Iraq - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

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Iraq

January 12, 2026

Baghdad 7:19 pm

15°C

Safin HAMID / AFP via Getty Images

Sharaa tells Iraq's Barzani Kurds integral to Syria amid fears of Aleppo spillover

More than 140,000 people have been displaced by fighting between Syrian government and Kurdish forces in Aleppo and the situation has captured the attention of Kurdistan Region and federal government leaders in neighboring Iraq.

The Iranian-flagged oil tanker Fortune is docked at the El Palito refinery after its arrival to Puerto Cabello in the northern state of Carabobo, Venezuela, on May 25, 2020.

Analysis

Venezuelan crisis unlikely to impact MENA crude exporters in short term

Oil prices inched up on Monday as global oversupply concerns outweighed output disruption fears over the upheaval in Venezuela.

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

Armoured vehicles of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Forces are deployed outside the US embassy building in Baghdad's Green Zone on June 12, 2025, after an announcement by a US official the previous day that staff levels at the diplomatic mission in Iraq were being reduced over security concerns. Despite reporting progress in earlier rounds of talks between Iran and the United States, tensions have reached a fever pitch this week as Washington moved non-essential staff from bases in the region following US medi

Analysis

After Iraq’s election, what are US priorities for next government?

Washington wants there to be no sanctioned groups in the next Iraqi government, a source told Al-Monitor, as the US and Iran compete for influence.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Latest News

Syria seizes anti-aircraft missiles near Iraqi border: What to know

Syria's security directorate in al-Bukamal seized SAM-7 missiles being prepared for smuggling into Iraq, on Dec. 22, 2025.

Analysis

What Turkey wants from Iraq to renew pipeline deal

A worker turns a valve at the Shirawa oil field, where oil was first pumped in Iraq in 1927, outside the northern city of Kirkuk, Jan. 19, 2004.

David O'Byrne

By David O'Byrne

Barham Salih slated to become first Kurd and Iraqi to lead UNHCR

Iraqi President Barham Salih meets with UK Prime Minister, Theresa May (unseen), on June 25, 2019, in London, England.

Exclusive

Iraq's Kurds air fury over PM Sudani's stance after attack on gas field

KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (L) meet in Irbil on April 12, 2025.

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

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Suadad al-Salhy

In Baghdad, reporting on politics and security

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

Iraq's PMU militia wants its own soccer club

The Popular Mobilization Units, an Iraqi military organization, seek to enter the world of sports by establishing a club to compete in official soccer events.

Iraqi students take an English language exam at a bookstore in Kirkuk, Iraq, July 24, 2018, Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed - RC1F5E5EA660

India, Iran or Turkey: Iraqi students look abroad for post-grad studies

Stiff competition for a very limited number of seats at public universities and high fees at private institutions are pushing Iraqi students to pursue post-graduate studies abroad.

Intel: What the US hopes to salvage from its relationship with Iraq

International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney arrives with Yazidi survivor Nadia Murad (C) to meet with United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., March 10, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RC19B328B270

Will Nadia Murad’s Nobel Prize help Iraqi minorities?

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Yazidi survivor Nadia Murad has raised expectations and hopes for Iraqi minorities, and Yazidis in particular, to prevent suppression against them and to win their rights.

An Iraqi woman holds her baby at a children's hospital, in eastern Mosul, Iraq April 26, 2017. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui - RC1A821B53D0

Population growth in Iraq raises concerns

Iraq's population is steadily growing, raising concerns about a future economic crisis and the government's inability to provide basic services to citizens.

Arak distillery promotes ambitious new brand in defiance of alcohol ban

A small home distiller wants to revive the long tradition of alcohol production in the Iraqi town of Bashiqa, which was once a center of multiculturalism and revered for its booze.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu attends a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC1DBE1F34C0

Turkish FM heads for Iraq to greet new leadership, discuss oil

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is set for a two-day visit to Iraq widely taken as an effort to re-assert Turkey’s heft in the country amid the receding fortunes of its local Sunni Arab allies.

Opposition to US plans for east Syria unites fragile Astana trio

No daylight among Iran, Turkey and Russia in opposing US policies in Syria; Can Iraq mediate between the United States and Iran?

A man cleans the building of Basra Governorate after demonstrations during which protesters torched the Basra Governorate in Basra, Iraq September 9, 2018. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani - RC1499F86B00

How will Basra be affected by the closure of US consulate?

Officials and experts in the city of Basra warn of the massive negative effects on the city following the US State Department's decision to close its consulate there.

Displaced Christian family is seen at Ankawa refugee camp in Erbil, Iraq September 12, 2018. Picture taken September 12, 2018. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari - RC1C0E580050

Iraq launches social fund to fight poverty

In cooperation with the World Bank, Iraq has launched a social welfare project to assist unemployed and impoverished Iraqis.

Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected President walks during a handover ceremony at Salam Palace in Baghdad, Iraq October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RC1B3C02FD00

Iraq offers to mediate between Trump, Iran

Optimistic about its new government but concerned that brewing tensions between the United States and Iran could negatively impact Iraq, a senior Iraqi diplomat offered that Iraq could mediate between the nations.

Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily - RC1CC4B29CE0

Intel: What Iraq is doing to avoid being caught in tug of war between US and Iran

The Iraqi embassy in Washington is working overtime to avoid getting caught up in the feud between the United States and Iran.