The United States has no intention of pulling out heavy equipment and weapons from Iraq through Turkey, the country's top commander said today.
"I absolutely did not come here to negotiate the withdrawal of heavy equipment and weapons from Iraq across Turkey's territory," Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters here.
"Though we certainly rely on Turkey's infrastructure to move some of our equipment in and out of our area of operations, we do not transport weapons through Turkey nor do we intend to in the future," he added.
Turkish officials said yesterday that Washington had asked Ankara for permission to move some of its non-combat technical equipment through Turkish territory after the US combat mission in Iraq formally ended.
Discussions were under way between the two Nato allies on the request, they added.
US forces ended their combat mission in Iraq on Tuesday, drawing down troop numbers that had surged to almost 170,000 following the 2003 US-led invasion to less than 50,000, prior to a complete withdrawal at the end of 2011.
Admiral Mullen said the United States had moved almost 100,000 troops and over two million pieces of equipment out of Iraq over the course of last year and added that none of the military equipment or troops had passed through Turkey.
"The lines of communication and the routes that we have used today are certainly routes that we will use in the future," the admiral said.
Admiral Mullen also said that talks were under way in Nato on the possibility of including Turkey in a planned missile defence shield in Europe aimed at countering threats from Iran.
"The membership of Nato believes that having a missile defence architecture is a very important capability that needs to be put in place and evolve over time," he said.
"There have been discussions with several members of Nato to include Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania in terms of parts of this...missile defence architecture and whether countries would support installations...Those discussions continue," the admiral said.
Romania has already started talks with the US on the defence shield while Bulgaria has expressed a desire to join it.
Turkey disagrees with the US on the approach to Iran's nuclear programme, insisting on a diplomatic solution to the dispute, while Washington favours sanctions.
* AFP
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.