Can Iran stop Iraqi Kurdistan independence?

Iraqi Kurdish political forces have recently increased their calls for a referendum on Kurdish independence, but Iran may try to prevent this from happening.

Iraq

Are secularists, Islamists headed for confrontation in Iraq?

Following an attack against the Communist Party in southern Iraq, tensions escalated between Islamist forces and civil and secular parties.

Iraq

Ankara not backing down from Iraq intervention

A week after announcing an end to operations in Syria, Turkey announced that it plans to launch a military operation in Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Sinjar, a move guaranteed to outrage the Baghdad government.

Near East

How Iran's military strategy against IS may backfire

While Iran’s security services have managed to thwart Islamic State attacks on the domestic front, Salafi jihadi ideology appears to be spreading in the country’s Sunni regions.

Iraq

Assad’s departure still non-starter for Putin

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s comment on "orderly" transition could offer a face-saving spark for Syria political talks; Hezbollah’s No. 2 disavows "ambitions" in Syria; did Iran benefit from US missile strike? Sistani seeks restraints on Iraqi armed groups looking to fight in Syria.

Iraq

Shiite militias prepare for education 'revolution' in Iraq

Shiite militias within Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) are attempting to establish separate PMU universities, which some see as an attempt to bring Iranian influence to Iraq.

Iraq

So many Iraqi airports, so few planes

Iraq doesn't need more airports, but that's not stopping local governments from trying to build them.

Iraq

Is Saudi Arabia really willing to normalize ties with Iraq?

Despite some progress in Saudi-Iraqi ties, further improvement is hindered by Iranian influence in Iraq and Baghdad's inability to control Shiite militias.

Legacy: Gulf

Iraqis demand action as popular archaeological site neglected

To celebrate spring, many Iraqis travel to the ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu, an ancient city, but they are noticing that the famous archaeological site is falling into ruin as the government is not making any effort to protect it.

Iraq

Iraq's Shiite clerics show no love for Assad

It shouldn't have come as a surprise when Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power, as other Shiite leaders have previously also criticized the Assad regime.

Iraq

Could Kurds hold independence referendum this year?

The Kurdistan Democratic Party is rushing to organize an independence referendum; however, there is no agreement on this matter among other Kurdish parties, and Baghdad, Iran and Turkey have strong reservations.

Iraq

Washington sees Iraq as front for Iran pushback

Prime Minister Hader al-Abadi is facing a very problematic challenge as the United States wants to use Iraq as a place to confront Iran.

Iraq