Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel strikes south Lebanon after 2 soldiers killed Tehran says Iran, Oman agree on Hormuz shipping route; US lifts sanctions on Iraqi airline linked to Iran's IRGC; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iraqi Kurdish president’s meeting with Syria’s Sharaa signals shift in SDF dynamics KRG President Nechirvan Barzani’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa underscored the Kurdistan Region’s growing role in Syria’s Kurdish politics. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran denies negotiations with US after Trump calls off strikes Pakistan’s death toll rises to 17 after suspected suicide bombing; Syria’s Sharaa meets with KRG President Barzani; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Renewed Iraq attacks test Zaidi’s push to disarm Iran-backed militias An attempt by Iraqi government forces to seize weapons belonging to an Iranian-backed faction encountered resistance, raising questions about Prime Minister Ali Zaidi’s pledge to disarm militias by Sept. 30. By Mustafa Salim
Exclusive US nears full withdrawal from Iraq as bases in Kurdistan Region face attacks from Iran, proxies By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iraq's Zaidi cancels Riyadh visit after US-Saudi strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Clinton, Trump enter the homestretch With less than nine weeks to go before Election Day, the candidates came up short at the Commander-in-Chief Forum. Iraq
Children disappear across Iraq, but critics say authorities lack plan As child abduction continues to plague Iraq, the government has still not taken serious measures to deal with the problem, such as funding research and coordinating investigation. Iraq
Why law graduates are overwhelming Iraq's job market As public and private universities in Iraq are graduating significantly more lawyers than in the past, many lawyers cannot find jobs and the quality of the legal sector has declined. Iraq
What is Turkish army really doing in Iraq? It is not clear who will take control if Mosul is liberated from the Islamic State, but Turkey and its allies want nothing more than to prevent the Kurds from declaring a semi-autonomous state in the region. Iraq
Shiite alliance against Saudis grows tighter As the sectarian conflict intensifies, Shiite forces expand their cooperation against Saudi Arabia while Iraq plays a key role in this regard. Saudi Arabia
Why did Iraq ask Riyadh to change its ambassador? Baghdad has asked Riyadh to replace its ambassador over his interference in Iraq's internal affairs, stirring a new crisis between the two countries. Saudi Arabia
Six years after it was first proposed, will Iraq form top policy council? Iraqi political leaders have reintroduced the idea of a Supreme Strategic Policy Council, and a law calling for its formation now has the support of most parliamentary blocs. Iraq
Will Popular Mobilization Units participate in Iraqi elections? The Independent High Electoral Commission has prohibited PMU factions from participating in elections, although they might be able to participate through the political parties they are affiliated with. Iraq
How Iraq's political blocs are trying to win over youth The early electoral campaigns in Iraq have been focusing on the youth, while the political parties seek to amend the electoral law to allow Iraqis as young as 25 years of age to run as candidates. Iraq
Prince Salman gets jump on G-20 as Saudi 'Mr. Everything' tours Asia Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to be the youngest representative at the upcoming G-20 summit, his most significant step on the global stage to date, but can the spotlight on "Mr. Everything" distract from Yemen? Saudi Arabia
Iraqi cleric urges tolerance toward LGBT people Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has created ripples in Iraqi society by calling for tolerance for LGBT people. Iraq
Accusations fly as Basra cafes hit by string of bombings A series of bombings has hit Basra's cafes that employ women, leading activists to accuse Shiite militias of imposing an Islamization project on civilians. Iraq