Federal budget widens political conflict among Kurdish forces

The federal budget widens the gap between the Kurdish political parties, as some of them supported it strongly and others rejected it, calling for amendments.

Iraq

PMU seeks to secure Iraq-Syria border

The Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units have requested to take control of the Iraqi-Syrian border, which raises concerns about Iran's interference in Syria.

Iraq

Turkey gripped by terror as Russian ambassador killed in Ankara

Turkish media outlets are scrambling to cover the killing of Russia's ambassador to Turkey, a break from their calls to attack the Kurdistan Workers Party's bases in response to the suicide attack that killed 13 Turkish conscripts on leave in the central Anatolian town of Kayseri.

Iraq

Baghdad looks to Trump with framework agreement

Following the victory by US President-elect Donald Trump, Iraq seeks to strengthen cooperation with the United States through the full implementation of the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement.

Iraq

Do minorities have role in Iraqi national reconciliation?

Iraqi minorities and civil society complain that the recently announced national reconciliation project does not include their voices and neglects their demands.

Iraq

Can Iraq's parliament regulate the country's tribes?

The Iraqi parliament has discussed the proposal of the law on the Council of Tribes and Clans, which will be voted on in early 2017.

Iraq

How will Tunisia confront jihadis coming home?

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi sparked controversy when he said that authorities will not arrest jihadis that return to the country after fighting abroad.

Iraq

Trump fever sweeps Iraqi Kurdistan

The Kurdish people have been celebrating Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections in many different ways, in the hope that his presidency will bring more support for an independent Kurdistan.

Iraq

Why do Turks blame the West for PKK terror?

Conspiracy theories aside, Turks can be forgiven for thinking that Western support for Syrian Kurds is essentially support for the Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party.

Iraq

Ancient Babylon's bricks finding their way into modern buildings

The city of Hillah was built a thousand years ago using bricks scavenged from the ruins of Babylon, and the practice of reusing the ancient building materials continues there to this day.

Iraq

Dollar-hungry Turkey eyes Middle Eastern markets

Scrambling to overcome a foreign exchange crunch, Turkey’s government has outlined incentives to prop up exporters, and while Middle Eastern markets figure high on the target list, Ankara’s political conflicts with neighbors present an obstacle that needs to be addressed.

Iraq

Former Iraqi PM: US could have stopped IS with 2008 security deal

In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki discussed the country's relationship with the United States, the ongoing battle against the Islamic State and the role of the Popular Mobilization Units.

Iraq