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Iraq

January 19, 2026

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From Egypt to Lebanon: What’s at stake for regional states on Trump’s visa ban list?

The State Department claimed that citizens from the affected countries are more likely to use social welfare services at a high rate.

Sadaf Ebrahimi walks down a row of demonstrators at Lafayette Park in front of the White House during the "Free Iran" rally on Jan 10, 2026, in Washington.

Analysis

Trump dials up risky Iran tariffs that would hit China, UAE and others: What to know

Any country trading with Iran now faces a 25% tariff, per the White House, but the move is unlikely to ratchet up pressure on Tehran in the short term.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026.

From Iraq to Yemen, how Iran proxies are responding to protests

Iraqi militias and the Houthis are growing more vocal in their defense of Iran amid the protests sweeping the country, while Hezbollah and Palestinian groups are remaining relatively quiet.

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.

Latest News

Analysis

Venezuelan crisis unlikely to impact MENA crude exporters in short term

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.

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

Analysis

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

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

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

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.

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

Displaced people who fled Islamic State militants from Mosul receive aid at Deepaka camp in the northwest of Erbil, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani - RTX2PQDQ

Mosul adds to staggering world refugee crisis

With the highest number of refugees and displaced people since World War II and continued brutal conflicts in Syria, Iraq and beyond forcing millions to flee, humanitarians lament a broken system running from crisis to crisis.

Smoke rises from a bomb attack south of Mosul, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX2PQIP

How Ankara plans to repeat Syria success in Iraq

Ankara seems to have contingency plans for every situation to make its presence felt in Mosul.

Iranian trucks wait to return to Iran through the Iraq-Iran border crossing of Haj Omran 25 September 2007. Iran's sudden closure of its border with northern Iraq caused trucking chaos at the frontier today, as experts warned of severe economic fallout and traders scrambled for goods. Tehran said yesterday it was closing its frontier with Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region in protest at the detention last week of an Iranian by US troops. AFP PHOTO/SAFIN HAMED (Photo credit should read SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty I

Can Iraq curb corruption among customs officials?

Corruption on Iraq's borders is robbing the government of the customs income its budget depends on.

Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr shout slogans during an anti-Turkey protest in front of the Turkish embassy in Baghdad, Iraq October 18, 2016. REUTERS/Wissm al-Okili - RTX2PACJ

Will Iraq boycott Turkey?

As tension escalates between Iraq and Turkey regarding the battle to rid Mosul of the Islamic State, Iraqi politicians call for boycotting Turkish products.

Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 18, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX2PAM8

Erdogan claims Turkey prepping for Mosul action

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to keep troops near Mosul and says preparations for Turkish role "in the field" are underway.

Smoke rises from clashes at Bartila in the east of Mosul during clashes with Islamic State militants, Iraq, October 18, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX2PCDM

Turkey hasn't given up on role in Mosul battle

While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fumes at Baghdad for excluding Turkey from the operation to liberate Mosul, Ankara has sent a team to the Iraqi capital to continue negotiating a role for Turkey.

Iraqi border police officers patrol near the border with Iran in the southern province of Basra September 4, 2010. The police border conduct regular patrols, raids and search operations in the border with Iran against gangs, drugs and weapon caches, a source of police border commandership said on Saturday in Basra. REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT MILITARY) - RTR2HXLA

Police overwhelmed as drugs from Iran flood Basra

Iraqi police are unable to keep up with increasing drug smuggling from Iran, and Basra, the hardest-hit province, has neither a rehabilitation center for drug addiction nor the resources to prosecute drug-trafficking gangs.

Members of Iraqi security forces stand guard as Christians attend a mass at a church in Baghdad December 25, 2015. REUTERS/ Ahmed Saad - RTX201GI

Religious minorities find protection, support in southern Iraq

While some Iraqi minority populations are suffering persecution by extremists in the northern and western regions, others are enjoying freedom and resources in central and southern Iraq, where the government contributes to building and maintaining their holy places.

Erdogan not backing down on Turkish role in Mosul

Turkey’s demand seen as challenge to United States and Iran, as well as Iraq; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls Hillary Clinton a "political novice" for remarks on Syrian Kurds; ultranationalist group dominates Turkish security services.

A woman, who was wounded in a bombing at a Kurdish wedding in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka, lies in a hospital in Dohuk province, Iraq, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Ari Jalal - RTSQP7M

Health crisis in the making as doctors flee Iraq

As a brain drain in the health sector and the war against IS continue, Iraq is facing a health crisis.

Assistant Treasury Secretary for Terrorist Financing Daniel Glaser testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the situation in Ukraine on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 6, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

US Treasury official praises Saudi cooperation against terror funding

Assistant Treasury Secretary Daniel Glaser says there has been substantial progress reducing funds amassed by the Islamic State, but warns that IS could seek external financing if it loses its "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria.

Members of the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a militia affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), disarm an improvised explosive device placed by Islamic State fighters near the village of Umm al-Dhiban, northern Iraq, April 30, 2016. They share little more than an enemy and struggle to communicate on the battlefield, but together two relatively obscure groups have opened up a new front against Islamic State militants in a remote corner of Iraq. The unlikely alliance between the Sinjar Resistance

In struggle against PKK, Turkey takes flight

The conflict between Turkey and Kurdish militants is becoming more complex and destructive as the Turkish army begins using drones in warfare.