Iraq

Kataib Hezbollah calls on supporters to prepare for conflict with Israel

The statement is the latest example of how Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are continuing to threaten Israel, the US, and the region.

Reported footage of Iranian security forces suppressing the Iranian protests
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (C) inspects a guard of honour during the Army Day celebrations, marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of Iraqi army, at Military College in Baghdad on January 6, 2026.

US urges Iraq to limit Iranian influence as new government forms

A member of the Syrian army walks with a weapon in the street as civilians flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026

‘There will be hell in Syria’: Kurdish campaigner urges international intervention

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki reacts at a polling station inside Al-Rasheed Hotel during the parliamentary election in Baghdad, Iraq, November 11, 2025.

Iraq's former PM who helped fuel ISIS makes unlikely comeback - analysis


Trump, Vance not invited to Dick Cheney's Washington funeral

Trump and Vance were not invited to Dick Cheney’s funeral as US leaders gathered to honor the former vice president and outspoken Trump critic.

Late former US Vice President Dick Cheney's grandchildren attend a funeral service for him, at Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, DC, US, November 20, 2025.

Iran is rearming as 'Axis of Resistance' regroups - can Israel stop an inevitable war? - opinion

The longer Jerusalem waits to strike again, the more danger Tehran’s retaliation could pose. Preparations for this all but inevitable war should begin now.

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER Abbas Araghchi recently declared: ‘Our missile power today far surpasses that of the 12-day war,’ the writer notes.

The Iraqi cleric and ex-Houthi spokesperson breaking ranks to defend Israel online

Two Arab activists are challenging dominant regional narratives by defending Israel online, even after facing bombings, persecution, and exile.

Ghaith Al-Tamimi condemned the October 2025 Yom Kippur attack on a synagogue in Manchester, England.

Kurdistan’s security architecture recast as Peshmerga unification continues

The Kurdistan region has its own armed forces, the Peshmerga. Among the largest units are the KDP and PUK, which each have tens of thousands of fighters.

A KURDISH peshmerga soldier stands at a lookout near Bashiqa in northern Iraq

Iraqi PM-led coalition tops Iraq election with 46 seats, commission says

Prime Minister Sudani's bloc wins Iraq's election, but forming a new government may take months due to challenges in building a majority and balancing US-Iran influence.

A man holds a flag of Iraq from a car with an election poster featuring current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, as supporters of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition celebrate after preliminary election results were announced in Baghdad, Iraq, November 12, 2025.

PKK’s partial withdrawal from Turkey raises questions about peace deal - analysis

The Kurdistan Workers' Party’s decision to pull back from the Turkish border raises hopes for peace but leaves crucial questions about its future actions in Iraq, Syria, and beyond.

Fighters with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) walk for a disarmament ceremony marking a significant step toward ending the decades-long conflict between Turkey and the outlawed group, in the Qandil mountains, Iraq October 26, 2025.

Iran ramps up anti-West rhetoric, expands influence in Iraq and Lebanon - analysis

Iran is strengthening ties with allies in Iraq and Lebanon while accusing the US and Israel of coercive diplomacy in its latest regional push.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, September 9, 2025.

After elections, Iraq walks a tightrope between US ties and Iran’s control - analysis

Iraq’s recent election saw 329 seats contested along sectarian lines. The outcome will impact the US-Iraq security arrangement and address the growing power of Iran-backed militias.

Iraqi polling officials count ballots at a polling station after closing of the polls during the country's parliamentary election in Al-Muhandiseen district in eastern Baghdad on November 11, 2025.

Iran engages in diplomatic blitz, strengthening ties with Iraq, Uzbekistan, UAE - analysis

Amid tensions with Israel and the US, Iran is ramping up diplomacy to build a "multipolar order," strengthening ties with Iraq, the UAE, and Uzbekistan to safeguard its regional influence.

 PROTESTERS, MOSTLY Houthi supporters, sit along an Iranian flag at a demonstration in support of Palestinians and Iran, in Sanaa last week. Aggression by proxies such as the Houthis must be treated as direct Iranian attacks, says the writer.

Iraq wraps up early voting as country braces for pivotal parliamentary elections

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani called the vote decisive for the country's long-term direction, as it comes amid political splintering, voter fatigue, and realignments among key factions.

An Iraqi female security member votes at a polling station during a special voting, two days before the polls open to the public in a parliamentary election, in Najaf, Iraq November 9, 2025.