Don961:  Aircraft evacuated wounded from the US embassy in Baghdad due to a missile attack

27-01-2020 01:47 AM

AMON – Three of the five rockets that targeted the Green Zone in central Baghdad, Sunday, landed directly inside the US embassy campus, and one of them hit the restaurant at dinner time, according to a security source confirmed to “AFP”.

In turn, an American source confirmed that rockets landed inside the campus of the American embassy in Baghdad.

He pointed to the heavy flight of American air in the skies of Baghdad and near the American embassy in the Green Zone after the attack.

He also confirmed the landing of helicopters at the embassy of the embassy, which evacuated a number of the wounded who were attacked.

In the same context, the agency “France Press” quoted a senior Iraqi official as confirming that at least one person was wounded, and it was not yet clear whether he was an American citizen or an Iraqi employee working in the mission.

The US diplomatic mission has come under several missile attacks in recent months, but Sunday’s attack, the second in a week, was earlier than usual. This is the first time that a direct hit has been announced.

For his part, the American ambassador to Iraq informed Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, his country’s strong condemnation of the bombing of the embassy building.

Abdul-Mahdi, in a statement issued on Sunday evening, denounced the targeting of the American embassy in Baghdad earlier Sunday, stressing that these actions are “condemned and out of law.”

Abdul-Mahdi stressed that “these actions weaken the state and undermine its sovereignty and the sanctity of diplomatic missions on its soil.”

And he considered that “the continuation of this unilateral and irresponsible behavior leads to harming the higher interests of the country and its relations with its friends and carries the whole country serious consequences and repercussions.”

He added: “The government confirms its commitment to protect all diplomatic missions and take all necessary measures to achieve this.”

And Abdul Mahdi called, “with all the good and responsible powers, to stand with the government in implementing the obligations of Iraq to stop such actions and expose its perpetrators and hold them accountable.”

He disclosed that he had ordered the Iraqi forces to “deploy, search and investigate to prevent the recurrence of such attacks,” and to arrest those who fired these rockets “in order to obtain his punishment before the judiciary.”

And Abdul-Mahdi stressed that “these actions could drag Iraq into a battlefield, especially at a time when the government started measures to implement the House of Representatives decision to withdraw foreign forces from the country.” (Arabic)    LINK

Whiteowl33:  My Thoughts on this for what they’re worth. Iran wants the US out of Iraq, Iran sees what is happening with the MR, and the CBI. Iran is desperate….Iran is on the ropes financially with the entire world. Iran is hanging on by a toenail right now, and these missile attacks are being used to try to engage the USA to retaliate, which might sway public opinion in Iraq to oust the US presence. Our fearless leader DJT is standing steadfast in the face of this attack. Lives lost – it sickens me – as Frank has said: stay strong, and be stronger, or something to that effect. All IMO

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Samson:  Oil prices drop more than 2% with the spread of Corona virus in China
27th January 2020

Oil prices fell more than 2% to their lowest levels in several months on Monday, with concerns growing about the demand for crude after the number of infections and deaths from the new Corona virus in China increased and cities were closed in them

Brent crude fell 1.28 dollars, or 2.1 percent, to 59.41 dollars a barrel, after falling earlier to 58.68 dollars, its lowest level since late October

The US crude also fell $ 1.24, or 2.3 percent, to $ 52.95 a barrel, after falling earlier at $ 52.15, its lowest level since early October

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia is closely following developments in China, in an effort to calm the market. Prince Abdulaziz added that he was confident of the ability of the Chinese government and the international community to contain the spread of the virus

He added that what is happening in the markets “is mainly driven by psychological factors and the very pessimistic outlook adopted by some parties in the market, although its impact (the virus) on global demand for oil is very limited

With the increased ability of the Corona virus to spread, most financial markets were rocked, despite the closure of some markets in Asia during the lunar New Year holiday

“Such pessimism happened in 2003 during the crisis caused by the spread of the SARS virus, and it did not result in a significant decrease in oil demand,” Abdulaziz said

He stressed that he is confident that the Kingdom and other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), along with producers in the group known as OPEC +, have the ability to respond and achieve stability in the oil market if necessary

OPEC +, which includes Russia and other producing countries, cut oil supplies to support crude prices and recently increased the agreed cut in production by 500,000 bpd to 1.7 million bpd until March

On Friday, Abdul Aziz indicated that the objective of OPEC + is to reduce the seasonal accumulation of stocks, which usually occurs in the first half of the year, but pointed out that all options are still on the table for OPEC + in Vienna in March

Goldman Sachs said in a note, “Investor fears related to oil demand increased significantly driven by negative data on US stocks … and fears of the impact of the Corona virus outbreak   LINK

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Samson:  Moscow comments about the bombing of the American embassy in Baghdad

1/27/2020 12:06 PM

 The Russian Foreign Ministry, commenting on the bombing of the American embassy in Baghdad yesterday, said that the local authorities must provide security for all diplomatic agencies.

“The security of any diplomatic establishment must definitely be guaranteed. We do not consider that it is permissible to go outside and (exceed) this standard,” Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said in press statements today.

It is noteworthy that five (unknown source) missiles fell on Sunday in the Green Zone in central Baghdad, and that one of them fell in the vicinity of the American embassy.    LINK

Don961:  Southwestern Iran is experiencing a strong earthquake

Localities 01/27 2020 16:52 253 Editor:
Baghdad today – follow up

On Monday (27 January 2020), southwest Iran, southwest Iran, was hit by a strong earthquake measuring 5.4.

Iranian media reported that an earthquake struck Persia, southwestern Iran.

She added that the quake’s magnitude was 5.4, without providing any other details.   link