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| Iraq |
| Iraq aims to build naval base in Basra: Defence Minister |
| 2019-07-29 |
| [Rudaw] Baghdad wants to build a naval base in Basra, the Iraqi Defence Minister said on Saturday in order to improve stability in the economic and security sectors of the southern port city. Najah al-Shimari visited Basra and was accompanied by Transportation Minister Abdulla Luaibi and a group of military commanders. The base will take several years to be built, according to Shimari. Iraq currently has a naval base in Um Qasr, about 65 kilometers south of Basra. Basra is a city in southern Iraq located on Shatt al-Arab, a river where the Euphrates and Tigris rivers meet. The province is home to regular mass protests over unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, and a lack of public services, particularly clean water and electricity. Security forces have violently clamped down on Basra demonstrators. Human Rights Watch recently blamed inaction by government officials. The Transportation Minister praised the base project, saying it would help thrive the economy of Basra and all of Iraq. "We are proud to announce the biggest navy base in Basra that would help Iraq to develop its security and economy sectors, as well as controlling its water routes," he said in the video. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |