Exclusive Iraq's Kurds air fury over PM Sudani's stance after attack on gas field “We were shocked at Sudani’s audacity. Imagine the state we would have been in had he gotten his way,” a senior Iraqi Kurdish official speaking not for attribution told Al-Monitor. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Grenade attack on IRGC kills 2 in Iran’s Kurdistan province: What to know The deadly assault comes amid recurring tensions and clashes in Iran’s Kurdish-majority western region. Iran
Iraq bans PKK as security ties with Turkey gain momentum The decision comes after the high-level talks between Turkish and Iraqi officials in Baghdad. Turkey
Three top Turkey officials to visit Iraq as Erdogan threatens Kurdish militants The officials’ visit signals a fresh drive to dial up pressure on the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which Ankara accuses of collaborating with Kurdish militants. Turkey
Analysis Iran strikes Iraqi Kurdistan again, warns of possible ground operation By Shelly Kittleson In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics
Iraqi Kurds look to open new chapter with Iran The Iraqi Kurdish leadership forges ahead with efforts to improve ties with Iran, both in hopes of reviving their economy and also to regain lost clout in Baghdad. Iraq
Violence taints election in Iraq's Kurdistan region Several cities in Iraq's Kurdistan region witnessed violence following recent parliamentary elections on May 12, leading to calls from Kurdish opposition parties for the results to be canceled. Iraq
Is Iraqi PM counting on Sunni, Kurdish votes for re-election? Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appears to be counting on Sunni and Kurdish votes to win the next election, with visits to traditional Kurdish and Sunni strongholds. Iraq
Candidates' past ties to Saddam create uproar in Iraq's Kurdistan Region Despite the Kurdistan Regional Government's strong rhetoric against Saddam Hussein and his collaborators, several Kurdish figures who worked with the former Iraqi president's Baath regime are participating in the upcoming elections. Iraq
Stymied in Syria, Turkey quietly ups actions against PKK in Iraq Turkey has slowed its military operations in Syria and appears to be shifting attention to northern Iraq to intensify operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party. Iraq
Iran FM: Trump administration 'never in' nuclear deal In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke about Tehran’s potential response as the United States weighs pulling out of the nuclear deal. Yemen
How will Sinjar crisis end as tensions mount between Baghdad, Ankara? Ankara's insistence on combating the Kurdistan Workers Party may push Baghdad to take the lead on cleansing northern Iraq of the Kurdish militia, a scenario that presents a new internal crisis in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Iraq
Expect change in Iraq when embattled Kurds cast ballots Iraqi Kurds have made it clear in recent protests that they will make their voices heard and their votes count. Iraq
Erdogan keeps finger on trigger as PKK exits Sinjar It's unclear whether reports of Kurdish militants' withdrawal from Sinjar in Iraq have convinced Turkey not to launch a military offensive. Iraq
Power-sharing deal could end dispute over Kirkuk elections Iraq's Kirkuk governorate will hold elections this year — something that hasn't happened in more than a decade — and officials hope the voting will end the dispute over running the province. Iraq
Turkish firms welcome return of air access to Iraqi Kurdistan Now that Baghdad has lifted the ban on international travel to the Iraqi Kurdistan region, experts say the Turkish government needs to resume mutual flights as soon as possible. Iraq
Iraq establishes National Oil Company To help further develop Iraq’s energy sector, parliament recently passed a law that establishes the National Oil Company for oil extraction and manufacturing. Iraq
