Muqtada al-Sadr, chameleon of Iraq's politics

Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr is taking advantage of the current popular protests in Iraq to expand his influence and thus become an undisputable leader on the Iraqi political scene.

Iraq

French envoys bear surprising message from Mideast Christians

A French delegation to Lebanon, Iraq and Syria found that many Christians in the Middle East believe Western policies place economic interests ahead of their well-being.

Iraq

Israel's Arab Jews officially recognized as victims of Holocaust

Roughly 1,000 of Israel's North African and Iraqi Jews have requested to receive a one-time compensation grant that recognizes the suffering of those communities under the Nazi regime.

Iraq

Why Tuz Khormato clashes were more than just local skirmishes

In Tuz Khormato, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units and Kurdish peshmerga forces recently fought what appears to be a battle in the Shiite-Sunni power struggle, and not just a localized skirmish.

Iraq

Why journalists in Iraq face death threats

Journalists in Iraq are divided on why press freedom is restricted in the country, as some say that some reporters bring death threats on themselves by fabricating reports.

Iraq

US, Russia compete to woo Syrian Kurds

The recent rapprochement between the Kurds and Russia is a new phase in the two sides' relations that date back to the 19th century, but Kurds do not want to alienate the United States either.

Iraq

Will secular parties gain upper hand in Iraq?

As religious currents have lost the people's and religious establishment's support, a secular discourse is more likely to emerge and compete with religious currents in the future.

Iraq

Landmines hinder return of displaced to Iraq's Ramadi

Although efforts are underway to clear Ramadi from landmines, the displaced cannot return to their cities given the risks they could be facing.

Iraq

Trump meets the DC foreign policy establishment

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump rolls out his "America First" foreign policy speech, leaving many unanswered questions about his plans to secure the United States and stabilize the world's trouble spots.

Iraq

Will Abadi resign from his party?

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi wants to form a Cabinet of nonpartisan technocrats, but his critics are pressing him to first leave the Islamic Dawa Party.

Iraq

How these Iraqi artists are breathing new life into ruined theater

Impatient with neglect by successive Iraqi governments for cultural development, a group of producers and performers has taken on the task of renovating a destroyed theater.

Iraq

Why the Mosul offensive has yet to succeed

Frustrations between the Iraqi army, peshmerga forces and local villagers have presented a major obstacle in the operation that was launched in late March to recapture Mosul from IS.

Iraq