Islamic State escalates violence across Baghdad Belt Terrorist attacks increase as Iraq continues government formation process. Week in Review | Iraq | Jan 22, 2022 Mourners carry the casket of one of eleven Iraqi soldiers, killed in an overnight attack by the Islamic State (IS) group against a base in eastern Iraq, through a street in the central holy shrine city of Najaf, on Jan. 21, 2022.
Islamic State wipes out entire army outpost in Iraq’s Diyala The latest major Islamic State attack in Iraq left 11 dead, including soldiers and their commanding officer, at an army outpost in a restive area northeast of Baghdad. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 21, 2022
Iraqi army boots PKK-linked leader’s statue from Sinjar, arrests fighters The Iraqi army has arrested several fighters from a PKK-linked Yazidi faction operating in Sinjar as part of an attempt to get them to abide by an accord signed in 2020 for greater stability and security. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 21, 2022
Iraq moves forward with building pilgrim route to Saudi Arabia The Iraqi government is showing interest in completing the pilgrim route linking Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which will facilitate the arrival of religious visitor convoys between the two countries and will enhance trade and political relations. Adnan Abu Zeed | Iraq | Jan 21, 2022
Islamic State stages Syria prison break, kills 11 soldiers in Iraq The Islamic State attacked an Iraqi army barracks and a prison holding jihadists in Kurdish-run northeast Syria overnight. Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Jan 21, 2022
Prison housing Iraqi, Syrian IS inmates attacked in Syria Detention facilities under US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were hit by a major attack attempting to free the thousands within. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 21, 2022
Rare snowstorm hits Iraq and Syria Many people in the Kurdistan Region rejoiced while playing in the snow, but such conditions can be dangerous for others, especially those living in displaced people camps. Adam Lucente | Iraq | Jan 20, 2022
US diplomacy prompts Iraqi Kurds to allow aid through sealed Syrian border crossing The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq has agreed to open one crossing between its territory and northeast Syria twice a month for the passage of vital aid. Amberin Zaman | Iraq | Jan 20, 2022
Strikes on Baghdad Belt IS cells overshadowed by militia attacks Recent airstrikes on areas close to the Iraqi capital as well as the killing of Islamic State fighters there have received scant attention as Iran-linked groups continue to carry out persistent attacks. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 19, 2022
'Valley of Peace,' largest world cemetery in holy city of Najaf Wadi al-Salam is an ancient cemetery, the largest graveyard in the world, in Iraq's Shiite city of Najaf, where most Shiite Iraqis want to be buried. Nicole Di Ilio | Iraq | Jan 18, 2022
SDF hands over 50 Iraqi IS suspects as prison concerns mount The SDF has transferred another group of IS suspects with Iraqi nationality but arrested in Syria, alongside some of the thousands of Iraqis in al-Hol camp, to Iraq as the potential for jailbreaks remains high. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 17, 2022
Rockets target US Embassy as Iraq struggles to form new government An attack on US diplomatic offices in Baghdad widely assumed to have been by Iran-linked militias injured Iraqi civilians instead, as Kataib Hezbollah blamed foreign powers. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 14, 2022
Iraq: Woman, child injured in rocket attack on US Embassy Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby reiterated that the United States reserves the right to retaliate for such attacks. Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Jan 14, 2022
The Takeaway: Iraq takes first steps toward new government: What comes next Updates from our regional correspondents on Turkey, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt; multimedia on Israel and Iran — all in about 1,000 words. Andrew Parasiliti, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Joe Snell | Iraq | Jan 12, 2022
IRGC-linked factions step up activity against Kurdistan Region of Iraq Armed factions in Iraq with links to Iran have increased accusations against Kurds in the country’s autonomous region and may have been behind some recent attacks on them. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Jan 12, 2022
Egyptian archaeologists unwrap Amenhotep I mummy, rewrite history Mohamed Saied | Culture | Jan 8, 2022
Sultan Qaboos’ environmental legacy hits economic roadblock in Oman Sebastian Castelier | Gulf | Jan 7, 2022
Erdogan hopes fence-mending trip to Saudi Arabia eases financial woes Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Jan 7, 2022
Attacks on US in Iraq meant to send ‘harsh’ message — without spilling blood Ali Hashem (Iran Pulse) | Iraq | Jan 6, 2022
Mourners carry the casket of one of eleven Iraqi soldiers, killed in an overnight attack by the Islamic State (IS) group against a base in eastern Iraq, through a street in the central holy shrine city of Najaf, on Jan. 21, 2022.
