KUWAIT, Dec 28 (KUNA) - Iraq has been a scene of political, security and military developments that in many cases were fatal.
Following are major events that took place in Iraq or related to that Arab country in 2019.
Jan 30: Iraqi President Barham Saleh received King Felipe VI of Spain in Baghdad for the first time in the last 40 years.
Feb 2: The Iraqi writer Alaa Mashthoub was killed by gunmen in the city of Karbala.
Feb 4: President Saleh stressed that Iraq has not been consulted about keeping US troops in the Iraqi territory to monitor Iran, noting that the American presence in his country is part of an agreement between the two countries.
March 11: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Iraq in an official visit, which is the first since he took office in 2013.
March 19: Iraqi authorities recovered 3,000-year-old Babylonian antiquities from Britain.
March 21: More than 100 people drowned after a deadly ferry accident in the Tigris River in the Iraqi city of Mosul.
May 15: The United States urged its non-essential staff at the embassy and consulate to leave Iraq immediately.
May 16: The Iraqi authorities announced the death of four citizens and wounding 17 others in popular demonstrations in the city of Najaf in central Iraq.
May 28: The Parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan elected Nechirvan Barzani as president after receiving 68 votes out of 81 attendant parliamentarians out of 111 members
June 2: An Iraqi court sentenced two French nationals to death after being convicted of belonging to so-called Islamic State (IS).
June 10: Poland announced the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq by June 2020.
June 12: Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani assigned Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to form the new government.
June 16: Iraqi Ministry of Finance signed a USD billion loan agreement from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop an oil refinery in the province of Basra in southern Iraq.
June 24: The Iraqi Parliament approved the appointment of three ministers of defense, interior and justice, eight months after the formation of the government of Adel Abdulmahdi.
June 27: Hundreds of protesters storm Bahrain embassy in Al-Mansour district in central Baghdad to protesting against hosting US workshop on Palestine.
Aug. 22: Four airstrikes targeted the bases of Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.
Sept. 16: Iraq launched the fifth phase of "Will of Victory" operation against remnants of the terrorist group in Anbar desert leading to the border with Saudi Arabia.
Sept. 30: Iraq officially reopened Al-Qaem border crossing with Syria.
Oct. 1: An anti-corruption protest erupted in Tahrir area in central Baghdad.
Oct. 3: Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi imposed a country-wide curfew and cutting off the internet across much of Iraq in an attempt to curb the protests.
Oct. 4: Religious cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr called for Iraqi government to resign and for new elections to be held in the country amid escalating, nationwide anti-government protests.
Oct. 5: The UN called for an end to the violence in Iraq, and those responsible for the loss of life should be brought to justice.
Oct. 6: Iraqi Interior Ministry said that at least 104 people have been killed and more than 6,000 wounded, and protesters had torched 51 public buildings and 8 political party headquarters during the anti-government protests.
Oct. 24: Prime Minister Abdulmahdi Pledges to provide a safe atmosphere for the demonstrators, the formation of a court to corruption, and halve the salaries of officials in ministries and parliament.
Oct. 25: At least 40 people killed in new wave of violence and public protests against the government in several Iraq cities.
Oct. 26: The High Committee of the Iraq Protests suspends their marches and gives the government time to respond to their demands.
Oct. 29: Thousands of Iraqis break the curfew and insist on staying in Tahrir Square.
Oct. 30: One security man dies in a missile attack inside the Green Zone in Baghdad, according to the Iraqi army.
Oct. 30: 14 people killed and tens of others injured in clashes between demonstrators and police in Karbala city southern Iraq.
Oct. 31: In a televised speech, Iraqi President Barham Saleh pledges to introduce a new election law that paves the way for early elections to held as soon as possible.
Nov. 1: Iraq's top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani condemns the use of violence in Iraq protests and warns of any external interference in the popular protests against the government.
Nov. 1: Iraq's integrity authority ordered arrest of 60 officials accused of administrative and financial corruption.
Nov. 2: demonstrators block all roads leading to the main port of Umm Qasr overlooking the Arabian Gulf, causing 12 ships with their cargo to return to Abu Dhabi.
Nov. 3: Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi called on protestors rallying against corruption in government, to open roads they closed in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, saying that their actions had cost the state billions of dollars.
Nov. 3: Iraqi authority announced the interception of a terror attack in Baghdad taking advantage of the mass protests griping the capital.
Nov. 4: Iraqi Health Ministry said that four people were killed and 35 others were injured in confrontation between security forces and protestors in Baghdad.
Nov. 6: Iraqi Army speaker Abdulkareem Khalaf said protests in Iraq caused damages worth USD six billion.
Nov. 10: Iraq ports company said operations went back to normal in Um Al-Qasr south of the country after it was closed for a week due to protests.
Nov. 11: UN and the US called on Iraqi government to halt violence against protestors, which led to the death of 300 individuals since early October. They also called on the government to implement reforms in the country and holding early elections.
Nov. 15: Explosion in Tahrir square in Baghdad led to death of four people and the injury of 20 others.
Nov. 16: Iraqi government closed Al-Shalamja and Al-Shib border crossings with Iran on a request from the latter.
Nov. 17: Thousands of Iraqis head to the streets of Basra south Iraq calling for a public strike.
Nov. 18: Iraqi protestors close down the gate of Um Qasr seaport obstructing 50 percent of the operations.
Nov. 20: Iraqi parliament rectified a legislation stripping all officials, including the President, from privileges.
Nov. 22: Source at the Health Ministry confirmed the death of four people and the injury of scores of others during Baghdad protests.
Nov. 24: Source at Iraqi police confirmed death of six people and the injury of scores of others in protests in the southern city of Nasiriyah.
Nov. 25: Iraqi protestors blocked main roads leading to Basra, Najaf, and Al-Nasiriyah cities.
Nov. 26: Iraqi forces imposed curfew in Thi Qar governorate.
Nov. 27: Protestors burned Iranian consulate in Najaf southern Iraq, leading police to impose curfew.
Nov. 28: Over 70 people killed during clashes between protestors and security forces in Nasiriyah and Najaf cities southern Iraq.
Nov. 29: Iraqi Prime Minister Abdulmahdi announced his official resignation in compliance with protestors and pressure from religious authority in Najaf city.
Nov. 29: Iraqi army announced formation of crisis cell to contain popular protests throughout the country.
Nov. 30: Cabinet holds session to discuss Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi resignation and efforts to run government.
Nov. 30: Iraq supreme judicial council vowed to hold protestors responsible for acts violence in Najaf and Dhi Qar governorates.
Dec. 1: Parliament approves resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi. The Presidency is informed about the process and is tasked with choosing the new head of government.
Dec. 1: Iraqi judiciary issues warrant to arrest military commander Jameel Al-Shimmeri on accusation of being involved in the murder to protestors in Nasiriyah city, south of the country. Dec. 1: Protestors set the Iranian consulate in Najaf city, southern Iraq, on fire. This is the second incident of its kind.
Dec. 1: A political bloc, affiliated with Muqtada Al-Sadr, refuses to provide a candidate for the Prime Minister position and calls for referring resigned-Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi to court.
Dec. 2: Government of resigned Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi is task with running affairs for a month until a new cabinet is proclaimed.
Dec. 3: Spokesmen of the Iraqi joint forces confirms presence of US forces providing logistical assistance and training to Iraq forces.
Dec. 3: Protestors, for the third time, set the Iranian consulate in Najaf city southern Iraq on fire.
Dec. 4: Parliament task President Barham Saleh with naming caretaking Prime Minister within a period of 15 days. Dec. 4: Parliament postpones session to discuss new election law until caretaking Prime Minister is named.
Dec. 4: Attack on the central bank in Baghdad leads to the injury of seven security personnel.
Dec. 4: Iraqi security forces arrest Hamad Al-Badri, deputy in so-called Islamic State (IS) in Kirkuk.
Dec. 6: US Treasury imposes sanctions on four Iraqi figures in connection with human rights violations and murder of protestors
Dec. 7: Iraqi army deploys troops after 25 protestors were killed during rallies.
Dec. 8: Iraq news agency announces that head of the Baghdad command of the army Qais Al-Mohammadawi is revealed from his position and replaced Major General Abdulhussein Al-Tamimi.
Dec. 8: The judiciary system announces released of 2,600 peaceful protestors while 181 remain in prison on suspicion of being linked to acts of violence and crimes.
Dec. 8: Masked gunmen assassinate civil activist Fahem Abuali in Karbala city while another attempt against fellow activist Ehab Al-Wazni fails.
Dec. 9: Rocket attack on a military base nearby Baghdad international airport results in the injury of six soldiers.
Dec. 9: Iraqi culture ministry announces return of 387 tablets written in Sumerian-Akkadian cuneiform, which resided in the University of Pennsylvania since 1922
Dec 10: Protestors block the road leading to Al-Rumaila oil field in Basra governorate in south Iraq, leading to a security alert throughout the governorate.
Dec 12: The health ministry announces that the death toll during protests at jumped to 511 people while 21,000 were injured.
Dec 12: Seven personnel belonging to an Iraq militia are killed in a booby-trapped explosion north of Baghdad.
Dec 13: Shite leading figure Ali Al-Sistani condemns killings and abductions in Iraq calling on the state to exercise more of its authorities to curb the use of weapons and guns.
Dec 14: Protestors in Iraq refuse nomination of Mohammad Al-Sudani as new Prime Minister.
Dec 14: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warns Iran and affiliated militias in Iraq from targeting military bases hosting American troops.
Dec. 18: Iraqi parliament failed to approve the new electoral law after some political parties left the session.
Dec. 18: Iraqi Interior Minister Yassin Al-Yasseri announced capture of eight persons, including a woman, accused of attacking protesters.
Dec. 20: Unknown gunmen in Nasiriya, southern Iraq, killed Iraqi activist Ali Al-Asmi.
Dec. 20: US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale arrived in Baghdad and met with Iraqi officials. He called for protection of protesters and reaffirmed the US commitment to Iraq's stability, security, sovereignty and keeping foreign interference away.
Dec. 22: Iraqi Presidency exceeded constitutional deadline on the appointment of a new Prime Minister in 15 days, reflecting a huge rift among politicians in the country.
Dec. 24: Iraqi parliament approved the new election law, which would allow for single candidacy and multiple constituencies within a governorate in line with the demands of the nation-wide protests.
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