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Iraq

July 6, 2026

Baghdad 10:09 pm

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An aerial view shows port of the western Syrian port city of Latakia, on Dec. 18, 2024.

Analysis

Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route?

On June 26, Emirati and Syrian officials discussed plans for a logistics corridor connecting Syrian ports to Gulf markets via Iraq.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Here's what to know about Iraq's corruption as Zaidi launches crackdown

Watchdogs and financial institutions regard Iraq as a significantly corrupt country as the new prime minister works to recover public funds.

aqi security personnel patrol in a vehicle along a street in Baghdad on June 28, 2026.

Analysis

Iraqi PM’s anti-corruption drive comes as US pressure mounts on Iran-backed militias

Iraq’s new prime minister has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign ahead of key talks in Washington, but analysts say the real test will be whether it reaches Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed actors.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Explainer

After UAE and Qatar, could Iraq be next to leave OPEC?

A worker at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17, 2026, in Erbil, Iraq.

Iraq taps Krikor Der-Hagopian as first Armenian Christian ambassador to US

Krikor Der-Hagopian at the 9th Sulaimani Forum, in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, on April 16, 2025.

Exclusive

Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias

Tom Barrack

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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

Iraq's Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi arrives at a hotel ahead of a meeting of OPEC oil ministers in Vienna, Austria, November 28, 2016. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader - RTSTNUG

Baghdad-Erbil oil disputes on hold until Mosul liberation

Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi spoke to Al-Monitor about production and revenue-sharing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil, and addressed plans to attract foreign investors to the country’s energy sector.

Tribal fighters take part in a military training to prepare for fighting against Islamic State militants, at the Ain al-Assad military base in Anbar province November 15, 2014. Picture taken November 15, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: MILITARY CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTR4ECYE

Iraq's 'Awakening' vets cautious about post-IS period

Iraq's Sunni tribal fighters fear they will be isolated from Iraqi society after the elimination of the Islamic State.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al Khalid al Sabah, Qatar's Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah, Oman's Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and UAE'S Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L-R) pose for a group photo during an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh January 9, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al N

Gulf countries take back seat on Syria route

It seems Saudi Arabia is more interested in Yemen than in Syria these days, which explains dwindling Gulf support for Syrian rebels.

Shi'ite fighters chant slogans in al-Fatha, northeast of Baiji, October 18, 2015. Iraqi forces backed by Shi'ite militia fighters say they have retaken a mountain palace complex of former President Saddam Hussein from Islamic State fighters, as government forces push ahead on a major offensive against the insurgents. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTS4Z0Y

Why Iraq’s law on Popular Mobilization Units isn't all that popular

A law outlining the future of the Popular Mobilization Units in Iraq was passed months ago but has yet to be enacted as opposing forces continue their debates.

TOPSHOT - Children play football as oil wells, set ablaze by retreating Islamic State (IS) jihadists, burn behind them in the town of Qayyarah, some 70 km south of Mosul on November 20, 2016.
Locals told AFP that they face a range of health issues including breathing difficulties, and sheperds said they could not sell their livestock as the sheep's fleece was blackened by smoke. / AFP / Odd ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Burning oil wells no match for soccer-loving Iraqis

Soccer players from Team Asoosa, in Qayyarah, are rejoicing in reuniting and being able to again play the game they love after their town's liberation from the Islamic State.

SINJAR, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 16: A Peshmerga soldier walk to place a Kurdish flag near the frontline with ISIL on November 16, 2015 in Sinjar, Iraq. Kurdish forces, with the aid of massive U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, liberated the town from ISIL extremists, known in Arabic as Daesh, in recent days. Although many minority Yazidis celebrated the victory, their home city of Sinjar lay in almost complete ruins. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

How deep is Turkey's Sinjar entanglement?

Soon after speaking with Turkey's president, Kurdistan Regional Government leader Massoud Barzani dispatched peshmerga forces to Sinjar, Iraq, which led to a clash between Kurdish forces.

Iraqi refugee women sit overlooking al-Howl refugee camp south of Hasaka city, Syria October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTX2PS92

How are displaced Iraqis faring in Syria’s camps?

Hundreds of Turkmen families from Tal Afar, in northwestern Iraq, have headed for the Syrian opposition areas in Aleppo’s countryside.

Mourners pray during a funeral for victims who were killed when a car packed with explosives blew up on Thursday, in Hayy al-Shurta, a Shi'ite district in Baghdad, in Najaf, Iraq February 17, 2017. REUTERS / Alaa Al-Marjani TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSZ4T9

Will massive trench keep Iraqi holy cities safe from terror?

The holy cities of Najaf and Karbala are digging trenches around the cities to stop terrorists from coming in and launching attacks.

Could Turkey’s misstep in Manbij provide template for Raqqa?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest threat complicates Pentagon planning to oust the Islamic State from its so-called capital; United States provides intelligence for Iraqi strike in Syria.

Flames are seen at Baba Gurgur oil field in Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad August 3, 2009. Picture taken August 3, 2009. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed (IRAQ ENERGY) - RTR26E2R

Iraq, Iran agree to resolve dispute on joint oil fields

After many years, Iraq and Iran have decided to form a joint committee to resolve differences about the oil fields between the two countries and the supply of a new oil pipeline to Iran.

Residents visit the ancient city of Babylon near Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad February 17, 2012. Picture taken February 17, 2012. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: TRAVEL SOCIETY) - RTR2Y1RF

Iraqis defiant as extremists threaten to attack Babylon

After extremists reportedly threatened to attack the ancient site of Babylon, local Iraqis are swearing to protect both the city's antiquities and its character as a cultural center.

Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (L) meets with Ammar al-Hakim (R), the leader of Iraq's Shiite Muslim Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), on August 28, 2014 at the latter's house in the holy city of Najaf. Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric Sadr had announced the creation of the Saraya al-Salam armed group, tasked with defending the holy sites of Shiite Islam, in the aftermath of the jihadist Sunni Muslim offensive that began in June 2014. AFP PHOTO / HAIDAR HAMDANI (Photo credit should read

Shiite trio competes for power in Iraq

With upcoming local and parliamentary elections in Iraq, three Shiite leaders are grappling for more control in the next government.