Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran Traders are awaiting details about new US measures sure to further disrupt Iranian oil flows. Iran
Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made the comments amid Hormuz-related export struggles and a nearing deadline for armed groups to disarm. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran dismisses Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ threat Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq; Turkey denies military presence at Syrian base hit by Israel; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
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 KRG Prime Minister
Exclusive Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq amid talks with Tehran By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Syria blames Israel for strikes on military airport in Idlib By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Corruption lets Iraqi criminals off the hook Weak institutions and corruption mean that major crimes in Iraq are not being investigated or prosecuted. Iraq
Iraq's 2 million IDPs struggling The Islamic State’s offensive this year, and the subsequent conflict that has followed, has spawned nearly 2 million internally displaced persons, many of whom live in run-down, squalid refugee camps and are desperate for aid. Iraq
Iraqis bicker over liberating Mosul Arab disputes over leadership and relations with Baghdad and the Kurds, as well as Kurdish disinterest in defending Sunni Arab territories, are complicating efforts to defeat the Islamic State in a highly fragmented Iraq. Iraq
Turkey, Iran at war over trucking A 1994 transportation accord has fueled Turkish-Iranian rivalry for economic and political influence in Central Asia. Iraq
Iraqi Shiite pilgrimage takes political turn As the pilgrimage of Arbaeen in Iraq grows in strength, so do its political dimensions. Iraq
Kurdish Sinjar offensive too late for some Yazidis Whatever the outcome of the battle of Sinjar, it will take a while for Yazidis to regain confidence in the peshmerga, whom they blame for abandoning the town to the Islamic State. Iraq
Larijani offers Iran's support in visit to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq Head of Iran's parliament Ali Larijani traveled to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, where he met with top religious and political officials. Iraq
Baghdad's 'blind eye' leads to IS routs in Anbar The Islamic State continues to extend its control in Anbar as the Iraqi army falls back. Iraq
Iraqi women don more conservative dress As religious conservatism rises in Iraq, women are going beyond the hijab to show their religious commitment and membership in their communities. Iraq
Islamic State's female bloggers draw European women to Syria Posts about dinners, travel routes and Kalashnikovs are designed to encourage women to join up as teachers, nurses and wives. Iraq
Iraqi volunteers' victories don't justify atrocities The popular mobilization, which is formed of Shiite volunteers to fight the Islamic State, has been both sanctified and demonized in Iraqi media, in light of its success in warding off IS from certain cities, while at the same time committing violations on the battlefield. Iraq
Iraqis hungry for knowledge on country's displaced Jews Official suppression of the history of Jews forced to leave Iraq in the mid-20th century ended with the toppling of Saddam Hussein and is now being explored in movies and news reports. Iraq