Iraq denies its airspace used by Iran to send weapons to SyriaSeptember 20, 2012 - 14:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraq on Thursday, Sept 20, denied a Western intelligence report which said Iranian aircraft had flown weapons and military personnel over Iraqi airspace to Syria to aid President Bashar al-Assad, according to Reuters. The allegation, reported by Reuters on Wednesday, said arms transfers were organized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Although charges that Iraq has allowed Iran to transfer arms to Syria are not new, the report says the extent of such shipments is far greater and more systematic than has been publicly acknowledged, thanks to an agreement between senior Iraqi and Iranian officials. "The official spokesman of the Iraqi government has denied that issue altogether. There is nothing like this happening," Lieutenant-General Hussein Kamal, Iraq's deputy interior minister for intelligence, told Reuters. The report also said Iran was sending trucks overland via Iraq to Syria. U.S. officials said earlier this month they were questioning Iraq about Iranian flights in Iraqi airspace. On Wednesday, U.S. Senator John Kerry threatened to review U.S. aid to Baghdad if it does not halt such overflights to Syria. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |