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Iraq

July 4, 2026

Baghdad 11:51 am

41°C

An aerial view shows port of the western Syrian port city of Latakia, on Dec. 18, 2024.

Analysis

Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route?

On June 26, Emirati and Syrian officials discussed plans for a logistics corridor connecting Syrian ports to Gulf markets via Iraq.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Here's what to know about Iraq's corruption as Zaidi launches crackdown

Watchdogs and financial institutions regard Iraq as a significantly corrupt country as the new prime minister works to recover public funds.

aqi security personnel patrol in a vehicle along a street in Baghdad on June 28, 2026.

Analysis

Iraqi PM’s anti-corruption drive comes as US pressure mounts on Iran-backed militias

Iraq’s new prime minister has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign ahead of key talks in Washington, but analysts say the real test will be whether it reaches Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed actors.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Explainer

After UAE and Qatar, could Iraq be next to leave OPEC?

A worker at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17, 2026, in Erbil, Iraq.

Iraq taps Krikor Der-Hagopian as first Armenian Christian ambassador to US

Krikor Der-Hagopian at the 9th Sulaimani Forum, in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, on April 16, 2025.

Exclusive

Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias

Tom Barrack

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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

Iraq HAWIJA

Six years later, ex-Islamic State stronghold in Iraq feels left behind

As a former ISIS stronghold, Hawija feels rejected and neglected both nationally and internationally.

Commanding officers of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (R) and senior Iraqi commanders (L) meet at the Joint Operations Center in Baghdad's Green Zone, Dec. 9, 2021.

Iraq announces end to US-led combat role with no fanfare

The defeat-IS coalition will continue its advisory mission into next year, despite a declared end to a combat role.

Iraq Basra

Iraq blames militias for Basra explosion that killed four

The Basra explosion caused by a booby-trapped motorcycle was aimed to assassinate an Iraqi investigative officer in charge of the militia's illegal activities in the province.

Yazidi soldiers cheer a fallen comrade on Nov. 15, 2015, near Sinjar, Iraq.

Turkey strikes Yazidi militia in Iraq

The Sinjar Resistance Units is a member of the Popular Mobilization Units, making it officially part of the Iraqi security forces.

Iraq Sadr

Muqtada Sadr uses personal diplomacy in search of Iraqi deal

Populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is seeking to close the deal among Iraq's Shiite parties.

A robot waitress at the White Fox Restaurant in Mosul.

Mosul restaurant features robot servers in first for Iraq

After all recreational activities, especially western ones, were prohibited in it, the first-ever resto-café opened in Mosul, serving Western dishes to customers using a robot.

Mourners on Oct. 27, 2021, surround caskets of victims of yesterday's IS attack on the village of Al-Rashad in Iraq's eastern Diyala province.

Islamic State targets peshmerga in Iraq’s disputed Diyala and Makhmour

A recent string of attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region peshmerga forces have raised concern over how effective long-discussed coordination with the central government is in the country’s flashpoint disputed territories.

Iraq archaeology

Archaeologists make new discoveries in ancient Iraqi cities

Foreign missions continue their survey and excavation operations in the central and southern regions of Iraq, while also training native Iraqis in the latest standards of professional archaeology.

Security forces loyal to Iraq's Hashid al-Shaabi paramilitary network stand next to a protest camp set up by network supporters near the Green Zone of the capital, Baghdad, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Investigation finds militias involved in Iraqi post-election violence

A special committee implicates militias in causing violent clashes on Nov. 5

Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraqi militia leader and Shiite Muslim cleric, gives a news conference in the central holy shrine city of Najaf, on Nov. 18, 2021.

Shiite leaders gather in Baghdad to break political deadlock

In order to break the political deadlock resulting from Iraq's recent elections, Shiite leaders gathered to find a solution to forming the next government.

An Iraqi cleric walks alongside another in the central holy city of Najaf, on Feb. 26, 2020.

Najaf seminary prepares for post-Sistani Iraq

The opening of Sheikh Baqir al-Irawani’s office in Najaf indicates that he may be preparing to be one of the successors to 92-year-old Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, head of the Shiite religious authority.

Members of Iraqi security stand guard as supporters of the Hashid al-Shaabi paramilitary network march toward one of the Green Zone entrances in the capital, Baghdad, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Iraqi election results sent to Federal Supreme Court for approval

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission announced the final results of the Oct. 10 elections and will now send its results to the Federal Supreme Court for approval.