Iraq's Hatra retaken from IS militants, but still vulnerable

The liberation of the ancient city of Hatra from the Islamic State is only a small first step toward protecting its ancient treasures.

Iraq

Setting low bar for Trump-Erdogan meeting

With US-Turkey relations in crisis, the meeting of the US and Turkish presidents will be about appearances over substance; Saudis will press Trump on Iran; storm clouds over Sinjar; Hamas clamps down on journalists.

Saudi Arabia

Southern front lines stalled for weeks in west Mosul

Car bomb attacks have diminished as Iraqi forces are narrowing in on the remaining areas under Islamic State control in the city, but suicide bombers and snipers continue to claim victims among Iraqi forces holding defensive positions.

Iraq

US continues buildup of Iraqi Kurdish forces

The United States is supporting the Kurdistan Region by developing its military forces, but the support is a balancing act with Baghdad as they oppose building an independent Kurdish army.

Iraq

Iraqis point fingers over spurt of kidnappings

Sunni and Shiite officials trade accusations over recent forced disappearances of Iraqi civilians, which has fueled more sectarian strife in the country.

Iraq

Why liberating Mosul won't lead to the end of IS

Due to the wide remote area between Iraq and Syria, retaking Mosul will not mean an end to the Islamic State.

Iraq

Sinjar on brink of major conflict between PKK, Turkey

The city of Sinjar, west of Mosul, seems close to becoming a battleground for armed confrontations between the PKK and the Turkish army, especially after Ankara called for ground intervention against PKK fighters in Sinjar to prevent them from having a new base in the north of Iraq.

Iraq

How are Iraq's Yazidis faring amid Kurds' confrontations?

Turkey’s bombing of Yazidis' Sinjar homeland deepened the argument between the Kurdish Democratic Party and the Kurdistan Workers Party.

Iraq

Will Egypt play a role in Iraqi settlement?

The visit of Ammar al-Hakim, the head of the ruling Shiite Iraqi National Alliance, to Egypt could be an opportunity for Cairo to assume a mediator role to reach a political settlement and active role in the post-IS era in Iraq.

Egypt

Mosul civil servants still waiting to be paid

As the Iraqi government is still unable to pay salaries to its employees in Mosul, people continue to face financial woes.

Iraq

What's holding up the liberation of Iraq's Tal Afar?

There are various accounts of why Tal Afar, Iraq, remains under the Islamic State's control despite the presence of armed forces ready and waiting to reclaim the city.

Iraq

Iraq's firebrand Shiite cleric presents his political successor

Muqtada al-Sadr has appointed his nephew to oversee all the political activities of the Sadrist movement, while he turns his attention entirely to its religious aspects.

Iraq