Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Activists and civil society organizations in Al-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, called on Tuesday for eliminating corruption, recovering stolen public funds, and holding all those involved accountable.

During a protest press conference, organizing committee member Sawara Mahmoud said “fighting corruption requires addressing its roots instead of relying on temporary measures,” stressing the need for serious action across Iraq.

Participants urged comprehensive measures targeting all individuals and groups involved in corruption and public fund theft, without political exemptions or special protections. “Recovered funds should be returned to the state treasury to help address financial challenges, including delayed salary payments affecting public employees, particularly in the Kurdistan Region,” they added.

On June 28, Iraqi authorities launched Dawn Crackdown (Sawlat Al-Fajr), a nationwide anti-corruption campaign under Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s direction, targeting current and former officials, lawmakers, politicians, business figures, ministers, directors-general, provincial governors, and other suspects.

Read more: Iraq detains top officials in anti-corruption sweep: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Gaza

The Israeli military claimed on Tuesday that it had killed two Hamas commanders in separate airstrikes targeting northern and southern Gaza.

According to the military, the first strike, carried out two days ago in northern Gaza, targeted Ahmed Yahya Ibrahim Al-Batsh, whom it identified as the commander of a Hamas elite unit. The second, launched on July 6 in southern Gaza, killed Hamouda Abu Daqqa, “a commander in Hamas' military intelligence unit.”

🔴ELIMINATED: Ahmad Yahya Ibrahim Batsh, a Nukhba cell commander and Hamouda Abu Daqa, a commander in Hamas' Military Intelligence Unit.Throughout the war, including in recent days, the terrorists advanced terror attacks against IDF troops operating in Gaza.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 7, 2026

Hamas has not commented on the Israeli claims.

Israeli forces continued hitting Gaza Strip today, killing two people and wounding several others in attacks on Khan Younis. Raids also targeted a vehicle in Gaza City's Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood without causing casualties, Palestinian media reported.

According to Gaza health authorities, the death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, has risen to 73,098, with 173,571 people injured.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's Coordination Framework (CF), the ruling coalition of mostly Shiite parties that dominates parliament and government, agreed to pursue corruption suspects through judicial orders rather than security or military force, and to seek the extradition of fugitives with the cooperation of five countries.

A source within the CF who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions said the participants in Monday’s meeting endorsed the use of formal judicial summonses to detain suspects accused of financial corruption and the misuse of public money, moving away from operations involving “security forces and tanks,” calling for transparency around ongoing investigations into detainees held under the campaign.

The measures fall under the Dawn Crackdown, anti-corruption campaign, which al-Zaidi leads and supervises directly. Coalition leaders pledged to keep backing the government's actions, the source said, though some voiced displeasure over information circulating about the nature of the investigations and the sums to be recovered.

Read more:Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Five countries have agreed to cooperate with Iraq in pursuing and extraditing suspects through Interpol red notices, which are international requests to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition. Three were identified by the source as the United States, France, and Britain, a fourth only as an Arab state, while the fifth remains unknown.

For extradition to proceed, the coalition stressed that arrest warrants must be issued by the Justice Ministry rather than the Iraqi Judicial Council, the country's top judicial body, because most international agreements on handing over corruption suspects require warrants from the ministry.

Al-Zaidi is scheduled to travel to Washington in mid-July, his first official foreign visit since assuming the premiership. The Framework expects the trip to secure the release of part of Iraq's bank transfers held by international banks and the US Federal Reserve, help trace and recover funds moved out of the country, and locate suspects abroad, the source said, stressing that fugitives should be returned and prosecuted under Iraqi law, "even if they hold a second nationality or enjoy external support."

The coalition also weighed the nine unfilled ministries but is likely to defer those appointments until after the Washington visit, the source said. The State of Law bloc, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, is insisting on its candidate Qasim Atta for the Interior Ministry, while preparing to submit six names for al-Zaidi to choose from.

Participants further discussed closing the file on dissolving armed factions and transferring their light and heavy weapons to state control. Baghdad has tied full disarmament to a timeline running to the end of September, linked to the conclusion of the US-led coalition's mission in Iraq.

The Washington visit and the outstanding cabinet appointments remain the coalition's next tests, with ministerial decisions held until al-Zaidi returns, the source concluded.

Read more:Iraq PM al-Zaidi to Washington with energy deals front, “militia file” unresolved

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

A symposium examining the impact of geopolitical shifts on women in Kurdish communities opened on Tuesday in Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, bringing together politicians, activists, academics, and women’s organization representatives.

Held under the title “Kurdistan’s Geopolitics and the Status of Women,” the event included speakers such as Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and Ayla Akat Ata, an activist and former Turkish lawmaker.

Speaking to Shafaq News, participant Awan Silwan described the symposium as “a platform for dialogue among women from the four parts of Kurdistan,” aimed at discussing political developments, exchanging expertise, and building a shared vision on women’s issues.

Read more: Kurdistan Region reports 62% progress on women’s rights

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq on Tuesday condemned the bomb attacks that struck the Syrian capital, Damascus, reaffirming its rejection of "all forms of terrorism, extremism and violence."

The Foreign Ministry described the attacks as "a flagrant violation of civilians' security and stability" and said they were aimed at undermining security in Syria.

Jordan also condemned the twin bombings, reaffirming its solidarity with Syria and rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism.

Earlier today, Syria's Interior Ministry stated that two improvised explosive devices detonated in Damascus, injuring 18 people, including four police officers. The blast site was outside the security perimeter of French President Emmanuel Macron's residence during his official visit to Syria.

Shafaq News- Nineveh

Two children in Iraq's northern Nineveh province have tested positive for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a medical source told Shafaq News on Tuesday, bringing the total in the province to 14.

Both aged 10, the children had been admitted to hospital as suspected cases on July 2. One is from Mosul's 17 Tammuz neighborhood, while the other is from the Bashiqa subdistrict east of the city.

According to Shafaq News tracker, Iraq has recorded 160 confirmed CCHF infections and 10 deaths since the beginning of 2026.

Read more: The resurgence of CCHF in Iraq

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Tuesday that Christians are an integral part of the people of Kurdistan during a meeting with the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and the world, Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona.

Barzani also committed to protecting their rights and preserving the Region's culture of diversity, according to a statement by the Kurdish Presidency.

Nona, for his part, praised Erbil’s longstanding role as a haven for all and expressed appreciation for Barzani's continued support for minority rights.

Both sides discussed the situation of Iraq's communities, particularly Christians, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding coexistence and tolerance.

سەرۆکی هەرێمی کوردستان پێشوازیی لە پاتریارکی کەنیسەی کلدانی لە عێراق و جیهان دەکاتhttps://t.co/CzAKxqTnBc pic.twitter.com/YWjdkOj606

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 7, 2026

Iraq's Christian population, including Chaldean Catholics, has fallen from more than 1.5 million in 2003 to fewer than 250,000 today, according to church and humanitarian estimates.

Read more: Christians of Iraq: Where did they go?

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

The US dollar closed Tuesday’s trading mixed in Iraq, hovering around 153,000 dinars per 100 dollars.

According to Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 153,000 dinars per 100 dollars, unchanged from the morning session.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 153,500 dinars and bought it at 152,500 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices rose to 153,050 dinars and buying prices stood at 153,000 dinars.

Shafaq News- Basra

An official document revealed on Tuesday that Kuwaiti authorities have detained the Iraqi fishing boat and its five-member crew, one day after the fishermen lost contact near the maritime border.

According to the document, Al-Nasr Cooperative Society for fishing and fish marketing notified the Al-Faw district administration of the incident involving the fishing boat IFB166. The administration later referred the case to the Basra governor’s office to take the necessary measures.

No further details were provided on the reasons behind the detention or the fishermen’s location, while the Iraqi government and Basra’s local authorities have yet to issue a statement on the incident.

On July 6, a security source told Shafaq News that five fishermen from Al-Faw district in southern Basra lost contact after a Kuwaiti Coast Guard patrol opened fire on their boat in Iraqi territorial waters. The Popular Movement Against the Khor Abdullah Agreement, which regulates navigation and security in the shared waterway, called for summoning Kuwait’s ambassador to Baghdad and urged the government to investigate the incident and take diplomatic and legal measures to protect Iraqi citizens.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered all government institutions to close on Wednesday to coincide with funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, according to his media office.

Iraqi officials, including PM Al-Zaidi, political leaders, and lawmakers, are expected to attend official reception ceremonies at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday evening. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will head the Iranian delegation accompanying Khamenei's body, according to informed sources briefed on arrangements within the Prime Minister's office.

Khamenei, who led Iran for 34 years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, died at age 86 in a US-Israeli strike in Tehran.

Shafaq News- New York

Carlo Ancelotti will remain Brazil coach after the Selecao’s 2-1 World Cup last-16 defeat to Norway, with the Brazilian Football Confederation backing him through the 2030 cycle despite the team’s early exit.

The result extended Brazil’s wait for a sixth World Cup title to at least 28 years and brought renewed pressure on Ancelotti, who had been appointed to lead a long-term rebuild after years of instability around the national team.

“Today the pain is great. But the trust in what we are building does not change. We will continue working for our National Team. Always together. Always Brazil!” Ancelotti wrote on X.

CBF football director Rodrigo Caetano also backed Ancelotti, saying the Italian would remain in charge through the 2030 World Cup cycle. “He is our manager and will be throughout this cycle,” he told Reuters, adding that Brazil’s lack of “proper, stable guidance long term” before the tournament was one of the reasons for the failure.

Brazil were knocked out at New York/ New Jersey Stadium, where Erling Haaland scored twice to send Norway into the quarter-finals, Bruno Guimaraes missed a first-half penalty, and Neymar scored late after coming on in the second half, marking Brazil’s worst World Cup performance since 1990, in addition to the team recording 35% possession against Norway –their lowest figure in a World Cup match since records began in 1966, according to Opta figures.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Tuesday named Bashar Amej of the Taqaddum (Progress) Party to replace Mohammed Nouri Al-Karbouli in parliament after the latter assumed his post as Minister of Industry and Minerals.

IHEC, the body responsible for organizing and supervising elections in Iraq, said Amej was the highest-voted eligible substitute on Taqaddum’s list, which won 27 seats under the leadership of Mohammad al-Halbousi, in the 329-member Council of Representatives.

Last month, IHEC named substitute candidates to fill five parliamentary seats vacated by lawmakers who joined the current government.

Shafaq News- Nineveh

A Nineveh criminal court sentenced a government fuel station employee to 10 years in prison on Tuesday after convicting him of embezzling 1.174 billion dinars ($1.3M) in public funds, the Federal Integrity Commission announced.

The court found the defendant guilty of “stealing fuel sales revenue” from the station during September and October 2025.

The conviction relied on Article 315 of Iraq's Penal Code, which addresses misappropriation of public funds.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi established a government-wide anti-corruption campaign, the Dawn Crackdown, which led in its first phase to the arrest of about 67 officials, lawmakers, and businessmen.

In its 2025 report, the Commission put protected funds at 837.09 billion dinars ($539.2M) and $550.8 million through investigative and preventive steps aimed at limiting waste and preserving state resources.

Read more: Iraq detains top officials in anti-corruption sweep: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Damascus

France and Syria agreed on Tuesday to deepen economic cooperation and support the country's reconstruction, with French President Emmanuel Macron announcing joint economic committees to coordinate rebuilding efforts alongside Gulf partners.

Speaking during a Syrian-French business roundtable at the presidential palace in Damascus, Macron said France would help rehabilitate Syria's banking sector and expand cooperation in energy, infrastructure and other key economic sectors, reaffirming Paris' long-term “commitment to Syria's recovery.”

The roundtable preceded the signing of several investment agreements and memorandums of understanding between French and Syrian entities.

Addressing business leaders, Syrian transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa said Damascus was working to establish a modern investment environment based on institutions and the rule of law, arguing that investors were seeking stable markets integrated into the global economy.

Al-Sharaa noted that the proposed projects include renewing Syria's civil aviation fleet, operating airports, upgrading air navigation systems, exploring offshore energy resources, and modernizing electricity, water, digital infrastructure and civil registry systems.

French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM had signed a 230-million-euro ($270 million) agreement 14 months ago to develop the Port of Latakia before committing an additional 200 million euros ($234 million) to expand its capacity, according to al-Sharaa.

Macron arrived in Damascus earlier today, becoming the first French president to visit Syria since 2009.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Ibtisam al-Hilali, a State of Law coalition deputy, said on Tuesday that a serious parliamentary movement is underway to amend the mandatory retirement age for civil service employees, with the amendment expected to be submitted to the parliament presidency within days for scheduling in upcoming sessions.

Al-Hilali told Shafaq News that the proposed amendment would raise the mandatory retirement age from the current 60 years to 63 years, while keeping the optional retirement age at 50 years for employees with at least 15 years of service.

The move, al-Hilali said, aligns with earlier proposals advanced by the parliamentary finance committee aimed at addressing implementation gaps and retaining experienced staff in state institutions.

The Iraqi parliament had previously voted in 2019 to lower the retirement age from 63 to 60 years, a change that had sparked controversy among civil servants and government experts.

Read more: Proposed retirement age reform in Iraq sparks debate on economic and social impacts

Shafaq News- Beirut

Israeli forces carried out new military operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese media reported, as warplanes flew at low altitude over Baalbek and drones hovered over Beirut’s southern suburbs.

In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli drones dropped four stun grenades on Haddatha, while artillery shelling targeted Beit Yahoun alongside a detonation in Kounine. In southern Lebanon’s western sector, Israeli military patrols opened heavy fire toward roadsides and nearby wooded areas.

Despite a US-mediated security framework announced on June 26, which provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal in exchange for broader Lebanese Army deployment and the disarmament of armed groups, Israeli military operations have continued daily across the south.

On Monday, a drone strike on a vehicle in Nabatieh Al-Fawqa killed four people —a school principal, her mother, a foreign domestic worker, and a Syrian worker— raising the death toll since the war began on March 2 to 4,319 killed and 12,203 wounded, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military alleged that the four were “suspects” approaching what it described as a security zone in southern Lebanon, claiming they “posed a threat” to its forces.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Karbala

Karbala is preparing to receive the coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and officials throughout the city have intensified security measures and organized service facilities as mourners and official delegations prepare to arrive.

Photos captured by Shafaq News showed the city's main streets and public squares decorated with banners, portraits, and flags displayed on light poles, buildings, and entrances to Karbala. Processions, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), security forces, and organizing committees have also stepped up preparations for the expected influx of visitors.

Read more: Najaf mobilizes for Khamenei funeral procession

Shafaq News correspondent said the preparations include setting up hospitality sites and service facilities, providing water, food, and first aid, and organizing the movement of religious processions along the roads leading to the city center as part of a dedicated operational plan for the funeral ceremonies.

According to informed sources, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will lead the official delegation accompanying Khamenei's body during funeral ceremonies scheduled to take place in Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi is also expected to participate in the official reception ceremony at Najaf International Airport.

Read more: Iraq’s Karbala ready for millions at Khamenei funeral

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's parliament has placed reform of the national tax system among the priorities of its new legislative term, a member of the Services Committee, Mohammed al-Hasnawi, told Shafaq News, as complaints from citizens mount that a widening array of government taxes and fees far outweighs the public services they receive in return.

Lawmakers intend to pass a new law built around tax fairness and the protection of low- and middle-income families, said al-Hasnawi, who described the current system as shifting the cost of the state's fiscal deficit onto ordinary taxpayers. Several members have submitted proposals calling for a comprehensive overhaul of tax policy, aimed at curbing the concentration of capital and distributing the financial load more evenly.

The deductions are already visible on payslips. Among them is a monthly charge of 25,000 Iraqi dinars ($19) tied to the health sector, alongside further fees attached to a range of government services.

Residents interviewed by Shafaq News say they pay more and get less. In the health sector, families are pushed toward private hospitals whenever someone falls ill, said Abbas Kadhim, because what citizens pay "should be matched by a proper level of service."

A second front is electricity: collection charges reach about 200,000 dinars ($153) a month in some homes, even though the national grid supplies only four to five hours of power a day.

"Everything has become subject to fees, from food and medicine to the simplest government transactions," said Azhar al-Saadi. A single piece of paperwork can require as much as 100,000 dinars loaded onto a bank card, and so many charges stack up that an employee's salary, in her words, "returns to the state the same day" it arrives.

For vehicle owners, the squeeze starts at registration: from about 30,000 dinars for a small car to 300,000 dinars for a larger one, on top of road and bridge tolls levied while the roads themselves are left "full of potholes and bumps," said Aqeel, a driver. Volunteer groups have begun patching some routes after a rise in accidents, a sign, to him, of how far "the fees collected have drifted from the services provided."

Students carry their own version of the burden. Public universities levy charges under "various labels" and require them to pay for electronic applications just to see their exam results. Reham al-Abboudi, a university student, revealed that many now obtain their grades informally through contacts on campus, "instead of subscribing to the paid applications."

The Iraqi constitution guarantees social security, health care, and education as basic rights under articles 30, 31, and 34. Residents invoke those provisions most often when they argue that the fees they pay should track the quality of what the state delivers.

To Khalid al-Jabri, a member of the Higher Committee for Tax Reform, a body tasked with modernizing Iraq's fiscal system, taxes and customs duties are not revenue tools but instruments for steering the economy, encouraging investment, and protecting domestic production. Iraq still runs them through a dated approach that makes them feel punitive, and shifting to digital administration and modern oversight is essential to build non-oil revenue. "A successful economy is not built on higher taxes, but on smart management that produces growth before revenue," he said.

Al-Hasnawi stressed that the Council of Representatives has placed the tax system on the priorities of its new legislative term, and is moving toward enacting a new law aimed at achieving tax fairness and protecting low- and middle-income groups.

Read more: Delayed reform or fiscal shock? Iraq’s tax measures test state capacity

Shafaq News- Amman/ Damascus

Jordan on Tuesday condemned the twin bombings that struck the Syrian capital, Damascus, reaffirming its solidarity with Syria and rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism.

دانت وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين التفجيرين الإرهابيين اللذين وقعا اليوم في العاصمة السورية دمشق. وأكّد الناطق الرسمي باسم الوزارة السفير فؤاد المجالي وقوف المملكة وتضامنها الكامل مع حكومة وشعب الجمهورية العربية السورية الشقيقة، ورفضها جميع أشكال العنف والإرهاب التي تسعى… pic.twitter.com/GKHkfLycpt

— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) July 7, 2026

At least 18 people, including four police officers, were injured after two improvised explosive devices detonated near Syria's Tourism Ministry in Damascus. The blast site was outside the security perimeter designated for French President Emmanuel Macron's accommodation and posed no direct threat to his residence or official visit, according to the ministry.

Earlier, international media reported that Macron's motorcade had left his hotel shortly before the explosions and arrived at the People's Palace for talks with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa.

Shafaq News- Al-Anbar

Al-Anbar Emergency Regiment seized approximately 175,000 captagon pills during a security operation in the Al-Sajar area, north of Fallujah, a security source told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

The pills, classified as type 0-1, were prepared for smuggling and distribution, the source said. The seized narcotics were referred to the relevant authorities to complete legal procedures, while investigations continue to identify those involved.

Read more: Iraq cracks 378 drug rings in H1 2026

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

On Tuesday, gold prices fell across Baghdad and Erbil, hovering around 880,000 IQD per mithqal, according to Shafaq News market survey.

Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 887,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 883,000 IQD. The same gold had sold for 895,000 IQD on Monday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 857,000 IQD, with a buying price of 853,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 890,000 and 900,000 IQD per mithqal, while Iraqi gold sold for between 860,000 and 870,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 938,000 IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 896,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 768,000 IQD.

Shafaq News- Damascus

At least 18 people, including four police officers, were injured after two improvised explosive devices detonated near Syria's Tourism Ministry in Damascus on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Syria’s Interior Ministry, carried by SANA, forces had detected the two devices and were preparing to defuse them when they exploded. One device had been concealed inside a parked vehicle and the other in a trash bin.

Shafaq News' correspondent reported that Syrian Deputy Tourism Minister Faraj Al-Qashqoush was among those injured in the explosions.

The blast site was outside the security perimeter designated for French President Emmanuel Macron's accommodation and posed no direct threat to his residence or official visit, according to the ministry.

Earlier, international media reported that Macron's motorcade had left his hotel shortly before the explosions and arrived at the People's Palace for talks with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. The Élysée Palace later said Macron did not hear any explosions while traveling to the meeting.

Shafaq News- Basra

Iraqi Airways will launch direct flights between Basra and the Azerbaijani capital Baku starting Wednesday, July 8, with one weekly service, the Ministry of Transportation announced on Tuesday.

The route is aimed at meeting growing travel demand during the summer season and giving passengers from Basra and the surrounding southern provinces direct access to Baku, one of the region's prominent tourism destinations, according to Manaf Abdul Mun'im, director-general of Iraqi Airways.

The Basra-Baku route is one of several new connections Iraqi Airways has opened in recent weeks. Two weekly direct flights between Kirkuk International Airport and the Turkish resort city of Antalya are set to begin July 14, while Kirkuk also launched direct flights to Dubai in June with three weekly services and its first direct flight to Trabzon on June 26.

Read more: Iraq airspace closure costs $43 million during US-Israel war on Iran

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will head the official Iranian delegation accompanying the body of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during funeral ceremonies in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, an informed source told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

Khamenei's body is scheduled to arrive at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday evening, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will attend the official reception ceremony. The public and official funeral processions are set to take place on Wednesday morning in both cities, according to the source.

Najaf's streets and roads are already lined with portraits of the late Supreme Leader alongside Iraqi and Iranian flags, with service processions deployed along the route from the airport to the Shrine of Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb, as well as in the city's main squares and streets, ahead of the body's arrival.

Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on February 28 at the age of 86 during joint US-Israeli airstrikes on the first day of the 2026 war. His burial is scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace in northeastern Iran.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

The US dollar opened Tuesday's trading lower in Iraq, hovering around 153,000 dinars per 100 dollars in Baghdad and Erbil.

According to Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 153,000 dinars per 100 dollars, down from Monday's 153,450 dinars.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 153,500 dinars and bought it at 152,500 dinars.

In Erbil, selling prices stood at 152,950 dinars and buying prices at 152,850 dinars.