Saudis make surprise trip to Iraq: Why now? - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Ali Mamouri

Ali Mamouri

Mar 1, 2017

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir delivers his speech during the 53rd Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, February 19, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle - RTSZCG2 — Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir delivers his speech during the 53rd Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 19, 2017. — REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Can US-Sunni alliance lure Baghdad away from Tehran?

Adnan Abu Zeed

A fighter from the Shi'ite Badr Brigade militia wears a religious flag as he fires towards the air at a checkpoint recently taken from militants of the Islamic State outside the town of Amerli September 5, 2014. The highway, which continues south to Baghdad, is now controlled by Shi'ite militia fighters and the Kurdish Peshmerga. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) - RTR45475

Iran's new group in Iraq: Saraya al-Khorasani

Abbas Qaidaari

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends the opening of a meeting of the coalition to defeat the Islamic State group at the State Department in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2017.
Ministers from the 68-nation US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group are meeting in Washington Wednesday to hear more about US President Donald Trump's plan to destroy the jihadists' remaining strongholds in Iraq and Syria. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Is Saudi Arabia really willing to normalize ties with Iraq?

Ibrahim al-Hatlani

Ibrahim al-Hatlani

Iraqi fighters from Hashid Shaabi take part in a training at Makhmur camp in Iraq December 11, 2016. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX2UHUT

What role will Iran-linked militias play once IS leaves Iraq?

Hamdi Malik