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Iraq

August 17, 2026

Baghdad 12:48 am

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A man inspects the damage at the site of a strike in Bartalla, in the northern Iraq's Nineveh province, after US-Saudi attacks on militias, July 29, 2026.

Iraq intel and security officials visit Saudi Arabia after drone attacks

Iraqi authorities are cracking down on drone attacks after US and Saudi airstrikes targeted Iran-backed militias in the country.

The commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, speaks during a commemoration ceremony marking the anniversary of the 2020 killing of Guards general Qasem Soleimani (on screen) in the capital Tehran on Jan. 3, 2024.

Analysis

What Qaani's Baghdad visit reveals about Iran's post-war dilemma

The Quds Force commander's Baghdad visit is occurring as Iran faced difficult choices in Iraq where the government is moving to bring powerful armed groups under state control after the recent war.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Qaani

IRGC chief Qaani reportedly in Iraq ahead of militia deadline

Esmail Qaani, who heads the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, has been heavily involved in Iran’s relations with Iraqi militias.

Latest News

Analysis

How Turkey is deepening energy and economic ties with Iraq as Iran weakens

a worker inspects an oil field in Iraq

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Iraqi Kurdish president’s meeting with Syria’s Sharaa signals shift in SDF dynamics

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Damascus, Aug. 3, 2026. IKRPresident/X

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

al-Hol

Iraq suspends repatriations from Syria's notorious Islamic State camp al-Hol

Iraq’s new government is rethinking how to deal with the thousands of Iraqis stuck for years in northeastern Syria's al-Hol camp.

A member of Iraq's Electoral Commission demonstrates a digital machine that scans ballots of Iraqi voters.

Kurdistan government in Iraq hopes digitalization will bring investment

The Kurdistan Regional Government has made progress digitizing government services, but investors say more is needed to attract serious capital and spur startup growth.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani addresses the Iraqi parliament on Oct. 27, 2022.

Will Iraq’s new anti-corruption campaign succeed?

New Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani started his government by announcing an anti-corruption program. Many great challenges, however, remain in his way.

Motorists commute near the Iraqi Intelligence Service headquarters in Baghdad's Green Zone on Nov. 7, 2021.

Iraqi prime minister to head Intelligence Service

New Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani removed Raid Jouhi from the head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, deciding to head the organization himself until a new head is selected.

Lahur Talabany gives a talk at the UK House of Commons in London, Nov. 1, 2022.

Ex-intel chief Talabany warns Iraqi Kurds risk civil conflict leaving Turkey, Iran room to meddle

Ousted Iraqi Kurdish Intel Chief Lahur Talabany warns of civil conflict amid escalating tensions between the main Iraqi Kurdish factions, and insists that Kurds' future lies in Iraq.

Iraq protest

Sudani removes head of Iraqi intelligence, other officials

The Iraqi Council of Ministers announced today that all appointments and decrees issued by the previous government during its caretaker period are canceled.

Iraqi Prime Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with his Cabinet on Oct. 28, 2022, in Baghdad.

Iraq-Iran ties likely to improve under new Iraqi PM

Iran played a key role in helping form the new Iraqi government.

Iraqi parliament in Baghdad.

Iraq's new government outlines priorities

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani faces multiple challenges and constituencies to move his agenda.

Iraqi Prime Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with his cabinet on Oct. 28, 2022 in Baghdad.

Iraq's new premier meets with cabinet

Iraq's new government has held its first cabinet meeting in Baghdad.

Muhammad Shia al-Sudani addresses parliament on Oct. 27, 2022.

Iraq's parliament votes to approve new PM, government

The Iraqi parliament gave a vote of confidence to incoming PM Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, approving his government program and his cabinet with 21 ministers. Sudani pledged to hold early elections within one year.

Iraq Human Rights Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Iraqi parliament set to vote on new government

One year after Iraq's elections, the designated prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, stands poised to form Iraq's newest government.

A protester waves an Iraqi national flag in Tahrir Square on Oct. 25, 2022.

Despite harsh stances, Iraq's Muqtada al-Sadr still useful ally for Iran

Iran sees Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as an ally worth keeping despite his harsh criticisms of Iran and its allies in Iraq.