Iran opened a border crossing with the Kurdistan region of Iraq Wednesday after having closed it following last month's vote in favor of independence in the Kurdish area, Iranian state media reported.

Iraq is opposed to the United States recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving its embassy there, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday, warning that such a decision would negatively affect Middle East stability.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday Islamic State had been defeated from a military perspective but he would only declare final victory after IS militants were routed in the desert.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi held talks with key ally Iran on Thursday as his forces launched an offensive against the Islamic State group's last bastion in the country.

Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah confirmed during his visit to Baghdad Wednesday, his country’s support to Iraq’s anti-terrorism efforts.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Thursday (October 20) that the campaign waged on the ISIS affiliation in Mosul is going faster than originally planned.