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Iraq

July 4, 2026

Baghdad 4:00 pm

43°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

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.

A picture taken during a press tour organized by the US-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State shows US soldiers clearing rubble at Ain al-Asad military air base, Anbar province, Iraq, Jan. 13, 2020.

Iraqi Sunnis look to KRG for safety as militias concerns fester

As attacks believed to be by Iran-linked armed groups continue amid questions over how long US forces will retain a presence in Iraq, Sunni Arabs are again seeking safety in the Kurdistan Region of the country.

Iraq electricity

Iraq's Kadhimi had full agenda for meetings in Iran

In his second trip to Tehran, Mustafa al-Kadhimi discussed the two nations' economic relationship, energy sales and reducing regional tension.