US opens massive $796M consulate in Irbil to strengthen Kurdish ties

By STELLA MARTANY IRBIL Iraq AP The United States inaugurated a massive new consulate compound Wednesday in Irbil the capital of northern Iraq s semiautonomous Kurdish region Related Articles Newly distributed photos show disturbing look into Epstein Island Pentagon knew boat attack left survivors but still launched a follow-on strike AP sources say White House tours resume in time for Christmas but they re different than before Republican states will help Homeland Safety obtain driver s license records Autism vaccines at center of latest battle between Healey and Trump administrations The move highlighted Washington s diplomatic and strategic engagement in the Kurdish region particularly as the U S moves troops that had been stationed elsewhere in Iraq as part of a mission against the Islamic State group under an agreement with the central administration in Baghdad U S Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas joined Kurdish leaders for the inauguration of the sprawling complex planned as the largest U S consulate in the world built on a -square-meter -acre site along the Irbil Shaqlawa highway at a cost of million America s outlay in this new consulate provides a secure platform to advance the interests of the United States Rigas mentioned It demonstrates the value that a sovereign secure and prosperous Iraq in mutually beneficial partnership with the United States can deliver for its own people and for America The opening comes amid ongoing challenges in Iraq including regional tensions and attacks on power infrastructure A drone strike last week on the Kormor natural gas field caused widespread power outages No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Rigas appeared to cast blame on Iraq s politically powerful Iran-backed militias He urged both Baghdad and Irbil to disempower and dismantle Iran-aligned militias that continue to engage in violent and destabilizing events and only serve to harm Iraqi sovereignty Kurdish regional President Nechirvan Barzani referred to the consulate as a clear political message regarding the importance of Irbil and the Kurdistan region He reported the facility underscores the deep partnership between the U S and the Kurdish leadership and will serve as a hub for diplomatic economic and defense cooperation Follow AP s Middle East coverage at https apnews com hub middle-east