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Iraq

March 28, 2026

Baghdad 9:39 am

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A handing over of command ceremony at Union III Camp in the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on May 22, 2025.

Turkey confirms Iraq troop withdrawal as NATO pulls back due to Iran war

The confirmation of the withdrawal came as part of NATO’s decision to withdraw its forces in its Iraq mission amid Iran war.

An Iranian Kurdish peshmerga member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran inspects the damage sustained at the Azadi Camp following an Iranian cross-border attack in the town of Koye, east of Erbil district, on March 3, 2026.

Analysis

Iran's first strike on Iraqi Kurdish forces since war began a warning to US allies

The deadly strike on Kurdish forces underscores Tehran’s readiness to pressure US partners as Erbil is caught between Iran, Baghdad and Washington.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A view of the oil refinery on March 17, 2026 in Erbil, Iraq.

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.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A picture shows smoke billowing from the Central Production Facility 1 gas refinery in Iraq's southern Maysan province on May 29, 2022.

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.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Desperate to sell its oil, Iraq turns to Turkey amid standoff with Kurds

An Iraqi oil tanker waits at the Khawr Abd Allah canal leading up to Al-Faw port in southern Iraq, on June 6, 2024.

CENTCOM: Six killed after US refueling tanker aircraft crashes in Iraq

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Interview

Yadlin: Israel's war goal to weaken Iran, not immediate regime change

Retired Israeli general and executive director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies Amos Yadlin attends a session at the Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahraini capital, on Dec. 5, 2020.

Oil jumps above $100 as energy crisis called worst in history: What to know

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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

Suadad al-Salhy

In Baghdad, reporting on politics and security

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

Winthrop Rodgers

In Sulaymaniyah, reporting on Kurdish issues

Former prime minister Saad al-Hariri (R) speaks during a meeting with the members of the "14 March Alliance" as former President Amin Gemayel (2nd R) and Samir Geagea (2nd L), leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces listen in Beirut August 8, 2014. Al-Hariri returned to Lebanon on Friday for the first time in three years, on a visit seen as reasserting a moderate influence over the Sunni community following a deadly incursion by Islamist militants. REUTERS/Dalati Nohra/Handout via Reuters (LEBANON - Tags: P

Hariri’s visit sign of Iranian-Saudi rapprochement

Saad Hariri's return to Lebanon coincided with a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and appears to be part of Riyadh's plan to invest in fighting terrorism and promoting moderate Islam.

Iraqi Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani (R) shakes hands with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Arbil, north of Baghdad, August 26, 2014. Iran supplied weapons and ammunition to Iraqi Kurdish forces, Kurdistan President Barzani said Tuesday at a joint news conference with Iranian foreign minister Zarif in Arbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR43TA5

Iran helps Iraq's Kurds but Baghdad still priority

Iran has provided the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq with arms to fight the Islamic State but is wary of alienating Baghdad.

A Iraqi Turkmen Shiite fighter, who volunteered to join the government forces, runs for cover on August 4, 2014 in Amerli, some 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad, as the city has been completely surrounded by Islamic State (IS) Sunni militants for more than six weeks. Residents say a humanitarian disaster is imminent in the town, which has been without power and drinking water for days. IS fighters, who run large swathes of neighbouring Syria, launched a blistering offensive on June 9 that saw the

Iraq's Sunni, Shiite Turkmens fall out over IS

The six-week Islamic State siege of the Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli has exposed the little-discussed rift between Iraqi Shiites and Sunni Turkmens.

Israeli Economy minister Naftali Bennett arrives to attend the weekly cabinet meeting on April 6, 2014. AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images)

Bennett emerges from Gaza conflict as clear winner

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stock has fallen and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman did not upgrade his position, Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett was able to strengthen his support base.

Ali Hatem Suleiman, head of the Dulaimi tribe that dominates the Sunni heartland Anbar province, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, August 15, 2014. Suleiman, one of Iraq's most powerful Sunni tribal leaders, said on Friday he was ready to work with the new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, provided he protected the rights of the minority sect, which was marginalised by his predecessor. Picture taken August 15, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

US shuns tribal leaders who claim to have infiltrated IS

A group of tribal sheikhs want to visit Washington to convince US officials to drop Baghdad and give them direct support.

Shi'ite volunteers from the Mehdi Army loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, patrol in vehicles, as smoke rises from clashes with Islamic State fighters, on the outskirts of Tikrit, July 20, 2014. Iraqi troops and Shi'ite militants patrolled areas of Tikrit as they launched an assault to retake the city currently held by Islamic State fighters. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR3ZG0I

IS massacre leaves families of victims stunned

The families of 1,700 military cadets slaughtered at Camp Speicher on June 11 have received little or no attention from Iraqi authorities.

Yazidis escape mountains but still face danger

Dispersed across camps and unable to return to their homes, Yazidis are disillusioned by the weak Iraqi response to their plight.

Iraqi security forces and Turkmen Shiite fighters, who volunteered to join the government forces, hold a position on August 4, 2014 in Amerli, some 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad, as the city has been completely surrounded by Islamic State (IS) Sunni militants for more than six weeks. Residents say a humanitarian disaster is imminent in the town, which has been without power and drinking water for days. IS fighters, who run large swathes of neighbouring Syria, launched a blistering offensive on

Amerli passes 70 days under siege from IS

Youth groups and other activists have staged protests in Baghdad to attract international attention to the suffering of Amerli’s residents, under siege by the Islamic State for 70 days now.

Iran website denies Qasem Soleimani sidelined

A conservative Iranian website has denied reports by Arab media that Quds Force Cmdr. Gen. Qasem Soleimani has been replaced.

A Christian woman carries a cross during a demonstration against militants of the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in Arbil, north of Baghdad July 24, 2014. Hundreds of Iraqi Christians marched to the United Nations office in Arbil city on Thursday calling for help for families who fled in the face of threats by Islamic State militants. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR400H7

Erbil Christians torn between arming themselves or leaving

Kurdish officials in Erbil met with a Lebanese delegation headed by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and discussed the possibility of establishing a Christian armed brigade to fight the Islamic State in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi speaks during a press conference in Baghdad August 25, 2014. Abadi on Monday predicted a "clear vision" on a new government would emerge within the next two days, state television reported, as the country faces deepening sectarian conflict. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTR43O7D

Iraqi politicians must focus on priorities over infighting

During efforts to form a new government, Iraq’s leaders should prioritize national unity instead of personal and party interests.

Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli (L) speaks during a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Islamabad on May 6, 2014. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will travel to Iran on May 12 in a visit seen as an attempt to improve relations frayed by the kidnapping of Iranian border guards. AFP PHOTO/Aamir QURESHI (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)

Iran interior minister says advisers sent to Iraqi Kurdistan

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has admitted that Iran sent advisers to Iraqi Kurdistan at the request of Kurdish officials.