A restart of Iraq's Kurdish oil exports is not imminent, sources close to the matter said on Friday, despite Iraq's federal government saying on Thursday that shipments would resume immediately. Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government have been in negotiations since February to end a stand-off that has halted flows from the north of the country to Türkiye's port of Ceyhan.

Iraqi Kurdistan will resume oil exports through a pipeline to Turkey after a two-year halt, Iraq's federal government said on Thursday despite a fourth day of drone attacks that have shut down half of the region's output.

No group has claimed responsibility, but the attacks have heightened tensions between Baghdad and Kurdish authorities, raising concerns about the region’s energy security.

The State Department says it is ending its ordered departure status for U.S. diplomats and other government employees at its embassy and consulate in Iraq. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided on July 17 to lower the security alert level for staffers at the Baghdad embassy and consulate in Irbil.

Iraq approved a plan for its semi-autonomous Kurdish region to transfer oil to Baghdad, a step toward resuming exports that have been halted for more than two years.

Tankers could soon be lifting Iraqi oil from the Turkish port of Ceyhan once again as a key pipeline reopens. The government said exports will resume from Kurdistan despite four days of mysterious drone attacks on oil fields that have shut down half of the region's production.

Baghdad: At least 50 people were burned to death in a massive fire that tore through a shopping mall in eastern Iraq, officials said Wednesday. The blaze broke out in a five-story commercial complex in the city of Al-Kut,

Iraq approved a plan for its semi-autonomous Kurdish region to transfer oil to Baghdad, a key step toward resuming exports that have been halted for more than two years.