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Iraq

August 21, 2026

Baghdad 8:08 pm

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Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, gives a press conference in the autonomous region's capital Arbil on June 25, 2025.

Interview

Barzani calls for enhanced air defense for Kurdistan Region to counter drone attacks

Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani backs US-led regional economic integration efforts and lauds US partnership in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor.

Masrour Barzani

Masrour Barzani

KRG Prime Minister

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

Exclusive

Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq amid talks with Tehran

Riyadh is pressing Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to act against the groups behind attacks on the kingdom as Baghdad struggles to balance ties with Tehran and Washington.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Iraq seeks special Hormuz access from Iran in scramble to keep oil flowing

As Iran's parliament speaker holds talks in Baghdad, Iraq has asked Tehran for special consideration for its oil exports.

Latest News

Iran’s Ghalibaf makes high-level visit to Iraq ahead of disarmament deadline

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks during a press conference at the site where Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed by a US airstrike in 2020 near the airport upon his arrival in Baghdad, on Aug. 19, 2026.

Explainer

Why Iran targeted Barzani family stronghold in Iraqi Kurdistan

Smoke rises after explosions were heard and air defences activated near the airport in Erbil, on July 24, 2026.

Iraq intel and security officials visit Saudi Arabia after drone attacks

A man inspects the damage at the site of a strike in Bartalla, in the northern Iraq's Nineveh province, after US-Saudi attacks on militias, July 29, 2026.

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 Prime Minister-designate Adel Abdul Mahdi and the speaker of Iraq's parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi arrive at the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily - RC1D24E3EB30

Intel: Why Iraq’s parliament won’t seat key ministers

Iraqi court suspends Abadi's act to pull Fayadh from posts

A court ruling puts Faleh al-Fayadh back at the helm of Iraq's National Security Council and the Popular Mobilization Units, at least for now.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomes his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari during a meeting in Moscow, Russia February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool - RC1138BBA8E0

Russia eyes opportunities with new Iraqi decision-makers

As Iraq welcomes its new parliament members and office-holders, Moscow looks to beef up bilateral cooperation in different areas with Baghdad.

U.S. President Donald Trump closes his eyes in prayer along with Pastor Andrew Brunson, after his release from two years of Turkish detention, in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, U.S., October 13, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Theiler TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC18ECD30AF0

Trump policies fire up evangelicals but divide Middle East Christians

The US president is highlighting Middle East policies championed by American Christians as he seeks to energize his evangelical base ahead of next month’s elections.

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani casts his vote at a polling station, during parliamentary elections in the semi-autonomous region in Erbil, Iraq September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RC16F7414BF0

Iraqi Kurdistan opposition parties reject election results

Four main opposition groups allege fraud in Iraqi Kurdistan’s parliamentary elections and threaten to boycott the next legislative session.

Iraqi army, non-local PMUs at cross-purposes in western Anbar

Non-local Popular Mobilization Units seem to be quietly gaining influence on Iraq’s border with Syria against a backdrop of attacks on local facilities now under the control of the Iraqi army.

Baghdad, IRAQ: Iraqi deputy Ali al-Adib (L), member of the Shiite Iraqi al-Dawa Party chats with Sunni speaker Mahmud Mashhadani prior the start of the parliament session in Baghdad's heavily fortified green zone, 17 May 2006. Iraqi prime minister designate Nuri al-Maliki will present his cabinet line-up for parliamentary approval on Saturday, deputy parliamentary speaker Sheikh Khalid al-Attiya said today. AFP PHOTO/POOL SABAH ARAR (Photo credit should read SABAH ARAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Iraq's major Dawa Party rethinks course after electoral fumble

Iraq's Islamic Dawa Party has been doing some soul-searching since losing the premiership for the first time in 14 years.

Yazidi children hold pictures of Nadia Murad, who won the Nobel Peace prize, in Duhok, Iraq October 5, 2018. REUTERS/Ari Jalal - RC1A9917F900

Women at heart of Dahuk film festival

From Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad to the film "Girls of the Sun" at the Cannes Film Festival, 2018 has been a year of Kurdish women.

People gather at the site of an explosion in Baghdad's Sadr City district, Iraq June 7, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC182A806690

Expert: Iraq vulnerable to major security breach

As Iraq's security forces have weakened and violence has increased, observers question whether the country could handle a possible resurgence of terrorists.

Iraq's PMU militia wants its own soccer club

The Popular Mobilization Units, an Iraqi military organization, seek to enter the world of sports by establishing a club to compete in official soccer events.

Iraqi students take an English language exam at a bookstore in Kirkuk, Iraq, July 24, 2018, Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed - RC1F5E5EA660

India, Iran or Turkey: Iraqi students look abroad for post-grad studies

Stiff competition for a very limited number of seats at public universities and high fees at private institutions are pushing Iraqi students to pursue post-graduate studies abroad.

Intel: What the US hopes to salvage from its relationship with Iraq