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
Iraqi Women Victimized By Tribal Marriage Customs In patriarchal and tribal Iraq, thousands of women are forced into unwanted marriages with little to no legal recourse. Iraq
New Iraqi Protest Movement Targets Corrruption Overall dissatisfaction with the Iraqi government promises to overcome sectarian, ethnic and political rifts and pave the way for the emergence of a potentially effective protest movement. Iraq
KDP May Run Alone In Iraqi Kurdistan Elections The two major parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have shared power since 2005, but some believe that President Massoud Barzani and his party are planning to go it alone following upcoming parliamentary elections. Iraq
Iraqi Sheikh Faces Divisions Within Sunni Community Sheikh Abdul-Malik al-Saadi seeks to balance support for protests with opposition to a Sunni federal region in Iraq. Iraq
Middle East Alliances More Tangled Than Ever The alliances of regional countries are based on seemingly contradictory interests. Iraq
Traumatic Memories Mar Baghdad Neighborhoods Violence and terrorism have left many Iraqis with post-traumatic stress associated with specific areas of Baghdad they continue to associate with a violent event. Iraq
Ayatollah Sistani and The Battle of Najaf A book by an aide to Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani reveals new details about the 2004 Battle of Najaf. Iraq
Iraq’s Identity Crisis in Symbols In an increasingly divided Iraq, disputes have broken out regarding the use of photography and symbolism that reinforces sectarian, rather than national, affiliations. Iraq
Erdogan Criticizes Opposition Leader For Visits to Iraq, Egypt Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan feverishly criticizes main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu for his travels to Baghdad and Cairo. Egypt
Iraq Needs Unity to Deal with Syria Crisis As foreign military intervention in Syria grows more imminent, the Iraqi authorities would do well to set aside their internal differences and take the necessary precautions should its neighbor’s conflict spill over onto its territory. Iraq
Syrian Kurdish Party Struggles With Dissent, Exodus In Amuda, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) has imposed a resolution banning Syrian Kurdish emigration after last month's mass exodus in pursuit of autonomy. Iraq
Dictatorship Is Not The Solution in Iraq The Iraqi government has been playing off people’s fears of a security vacuum to take increasingly dictatorial measures aimed at consolidating power in the hands of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Iraq