Iraq intel and security officials visit Saudi Arabia after drone attacks Iraqi authorities are cracking down on drone attacks after US and Saudi airstrikes targeted Iran-backed militias in the country. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Lebanon becomes first Arab country to abolish death penalty Hormuz shipping traffic falls to one-week low amid hostilities; Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan while quietly implementing it; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis What Qaani's Baghdad visit reveals about Iran's post-war dilemma The Quds Force commander's Baghdad visit is occurring as Iran faced difficult choices in Iraq where the government is moving to bring powerful armed groups under state control after the recent war. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
IRGC chief Qaani reportedly in Iraq ahead of militia deadline Esmail Qaani, who heads the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, has been heavily involved in Iran’s relations with Iraqi militias. Iraq
Analysis How Turkey is deepening energy and economic ties with Iraq as Iran weakens By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel strikes south Lebanon after 2 soldiers killed By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran denies negotiations with US after Trump calls off strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iraq Protests Present Muslim Brotherhood With Opportunity The Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq has for years struggled to find a footing amongst many sectarian parties, but recent protests in Sunni cities have given them an opportunity, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Five Million State Employees Drag Down Iraqi Economy Omar al-Shaher writes that five million state employees receive inflated salaries and do little or no work, costing the state $83 billion and creating a drag on the Iraqi economy. Iraq
Maliki Calculates Early Elections Controversy plagues Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government as he tries to deepen his control of internal changes, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Iraq Central Bank Boosts Gold Reserves The Iraqi Central Bank has adopted a policy of buying gold for its central reserve at a time when gold prices are at an all-time high, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Al-Monitor Launches Iraq Pulse Al-Monitor this week launched the Iraq Pulse, featuring original reporting and commentary from prominent reporters and analysts inside Iraq. Iraq
Sadr Allies With Sunnis in Challenge To Maliki Muqtada Sadr has allied with Sunnis opposed to Prime Minister Maliki in order to help oust him from power, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Iraqi Kurds Fear Rise of Military Threat From Baghdad As tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalate, Abdel Hamid Zibari argues that Kurdish fears are not exaggerated and that the armament of Iraqi forces poses a serious threat to the Kurdish region. Iraq
Sadr and Maliki Battle Over Iraqi Oil Ali Abel Sadah examines the complex relationship between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraq
Iraqi Pipeline to Aqaba Sparks Memories of Kirkuk-Haifa Line The oil pipeline to be constructed between Baghdad and Aqaba raises fond memories among Israelis of the Mandate-era Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline, a time that many would be happy to resurrect, writes Jacky Hugi. Iraq
Iraqi Parties to Seek Revenge In Provincial Elections Saleem Al-Hasani writes that the upcoming provincial elections will be seen as an opportunity for settling scores among Iraq's political parties. Iraq
Balance Key in Iran, Iraq Ties The history of Iraq and Iran goes back centuries, but looking at their relationship today through just that lens would be a mistake, argues Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Iraq's Central Bank a Political Battleground In the midst of ongoing political disputes within Iraq, the country’s central bank is facing a number of problems, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq