Iraq - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

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Iraq

May 17, 2025

Baghdad 4:53 pm

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (front-R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (front-L) clap after sponsoring the signing ceremony of memoranda of understanding between Iraq and Turkey, in Ankara on May 8, 2025.

Turkey, Iraq leaders tout cooperation in Ankara, but major disputes persist

The Turkish and Iraqi leaders signed 11 cooperation deals in Ankara, but talks yield no apparent breakthrough on suspended oil exports or electricity flow.

Demonstrators gather outside the thermal power station in Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province to demand the construction of a new station for their region, to allow the province to deal with the chronic power cuts and palliate electricity outage that weight on the daily life, on Sept. 4, 2024.

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Turkey stops electricity sales to Iraq after Baghdad fails to settle $70M+ bill

Turkey halted electricity exports to Iraq over unpaid dues, straining ties as Baghdad faces a summer power crunch and unresolved Kurdish oil disputes.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Pope Francis is welcomed at Presidential Palace on Feb. 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Middle East churches, Al-Azhar, leaders mourn Pope Francis

Pope Francis was praised by several regional leaders and churches, including Lebanon's Maronite Church and Iraqi officials, who noted his historic visit to Iraq in 2021.

oil field

After steep fall, oil prices slightly recover following Trump tariff pause

Over the last week, oil prices have plummeted amid the escalating trade war between the United States and China.

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Iraq seeks more compensation from Turkey, 'blocks' reopening of Kurds' oil pipeline

A picture taken on Oct. 17, 2017, shows excess flammable gasses burning from gas flares at the Havana oil field, west of the multiethnic northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

One Turkish soldier, 17 PKK militants killed in northern Iraq clashes

AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi Kurds lend hand as PKK leader negotiates plan for peace with Turkey

Ocalan

Turkey, Jordan, Iraq to hold first anti-ISIS summit this month: Turkish official

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) speaks during a joint press conference with Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R), Baghdad, Iraq, Aug. 22, 2023.

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Pentagon Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Suadad al-Salhy

In Baghdad, reporting on politics and security

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

Hackers post an image with the words “Iraq came, then history came" on a CBS website.

CBS hacked after reporter says Ukraine ‘relatively civilized’ compared to Iraq

Western media comparisons of the war in Ukraine to the Middle East have been widely criticized.

The building of the Supreme Judicial Council, Iraq's top court, Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 19, 2022.

Iraqi federal court accused of politicization

Iraq's federal court is under scrutiny for seemingly politically influenced decisions on sensitive cases.

This photograph shows an Ukrainian armoured personnel carrier (APC) BTR-4 destroyed as a result of fight not far from the centre of Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, located some 50 km from Ukrainian-Russian border, on Feb. 28, 2022.

Iraqi students stranded in Ukraine

Iraqi students are stuck in Ukraine and seem unable to flee due to the Russian invasion of that country.

Sipan Murad, a Yazidi girl who was held captive by the Islamic State, at her house in Rottweil, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2022.

Against all odds, Yazidi girl outlives her top-ranking Islamic State captors

Sipan Ajo, a 22-year-old Yazidi survivor from Kocho, emerged six months ago from seven years of captivity in Syria and has described her ordeal in detail to a journalist for the first time.

Nasiriyah protest

Iraqi officer arrested for 2019 killing of protesters

An interior ministry officer accused of serious human rights abuses during the war against the Islamic State has been arrested after documents emerged allegedly showing his direct involvement in the 2019 killing of protesters.

Syria funeral

Iraqi populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr calls Russia-Ukraine war 'absolutely useless'

Regional alignments solidify after the invasion of Ukraine, as Iraqi politicians call for peace while four-way collaboration on dealing with the Islamic State and border security continues with Russia, Iran and Syria.

A picture shows the Supreme Judicial Council building in Iraq's Baghdad on Dec. 27, 2021.

Iraqi judges in crosshairs of drug dealers with powerful connections

Iraq has seen systematic assassinations of judges since 2003, most of whom were handling investigations into drugs and corruption cases involving influential figures and parties.

Taliban head of the Nangarhar intelligence services Dr. Bashir (C) walks inside the provincial intelligence compound in Jalalabad on Dec. 12, 2021.

Border crossings and foreign fighters rise after Taliban takeover

A recent UN report and other worrying signs point to a likely surge in both an al-Qaeda and Islamic State presence in Afghanistan in the six months since the Taliban has been in power.

This picture taken on March 15, 2020, shows a drone being used by Iraqi health workers around the Imam Hussein Shrine in the central Iraqi holy shrine city of Karbala.

Drones pose additional security threats, challenges for Iraq

With drones flying the Iraqi skies for illegal purposes, security authorities face a host of new challenges.

This picture taken on January 18, 2022 shows excavations around the al-Nuri mosque in the old town of Iraq's northern city Mosul, at the site heavily damaged by Islamic State (IS) group fighters in the 2017 battle for the city.

UNESCO makes progress in reconstruction of Mosul monuments

Paris-based UNESCO Chief Audrey Azoulay will travel to Mosul in March, to officially launch the second phase of the reconstruction of Mosul monuments destroyed under the Islamic State takeover.

Iraq marsh

Strains on ancient Mesopotamian marshes imperil ecology, way of life

The marshes in southern Iraq have a unique ecosystem but face dangers due to climate change, dams built upstream and decades of war and mismanagement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at a joint press conference in Ankara, Dec. 17, 2020.

Iraqi court's ruling on KRG gas puts Turkey on the spot

A top Iraqi court has ruled that the 2007 oil and gas law affecting the Kurdistan Regional Government is unconstitutional in a heavy blow to the KRG and its energy deals with Turkey.