Australia's Qantas Airways said on Wednesday it would add 50 minutes to its Perth-London flight time and cut passenger numbers to carry more fuel as it re-routes around Iran and Iraq. Under the accelerated pullout, the U.S. will cut the number of troops in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500 and in Iraq from about 3,000 to 2,500. The capital is Baghdad. Iraq resumes commercial flights despite rise in coronavirus cases. Iraq banned flights to eight countries last month in a bid to prevent the entry and spread of the new coronavirus variant. Several non-US airlines had flights over parts of Iraq and Iran at the time, according to FlightRadar24 data. Editor's Note: Please read below for CNA’s full transcript of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Baghdad, Iraq, to Rome, Italy on March 8, 2021. The reopening of some airports comes as the gov’t moves ahead with plan to ease restrictions after months of lockdown. U.S. Embassy Baghdad Al-Kindi Street International Zone Baghdad, Iraq Telephone: 0760-030-3000 Telephone: 301-985-8841 (U.S. dial numbers that ring in Baghdad) U.S. Citizen Emergency After-Hours Telephone: 301-985-8841 from the United States or 0760-030-3000 locally from within Iraq or 964-760-030-3000 when calling from another international location. Iraq is a country in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. UAE suspends flights from these 4 countries All outgoing and incoming flights to be suspended from Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Iraq Published: March 14, 2020 17:05 Tawfiq Nasrallah, Senior News Editor Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, reported that Fateh-313 and Qiam missiles were used in the attack , and that US forces failed … First published on December 10, 2020 / … The pope spent a few moments with about a dozen refugees from Iraq … A new law to aid Yazidi female survivors isn't enough. Middle East Iraq's Yazidis warn of ongoing threats from extremists. The Yazidi community says it's only a … VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis met with Iraqi refugees in Rome early Friday before his flight to Baghdad.