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Iraq

August 28, 2026

Baghdad 3:20 pm

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Iraq summons Iran envoy over 'Persian Gulf' post, Baghdad name origins: What to know

The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region, including over the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the controversially referenced gulf to the Arabian Sea.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi delivers a speech in Baghdad, May 16, 2026.

Exclusive

Iraq's Zaidi set to make European debut with Macron in France

The Iraqi prime minister is expected to sign several memorandums of understanding with France during his Sept. 14 meeting with Macron as Baghdad seeks to diversify its diplomatic and security ties.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports

Zaidi

Interview

Barzani calls for enhanced air defense for Kurdistan Region to counter drone attacks

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, gives a press conference in the autonomous region's capital Arbil on June 25, 2025.

Masrour Barzani

Masrour Barzani

KRG Prime Minister

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Suadad al-Salhy

In Baghdad, reporting on politics and security

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

Winthrop Rodgers

In Sulaymaniyah, reporting on Kurdish issues

Sami Jassim Mohammed al-Jabouri shortly after his arrest.

Iraq captures ‘Most Wanted’ Islamic State finance chief

Iraqi intelligence have captured a top-level IS leader in a special operation that involved coordination with foreign countries. The US had offered $5 million for information that “brings him to justice”.

Iraq celebration

Muqtada al-Sadr set to claim victory in Iraqi elections

Iraqis made their way to the ballot boxes to cast their votes for the council of representatives, as results show significant surprises.

SHWAN MOHAMMED/AFP via Getty Images

Security forces, IDPs cast votes early in Iraq's parliamentary elections

Early voting has opened in Iraq’s parliamentary elections.

Members of Iraq's security forces take part in early voting for the parliamentary elections in the central city of Najaf, on Oct. 8, 2021.

Iraqi elections begin with strict measurements to prevent fraud

In a first of its kind, Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission is excluding candidates from the early elections due to electoral campaign and law violations, raising expectations the elections will be different this time.

Iraqi supporters of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr raise flags of their "Marching Toward Reform" electoral alliance during a campaign rally in the capital, Baghdad, on May 4, 2018.

Iraqi Sadrists envision role as broker of next government

After once threatening to sit out the elections, the Sadrist movement has embarked on a media and political campaign to increase election turnout.

Iraq's rapid response forces detain a man as they storm a house in the Tarmiya district.

Iraqi intel service, tribal fighters kill Islamic State commanders

Iraqi national security forces working closely with local tribal fighters say they have managed to kill two key Islamic State figures involved in planning suicide attacks.

Iraqis attend the funeral of Ayatollah Mohammad Said al-Hakim, one of Iraq's top four Shiite clerics, at the Imam Ali shrine in Iraq's central holy shrine city of Najaf on Sept. 5, 2021.

Grand Ayatollah Hakim's passing affects Iraqi Shiite politics

Following the death of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, one of Iraq’s most senior and influential Muslim Shiite clerics, the family lost one of its sources of religious, social and political power.

Iraqis register to obtain their voting cards ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, Najaf, Iraq, Sept. 29, 2021.

Iraq's top Shiite cleric calls for voting in upcoming elections

Top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called upon Iraqis to participate in the elections in large numbers and vote wisely.

Iraqis go about their day beneath electoral billboards and placards of candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections, in the district of Adhamiyah in the capital, Baghdad, on Sept. 17, 2021.

Iraq’s Sunni parties compete for votes in crucial election

Iraqi Sunnis are weighing whether to vote for candidates on a tribal or party-linked basis, try for independents or maybe not even vote at all.

Iraqis go about their day beneath electoral billboards and placards of candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections, in the district of Adhamiyah in the capital Baghdad, on Sept. 17, 2021.

Iraqi leaders sign electoral code of conduct

The agreement among Iraqi parties comes in light of ongoing efforts by Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government to reunite political blocs ahead of the October elections.

A picture taken on January 13, 2020, during a press tour organised by the US-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State group, shows a member the US forces walking past a drone in the Ain al-Asad airbase in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

Are Iranian threats to escalate in Iraqi Kurdistan more hot air?

Syrian Kurds carry flags and a portrait of Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan as they demonstrate on June 10, 2021, in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli, against the Turkish offensive on PKK areas in northern Iraq.

Turkey's latest attack on PKK militant in Iraqi Kurdistan meant as show of strength

In recent months, Turkish drones have picked off a string of mid-level commanders in Iraqi Kurdistan and northeast Syria.