Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expects that a military confrontation with ISIS will become necessary, and that the international community is increasingly recognising the need to act as the extremist group continues to regroup. This comes at a time when the Middle East is dealing with major changes, particularly since the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime in Syria last December.
In an exclusive interview with The National at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Hussein said that “the whole situation in the Middle East is now different”, and will require further co-ordination between countries in the region.
Mr Hussein and his government are closely following developments in Syria, with which Iraq shares an almost 600km border. Although Syria’s new President Ahmad Al Shara was previously imprisoned in Iraq for his ties to extremist groups, Mr Hussein said Baghdad hopes to co-ordinate with Damascus in “the collective fight” against ISIS, which Iraq considers to be the main threat from its neighbour.
“We consider ISIS as a threat, we don’t consider other groups as a threat to Iraq,” he said, describing the situation in Syria as “very complicated”.
“It’s complicated because there are various groups still in Syria, and various countries, armies of different countries. The Americans, the French, the Turkish army, the Russian base, and now the Israelis. And next to all these armies, you have got various groups. Hayat Tahrir Al Sham controls the largest area in Syria, but at the same time you have the north-east, which has been controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, and the north-west, which has been controlled by Turkmen forces. And of course, on the other side, the ISIS terrorist fighters are controlling that area.
We cannot wait for ISIS to once again reorganise themselves
“We are watching the Horan Valley. It starts from Deraa, in Syria, and ends in Al Anbar in Iraq. It is easy for ISIS terrorist fighters to enter in or near Deraa, and exit in Al Anbar, or the other way around.”
Iraq is working with Jordan to counter this threat, Mr Hussein said, and he expects to have talks with the US-led international coalition.
“We are going to have discussions with the coalition to strike ISIS, because we cannot wait for ISIS to once again reorganise themselves.”
ISIS, he said, has strengthened its position in Syria and equipped itself from weapons left by the Assad regime’s military. “So they are better equipped, better organised and many people have joined them. And according to our information, various leaders of ISIS from abroad also went back and joined them. Either we are going to attack, or they are going to prepare themselves to attack, because ISIS is an organisation that is based on attacking other societies. And I think that once again, the first target of ISIS will be Iraq.”
'Democracy is important for Syria, people fought for freedom'
Mr Hussein, who last week travelled to Paris to attend a summit on Syria, voiced hope that the new authorities in Damascus “will take the right steps so that they can have an inclusive political process”.
Otherwise, he warned, “conflicts and difficulties will remain in Syria. Stability in Syria is very important for Iraq. It is very much interlinked with Iraq."
While he was reluctant to suggest how the new Syrian government should plan its political transition, Mr Hussein stressed that it is vital for all groups in the country to be represented, including Kurds, Alawites, Christians, Druze and others.
“The only way to solve these problems is to have a democratic system in place. Democracy is important for Syria, because people fought for freedom.”
He voiced concern at the new government’s silence regarding the details of the transition. “So far, we see no discussion of a democratic system. It will be important to have all these components on board, representative components, otherwise, there will be an unstable Syria. We don’t want that; that would affect us negatively.”
US policy on Gaza a 'main topic' for Arab Summit
In May this year, Baghdad will host the next Arab Summit. Mr Hussein confirmed that Mr Al Shara would be invited to the talks. “We are talking about hosting the summit. That means bringing together all leaders of Arab countries, and this means we are going to invite all leaders of Arab countries,” he said. “Of course, it is up to the leader to send another representative, but, in principle, we are inviting all of them.”
Mr Hussein said the summit would focus on finding solutions for the latest developments in the region. Palestine, he confirmed, will be among “the main topics, but also relations between Arab countries and ties with their neighbouring countries, Iran and Turkey, as well as the American policy towards the region”. The Arab world is facing the threat of the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, especially with US President Donald Trump having repeatedly spoken of his plan to “own Gaza” and rebuild it.
Asked about Mr Trump’s proposal, Mr Hussein said: “The Palestinian question has to do with the Palestinians in the first place, but also with various countries surrounding Palestine – Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and other countries – along with Arab and Muslim countries.”
Iraq has suggested establishing a fund to support the reconstruction of Gaza, and Arab states have been working on a counterproposal to present to Mr Trump.
The Arab League is scheduled to meet in Cairo later this month, and Mr Hussein predicted that the gathering would result in “a common stance, a common position” being formulated.
“I think the Arab League will reject [Mr Trump’s] idea. But at the same time, we must have an alternative. Rejecting ideas is easy. But you to have an alternative,” he said. “We must be clear: Gaza has been destroyed. And the population of Gaza, they were suffering because of the war, but now they are suffering because of lack of services. So who’s going to build Gaza? And who is going to lead Gaza? What kind of authority is going to be there? All of these questions must be answered.”
Closer to home, Iraq has to contend with the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy towards Iran. Washington, Mr Hussein said, has already informed Baghdad that the US will no longer agree to waive sanctions to enable Iraq to buy Iranian gas. “The new decision means no gas from Iran, and that will affect our capacity. It also means no purchasing of Iranian electricity,” he added.
Iraq currently buys about 1,200 megawatts of electricity from Iran each year, and Iranian gas covers about 30 per cent of Iraq’s energy demand. “No Iranian gas means shortages of electricity. My Prime Minister [Mohammed Shia Al Sudani], our cabinet and myself are talking with various countries so that we can find a way to solve this problem,” Mr Hussein said. Iraq has approached Turkey, Jordan and Gulf countries in an effort to fill the void created by sanctions against Iran. Baghdad is also working on developing its own capacity, but Mr Hussein believes it will take two to three years to be able to meet the population’s needs.
'Pressure on Iran is increasing from Americans'
Alongside sanctions, Washington’s maximum pressure policy also involves taking measures against Iraqi armed groups allied with Iran. “The pressure on Iran is increasing from the American side, and we are a neighbouring country … so tension between Washington and Tehran affects us directly or indirectly. We are worried about that, to be honest,” Mr Hussein said.
“I am sure that the Iranians are studying the new developments in the Middle East, and I hope they will come up with a new policy … the only way to solve problems is through negotiation and dialogue, not through violence.
“All of us in Iraq – politicians as well as other groups – must take the major changes in the Middle East into consideration, but they must also take the new administration and new policy in Washington into consideration. Otherwise, we are going to face a difficult time.
“Taking all these things into consideration means that we must reorganise ourselves. We must have one voice, and that must be the voice of the state.”
Alluding to militias that refuse to come under the control of the government, Mr Hussein said that “all groups must be included under the responsibility of the government, not outside the government. And the government will decide any military or security issue”.
Iraq faces a major challenge in bringing the militias under the umbrella of the state, as several take their orders from Tehran. Mr Hussein warned that “they must work within the framework of government policy, otherwise we are going to face a difficult time”.
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
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.
Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
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TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%209
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041mm%20%E2%80%93%20352%20x%20430%3B%2045mm%20%E2%80%93%20396%20x%20484%3B%20always-on%20Retina%20LTPO%20OLED%2C%202000%20nits%20max%3B%20Ion-X%20glass%20(aluminium%20cases)%2C%20sapphire%20crystal%20(stainless%20steel%20cases)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20S9%2064-bit%2C%20W3%20wireless%2C%202nd-gen%20Ultra%20Wideband%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2064GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20watchOS%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20metrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Blood%20oxygen%20sensor%2C%20electrical%20heart%20sensor%20and%20ECG%2C%203rd-gen%20optical%20heart%20sensor%2C%20high%20and%20low%20heart%20rate%20notifications%2C%20irregular%20rhythm%20notifications%2C%20sleep%20stages%2C%20temperature%20sensing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmergency%20services%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Emergency%20SOS%2C%20international%20emergency%20calling%2C%20crash%20detection%2C%20fall%20detection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GPS%2FGPS%20%2B%20cellular%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20LTE%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP6X%2C%20water%20resistant%20up%20to%2050m%2C%20dust%20resistant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20308mAh%20Li-ion%2C%20up%20to%2018h%20regular%2F36h%20low%20power%3B%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinishes%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aluminium%20%E2%80%93%20midnight%2C%20pink%2C%20Product%20Red%2C%20silver%2C%20starlight%3B%20stainless%20steel%20%E2%80%93%20gold%2C%20graphite%2C%20silver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Watch%20Series%209%2C%20woven%20magnetic-to-USB-C%20charging%20cable%2C%20band%2Floop%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Starts%20at%20Dh1%2C599%20(41mm)%20%2F%20Dh1%2C719%20(45mm)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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)
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Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
