Sistani signals opposition to renewing Maliki’s term

Iraqi Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani has drawn red lines about the candidates for the premiership and demanded that a government quickly be formed, before the scheduled date next month.

Iraq

Trade, security concerns bring Turkey, Israel closer

Turkish-Israeli relations are still far from normalized, but developments in the region are converging the two countries' security and economic interests.

Palestine

Turkish truckers try to get on the road again

With the dangers and difficulties now inherent in transiting in Iraq and Syria, the Turkish transportation sector is looking for alternative routes to Middle Eastern markets.

Legacy: Gulf

Did nostalgia for Islamic caliphate become a reality?

The Islamic State has exploited ideological tendencies of Salafist jihadists to establish its "Islamic caliphate."

Iraq

Lebanese Hezbollah unlikely to intervene in Iraq crisis

Although some have expressed concerns that Hezbollah could intervene in Iraq to protect Shiite holy sites from Islamic State militants, a number of Lebanese politicians and sources close to Hezbollah dismiss this possibility.

Iraq

Iraq events cause Hezbollah to go on full alert

The fall of western Iraq to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has cut the contiguous bridge from Iran to Lebanon, and Hezbollah fears that ISIS may try to sneak through to Lebanon.

Iraq

Iraqi deputy prime minister: 'I was mistaken' in joining government

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq speaks about the roots of the crisis in Iraq and stresses the need for a political solution.

Iraq

The false 'Awakening' model to deal with ISIS in Iraq

Given past experiences, the Iraqi government will likely face difficulties persuading armed Sunni groups to separate from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Iraq

Russia banks on Syrian unity

As Moscow grapples with the changes in the region, it continues to support an inclusive peace process in Syria.

Iraq

Christians displaced again by Iraqi violence

Thousands of Christians have fled from Mosul to Iraqi Kurdistan after ISIS took control of the city.

Iraq

Turkey assesses losses from Iraqi market

Turkish officials, politicians and traders are trying to calculate Turkey's losses in the Iraqi market after the ISIS takeover of Mosul and other Iraqi cities.

Iraq

Iran remembers US downing of passenger plane

On the anniversary of the downing of Iran’s Flight 655 by the United States, Iran still mourns the act of violence that played a major role in US-Iran hostility.

Iraq