, justice and self-determination.

In particular, we demand:

  1. An immediate end to the US and UK-led occupation of Iraq;
  2. Urgent action to fully address the current humanitarian crises facing Iraq’s people, including help for the more than three million refugees and displaced persons;
  3. An end to all foreign interference in Iraq's affairs, including its oil industry, so that Iraqis can exercise their right to self-determination;
  4. Compensation and reparations from those countries responsible for war and sanctions on Iraq;
  5. Prosecution of all those responsible for war crimes, human rights abuses, and the theft of Iraq's resources.

We demand justice for Iraq.

This statement was adopted by the Justice for Iraq conference in London on 19th July 2008. We plan to publish this more widely in future. If you would like to add your name to the list of supporters please contact us.

Sunday 25 October 2015

Iraq Occupation Focus Newsletter No 287

Iraq says it was not warned about Russian missiles crossing its airspace Washington Post reports (October 9th): Iraq’s Defense Ministry said it was not informed when Russia launched more than two dozen cruise missiles across its airspace this week, and it described the lack of coordination in the region’s increasingly cluttered skies as “dangerous.”
Iraq forces retake areas around Ramadi AFP report (October 7th): Iraqi forces have retaken several areas north and west of Ramadi as efforts to close in on the Anbar provincial capital seized by jihadists in May intensify, officials said.
Iraq PM open to Russian airstrikes on Islamic State militants France 24 reports (October 2nd): Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told FRANCE24 in an exclusive interview broadcast that he is open to allowing Russia to carry out air strikes against Islamic State group militants in Iraq.
A family of seven members killed in bombing by the International Coalition aircraftsouth of Kirkuk NINA reports (September 28th): A security source told the National Iraqi News Agency "that an international coalition aircraft bombed a residential house at the entrance to Al Yarkon village in al-Rashad district south of Kirkuk, which led to the killing of an entire family of seven members of men, women and children.”
Shocking Truth Of UK Involvement In The Deaths of 6-8 million in Iraq and Afghanistan True Publica reports (September 29th): Landmark research proves that the US-led ‘war on terror’ has killed much higher numbers than previously reported and this is only a fraction of Western responsibility for deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last two decades.
Back in March this year, the Washington DC-based Physicians for Social Responsibility (PRS) released a landmark study concluding that the death toll from 10 years of the “War on Terror” since the 9/11 attacks is at least 1.3 million, and could be as high as 2 million. But still, the reality is much worse as the report concludes.
CIA, Special Ops Cooperate to Kill Extremists in Syria, Iraq ABC News reports (September 28th): With no regular American presence in the war theater, the U.S. has struggled to answer basic intelligence questions about the situation in Syria and Iraq, including the Islamic State group's fighting strength.
But one element is seen as a growing intelligence and military success: The combined effort by the CIA and the military's Joint Special Operations Command to find and kill "high value" targets from both al-Qaida and IS. Continue reading newsletter

Saturday 3 October 2015

Iraq Occupation Focus Newsletter 286

4th October 2015
UK to extend surveillance aircraft use in Iraq and Syria BBC reports (September 26th): The UK is to extend the use of surveillance aircraft in Iraq and Syria until next year, the defence secretary has announced.
Deadlock in battle for Iraq refinery casts doubts on Mosul campaign Reuters report (September 24th): The Iraqi army's failure to recapture the country's largest oil refinery from Islamic State after 15 months of fighting is calling into question the government's plans to retake the northern city of Mosul from the jihadists.
Iraq political disarray slows Ramadi campaign USA Today reports (September 21st): Political disarray in Iraq appears to be undermining a critical offensive to retake Ramadi, a key city in Iraq’s Sunni heartland that was seized by Islamic State militants nearly four months ago.
Militia Abuses Mar Fight Against ISIS HRW report (September 20th): Iraqi government-backed militias carried out widespread destruction of homes and shops around the city of Tikrit in March and April 2015 in violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said in a report.
Iraqi deserters fleeing front lines for life in Europe Globe and Mail reports (September 20th): Some Iraqi soldiers are abandoning their posts and joining a wave of civilian migrants headed to Europe, raising new doubts about the cohesion of the country’s Western-backed security forces in the fight against Islamic State militants.

You can find the whole newsletter here