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Iraq

October 18, 2026

Baghdad 1:56 am

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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Oct. 14, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Iraq’s Zaidi, Saudi crown prince discuss security as Houthi attacks escalate

Iraq has moved to improve ties with Saudi Arabia after Iran-backed militias struck the kingdom and amid the conflict with the Houthis in Yemen.

Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters arrive in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk on May 14, 2013, after leaving Turkey as part of a peace drive with Ankara.

Explainer

PKK pulls out of Metina in northern Iraq amid Turkey peace process

The withdrawal comes as the peace process between Turkey and the militant group gains momentum alongside increasing security cooperation between Ankara and Baghdad.

Demonstrators ride through a street while waving Syrian flags

Analysis

Why Syria and Iraq are taking different approaches to armed groups

In a break from past policies, the new governments in Damascus and Baghdad are clamping down on militant groups with the capacity or desire to harm regional partners.

Shelly Kittleson

By Shelly Kittleson

In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics

A man walks past a closed foreign exchange office in Baghdad on October 7, 2026. Iraq's central bank devalued the dinar currency against the dollar on October 7, with the country facing a deepening crisis brought on by the Middle East war. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images)

Iraq devalues dinar 13% as Hormuz disruption hits oil revenue

The central bank said in a statement that it had revised the official exchange rate to 1,520 Iraqi dinars per dollar from around 1,320.

Latest News

Explainer

What Iraq’s US troop withdrawal means for security after Kirkuk killings

A member of the Iraqi security forces flashes the victory sign during a military parade

Analysis

After US exit, Iran gains space in Iraq and a harder balancing act

Members of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) paramilitary forces stand guard during an election rally for the "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" movement in the capital Baghdad, on October 7, 2021.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Trump’s integration policies build on Gulf, Turkey ties and Syria success

US President Donald Trump meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) on the sidelines of the NATO Summit at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, on July 8, 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

Protesters hold a poster of Iraq's Finance Minister Rafaie Esawi during a demonstration calling for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's resignation, in Falluja, a main city in the western desert province of Anbar, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad December 21, 2012. Sunni leaders in Iraq accused Shi'ite Prime Minister Maliki of a crackdown on Friday after troops detained a Sunni minister's bodyguards, setting off protests in one province and threatening to reignite a political crisis. Several thousand demonstrat

Iraq in Crisis Over Terror Death-Penalty Law

There are growing calls in Iraq among the Sunni opposition to annul an article in the Anti-Terrorism Law that Sunnis say discriminates against them, reports Ali Abel Sadah.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) walk after their meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow October 10, 2012. Putin lobbied Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday to support Russian energy investment, as the oil arm of gas export monopoly Gazprom pushes for a foothold in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. REUTERS/Kirril Kudryavtsev/Pool (RIUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR38ZTU

Maliki Threatens "Division" To Pressure Opponents

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has played the "division" card as a threat in dealing with Iraq’s sectarian and political factions, writes Mushreq Abbas.

Members of the Iraqi Mine and Unexploded Ordnance Clearance Organization (IMCO) work to find mines in the Shatt-al-Arab district, in Iraq's southern city of Basra, November 6, 2012. Decades of war have left Iraq with one of the worst mine problems in the world, according to UNICEF, with around 20 million anti-personnel mines and more than 50 million cluster bombs believed to be left over in border areas and southern oilfields. Iraq's Environment Ministry says there are 25 million landmines scattered around

Restoration of Iraqi Border Villages Allegedly Tied to Elections

Plans to restore and repopulate Iraq’s border villages destroyed during its war with Iran have been met with accusations of electioneering from Kurdish politicians, writes Omar al-Shaher.

A wounded protester is carried during clashes with security forces in Fallujah, 50 km (31 miles) west of Baghdad, January 25, 2013. At least three people were killed on Friday when Iraqi troops opened fire during clashes in Falluja city with Sunni protesters rallying against Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, officials and witnesses said. REUTERS/Mohanned Faisal (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3CXG6

Iraqi Army Clashes With Protesters Spark Tribal Unrest

Clashes between Sunni protesters and the Iraqi army in Fallujah in western Iraq have aggravated the demonstrations, with tribal leaders threatening retaliation, writes Ali Abel Sadah.

Residents carry coffins during the funeral of victims killed in clashes with security forces in Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, January 26, 2013. Thousands of mourners attended on Saturday a funeral procession for protesters killed on the day before in Falluja during clashes with Iraqi soldiers in the wake of protest against government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. At least three people were killed on Friday when Iraqi troops opened fire during clashes with Sunni protesters in Falluja

Iraq's Problems Go Beyond Maliki

Mustafa Al-Khadimi writes that the problems in Iraq are not solely caused by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, but instead reveal the shortcomings of the entire Iraqi political process.

A farmer sows seeds of cucumber at his farm near an oilfield in Iraq's southern province of Basra August 12, 2010. The fertile acreage atop some of the world's largest oilfields has been farmed for dates, melons and vegetables for centuries but the tribes that work the land fear they are being pushed aside in the rush to develop Iraq's vast reserves. Picture taken August 12, 2010. To match Feature IRAQ-OIL/FARMS REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: ENERGY AGRICULTURE BUSINESS) - RTR2HDNU

Iraqi Agriculture in Crisis

Agriculture in Iraq is experiencing a downturn as farmers leave their family trades for more lucrative government positions with steady salaries and government benefits, writes Omar al-Shaher.

Iraqi Sunni Muslims wave an Iraqi national flag during an anti-government demonstration at the Abu Hanifa Sunni mosque in Baghdad's Adhamiya district, January 25, 2013. At least three people were killed on Friday when Iraqi troops opened fire during clashes in Falluja city with Sunni protesters rallying against Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, officials and witnesses said. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST RELIGION) - RTR3CXNM

Sectarian Agenda Seeks 'Sunni Restoration' in Syria, Iraq

Geoffrey Aronson writes that the sectarian agenda of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in Syria is really about a "'Sunni restoration" in Iraq.

An Iraqi policeman watches as he stands guard during the funeral of victim killed in clashes with security forces in Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, January 26, 2013. Thousands of mourners attended on Saturday a funeral procession for protesters killed on the day before in Falluja during clashes with Iraqi soldiers in the wake of protest against government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. At least three people were killed on Friday when Iraqi troops opened fire during clashes with Sunni

Iraqiyya Bloc Seeks to Gain From Sunni Unrest in Iraq

The opposition Iraqiyya bloc, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, is seeking to capitalize on protests by Sunni Iraqis against the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, writes Ali Abel Sadah.

Iraqi Sunni Muslims take part in an anti-government demonstration in Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, December 28, 2012. Tens of thousands of protesters from Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority poured onto the streets after Friday prayers in a show of force against Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, keeping up a week-old blockade of a highway. Around 60,000 people blocked the main road through the city of Falluja, setting fire to the Iranian flag and shouting "out, out Iran! Baghdad stays free" and "

Prisoner Release Raises Questions About Role of Iraqi Courts

The role of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani in the release of dozens of prisoners has raised questions about both the Iraqi courts and the reasons for the release, writes Mushreq Abbas.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari (R) talks with an Omani Foreign Affairs representative as they attend the Arab League foreign ministers' meeting on Syria at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo November 12 , 2012. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3ABK8

Iraq Sends Mixed Signals on Syria

Iraqi Shiites have not been quick to endorse the Syrian uprising, partly out of fear of the rise of Salafist groups, writes Mushreq Abbas.

Employees of the state-run South Oil Company (SOC) join a new oil storage tank to the oil pipelines near the southern city of Basra January 14, 2013. The head of the state-run South Oil Company said the new facility will add a capacity of one million barrels to the existing 5.5 million barrels available. REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ - Tags: ENERGY CIVIL UNREST)

Iraqi Kurds Press Ahead With Pipeline Plans

Despite protests from Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq is moving ahead with plans to develop the infrastructure for an oil pipeline to Turkey, reports Abdel Hamid Zebari.

Kurdistan Regional Government Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami (R) shakes hands with Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz during a joint news conference in Arbil, about 350 km (217 miles) north of Baghdad, May 20,2012. Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region expects to start exporting oil from its fields along a new pipeline to the Turkish border when the line is complete in August 2013, Hawrami said on Sunday. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags: ENERGY POLITICS)

Turkey Seeks 'Interdependence' With Iraqi Kurdistan

Turkish officials seek to set the record straight that Ankara seeks interdependence with, not independence for, Iraqi Kurdistan, writes Tulin Daloglu.