Iraq’s Sadr says 'exclude' armed groups from next government as pressure builds The cleric's call comes as Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi tries to form a government amid political divisions and US demands to curb the influence of Iran-backed actors. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hormuz clashes cloud diplomacy as US awaits Iran response US strikes and renewed exchanges in Hormuz cast doubt on the ceasefire as the Trump administration awaits Tehran’s response to a new proposal. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence. Iran
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Stalled death sentences spur debate in Iraq Following the recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Iraqi authorities are under pressure to expedite the execution of terrorism convicts. Iraq
Planning for the 'day after' Mosul As preparations advance to retake Mosul from IS, defense and foreign ministers from some 30 nations met in Washington to plan how to provide humanitarian relief and services for hundreds of thousands of people expected to be displaced. Iraq
Will Post-IS Iraq witness 'clear conflicts' between armed forces? The Iraqi army is no longer the strongest force in Iraq, making way for the possibility of conflict between various armed groups. Iraq
Without reforms, protests threaten to escalate in Iraq Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr led massive protests in Baghdad last week, and demonstrations are likely to continue until progress is made on the government reforms he demands. Iraq
Iraqi forces in Ninevah eye the ultimate prize: Mosul Iraqi forces are currently battling the Islamic State on the western side of the Tigris River with the aim of liberating Qayyarah after having taken the air base there in their march to Mosul. Iraq
Iraqi laborers facing harsh conditions in holy city of Najaf Due to the economic crisis, thousands of workers, including children from southern provinces, come to Najaf to work under difficult circumstances to support their families. Iraq
Sumerian city of Lagash slowly emerging from desert sands Archaeologists have resumed excavations at the site of the ancient city of Lagash in Iraq, but so have smugglers. Iraq
Mapping the road to the liberation of Mosul Mosul has become surrounded from the north and east by peshmerga forces, from the west by peshmerga and some Yazidi forces, and from the south in the Qayyarah base. Iraq
Will political party emerge out of Iraqi popular protests? So far, it seems that the protest movement led by leftist and young liberal Iraqis has not been able to establish a party or a political movement, which threatens its existence on the Iraqi scene. Iraq
Iraqis wary of political role for Popular Mobilization Units Signs indicate that the PMU hopes to assume a political role in Iraq, which has raised concerns among some Iraqis. Iraq
Is the Islamic State planning a cyber-caliphate? Under pressure on the battlefield, IS has been moving its caliphate to the virtual world and is targeting Turkey in particular. Iraq
Will conflict continue as Iraq's Sunni areas are liberated from IS? A new type of conflict may arise in Iraqi areas recently liberated from the Islamic State as different Sunni forces compete to regain political and economic control. Iraq