Iraq's election results put militias between rock and hard place Political parties affiliated with Iraqi militias faced significant defeat, while their ally Nouri al-Maliki earned a remarkable victory. Hassan Ali Ahmed | Iraq | Oct 15, 2021 Judge Jalil Adnan Khalaf, chairman of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, speaks in Baghdad on Oct. 12, 2021, as he holds a press conference on the early parliamentary elections. Two days after Iraq's legislative election, pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim parties and armed groups today denounced early poll results as "manipulation" and a "scam."
Ankara hints at new Syria operation after spate of attacks near border Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the nation “would do what is necessary” to clear Syrian border areas of Kurdish militants after missile attacks killed two Turkish police officers Sunday. Diego Cupolo | Turkey | Oct 13, 2021
Syrian opposition chief: US sanctions a deterrent for Turkish proxy fighters During an interview with Al-Monitor, Syrian National Coalition President Salem al-Meslet discussed recent US sanctions on Ahrar al-Sharqiya, the human rights situation in northern Syria and the US military presence in the war-torn country. Elizabeth Hagedorn | Syria | Oct 7, 2021
Syrian Kurds, opposition take cases to Washington Delegations from Kurdish-held northeast Syria and the Turkey-backed Syrian National Coalition will meet separately with US officials this week. Elizabeth Hagedorn | Syria | Sep 27, 2021
Iranian security official tells Iraq to expel Iranian Kurdish groups Iranian officials have been criticizing Kurdish parties from Iran who have a presence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where they are regularly targeted by the Iranian military. Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Sep 13, 2021
Iraqi PM vows to fix Kirkuk security issues after gruesome Islamic State attack Following an Islamic State attack in which over a dozen Iraqi policemen were killed, the prime minister criticized military leaders’ “shortcomings” and pledged to address the issue. Meanwhile, counterterrorism operations continue in the same disputed province to prevent further attacks. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Sep 9, 2021
Syrian Kurdish parties feel abandoned by US in wake of Turkish-backed attack Turkey stepped up its attacks against Kurds in Syria, which raised concerns among the Kurdish forces over the US and Russian roles. Sultan al-Kanj | Syria | Sep 8, 2021
Iranian commander warns Iraqi Kurdish government about harboring opposition The IRGC's rare warning has fueled fears about civilian casualties in the Kurdish villages stretching on the Iran-Iraq border. Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Sep 7, 2021
Turkish opposition courts Kurds in trip to Erbil The Republican People’s Party, Turkey’s main opposition party, has sent a senior delegation to Iraq's Kurdistan Region, perhaps because popular elections have become difficult to win without Kurdish votes. Amberin Zaman | Turkey | Sep 7, 2021
Iraqi Kurdish leader helps ease Turkey-UAE tensions Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani helped facilitate a recent phone call between Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Amberin Zaman | Turkey | Aug 31, 2021
Turkey’s Sinjar strikes carry stern messages to Tehran, Baghdad As the United States braces to withdraw its combat forces from Iraq, the country’s Kurdistan Region is emerging as the scene of a mounting struggle for control between Turkey and Iran. Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Aug 19, 2021
Family feud in Iraqi Kurdish party may undercut election chances A dispute between the son of the founder of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party's former leader, and his cousin might reduce the chances of victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Mustafa Saadoun | Iraq | Aug 11, 2021
Family power grab in Iraqi Kurdistan raises fears of intra-Kurdish violence Talabanis strip their cousin of all powers amid a power struggle in the Kurdistan Regional Government's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party. Amberin Zaman | Iraq | Aug 4, 2021
Iraqi Kurdistan water crisis blamed on climate and Iran Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government has asked citizens to ration water. Saman Dawod | Iraq | Jul 29, 2021
Intel: US lifts Iran-related sanctions, says no connection to nuclear deal Elizabeth Hagedorn | Iran | Oct 8, 2021
"The eighteen days of the revolution were the best days of my life," says Egyptian novelist Alaa Al Aswany
Judge Jalil Adnan Khalaf, chairman of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, speaks in Baghdad on Oct. 12, 2021, as he holds a press conference on the early parliamentary elections. Two days after Iraq's legislative election, pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim parties and armed groups today denounced early poll results as "manipulation" and a "scam."
