Exclusive Iraqi oil flows to Turkey after US pledges role in Baghdad-Kurds customs dispute A US-brokered breakthrough between Baghdad and Erbil has restarted Iraqi oil exports through Turkey after a weeklong standoff. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Exclusive Dana Gas evacuates Khor Mor staff in Iraq's Kurdistan Region after Iran threats Tehran has warned it will target Gulf oil and gas facilities following Israel's strike on South Pars. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Desperate to sell its oil, Iraq turns to Turkey amid standoff with Kurds As Iraq looks to reroute oil to Turkey, Baghdad is also using the plan to push the Iraqi Kurds to greenlight exports through their territory. Iraq
CENTCOM: Six killed after US refueling tanker aircraft crashes in Iraq The KC-135 is the fourth American military aircraft downed since the war against Iran began. Iraq
Exclusive Baghdad, US turn to Iraqi Kurds for oil exports as Iran war hits supplies By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iraqi journalists face threats, murder In the absence of deterrent laws and decisive action by the government, Iraqi journalists continue to face all manner of threats, including kidnapping, murder and persecution. Iraq
Illegal hunting threatens biodiversity of Iraq's marshes In the absence of deterrent laws and decisive actions by the authorities, hunters in Iraq are killing migrant birds on a large scale. Iraq
Will Turkey, Iraq open new chapter in ties? Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s visit to Iraq last week has signaled a willingness to improve relations between the two countries after a period of intense animosity. Iraq
Westward offensive starts as Iraq's Ramadi catches breath With the Mosul operation still going on and Anbar's liberated area still unstable, the Iraqi forces have launched an assault on the last Islamic State stronghold in Anbar province. Iraq
Who's fighting whom in Iraq's Sinjar? After KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani warned that the KRG may resort to force to expel the Kurdistan Workers Party from Sinjar, tensions rose in the region. Iraq
Jordanians question timing, messages of top military brass The Dec. 30 BBC interview with Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, raised eyebrows in Amman and prompted local commentators to speculate about the purpose and meaning of Freihat’s statements. Iraq
Iran, Iraq seek to send a message with joint naval exercises In a clear message to the Gulf countries of the Iranian influence, Iraqi forces with Iranian support are conducting military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and the Iraqi land border with the Saudi. Legacy: Gulf
Can public outcry in southern Iraq end Maliki’s political ambitions? Nouri al-Maliki, the former prime minister who now is one of Iraq’s vice presidents, was faced with demonstrations staged by angry residents of the three southern provinces he was visiting as part of an early effort to increase his chances of returning to power in local and parliamentary elections slated for 2018. Iraq
Does New Year's nightclub attack signal tough year ahead for Turkey? As transnational networks of the Islamic State come under increasing pressure in Iraq and Syria, they are likely to shift to Turkey, while Ankara still gives priority to the Kurdistan Workers Party. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan oil a slippery issue Ownership of Iraqi Kurdistan oil is a major source of friction between Baghdad and Erbil, while Turkey and Iran compete for lucrative oil transport contracts. Iraq
Smell of death fills Mosul The bodies of Islamic State fighters lie in the streets of the liberated areas of Mosul, which is causing concern about the physical and psychological well-being of the city's residents. Iraq
Turkey brandishes Incirlik card to threaten US Turkish officials are hinting at denying US access to the Incirlik Air Base unless Washington halts its support for Syrian Kurds and begins to provide air support for Turkish troops in Syria. Iraq