Iraq's Zaidi meets Sharaa on first Syria visit: What to know Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to assuage concerns about his past militant activity in Iraq, whose oil trade and security cooperation with his two country is rising. Iraq
Iran says deal reached with Iraq to expel Kurdish separatists: What to know Iran said an agreement was reached with Iraq to expel or hand over members of Kurdish separatist groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran
Analysis How Hormuz crisis is reshaping economic ties between Iraq and Syria Iraq and Syria are expanding trade and energy cooperation, but security risks, economic challenges and longstanding mistrust raise questions about whether their growing partnership can endure. By Shelly Kittleson In Middle East, reporting on regional politics
Iraq’s Zaidi, Saudi crown prince discuss security as Houthi attacks escalate Iraq has moved to improve ties with Saudi Arabia after Iran-backed militias struck the kingdom and amid the conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. Iraq
Analysis Why Syria and Iraq are taking different approaches to armed groups By Shelly Kittleson In Middle East, reporting on regional politics
Billion dollar debt, heat wave push Iran to cut electricity to Iraq Iran has cut off electricity supplies to Iraq amid increased consumption during a hot spell and reports of massive accrued debt by Baghdad, sparking a wave of protests in central and southern Iraqi regions. Iraq
Why many Iraqi Kurds keep tradition of cockfighting alive Cockfighting in Iraq still provides many men with a nightly escape despite the efforts of animal welfare activists to ban blood sports. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan's Movement for Change faces rebellion from within The Gorran movement is facing accusations of nepotism, as the two sons of the movement’s founder have gained ownership of its financial assets. Iraq
Drought forces Iraq to abandon cultivation of crops Due to the acute shortage of irrigation water, Iraq is reducing the cultivation of large areas of land and preventing the cultivation of strategic crops that are a source of livelihood for farmers, such as rice and corn. Iraq
Fires and armed conflict take toll on Kurdish flora, fauna The mountains of Iraq's Kurdistan region are threatened by man-made and natural wildfires that are difficult to control because of a lack of firefighting resources and manpower. Iraq
Islamic State awakens sleeper cells in Iraq's Kirkuk The Islamic State is gradually rekindling its terrorist activities in Iraq through sleeper cells in Kirkuk province, where security is already stretched thin by political unrest. Iraq
Border calm precarious as Iraq's Anbar revives, slowly An airstrike on militias raises tension across the border in Syria, while Qaim, Iraq, is reviving gradually after years of being under control of terrorist groups. Iraq
IS killings and kidnappings in central Iraq raise questions The desert area west of Salahuddin and other depopulated areas have faced a spate of kidnappings and killings claimed by the Islamic State. Iraq
Floating oil island will handle Iraq's expected spurt in exports Now that OPEC has approved an increase in oil production, Iraq expects to boost its exports significantly, and to accommodate that increase, South Oil Co. will develop a floating oil island. Iraq
Iraq may soon be without a government, as clock runs out Baghdad is facing a political predicament, as too much has to be accomplished before parliament's term ends June 30. Iraq
Vatican to appoint new Iraqi cardinal The Vatican will inaugurate the Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq, Louis Raphael I Sako, as cardinal, which will strengthen the status of Christians in Iraq and bring them more global support. Iraq
Women's center opens its doors to formerly displaced in Iraq's Qaraqosh In the predominantly Christian city of Qaraqosh, where almost one-third of the previous population returned after the liberation from the Islamic State, Women's House has been founded to assist and support displaced and vulnerable women. Iraq