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Iraq

July 29, 2025

Baghdad 9:05 am

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Iraqi workers tend to a pipe at the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline in Karkuk, northern Iraq, Dec. 1, 2000.

Why Turkey plans to end its 52-year oil pipeline deal with Iraq

The Turkish decree stipulated that the 1973 Turkey-Iraq Crude Oil Pipeline Agreement — along with all amendments to the deal — would be terminated effective July 27, 2026.

ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images

Over 10 years after ISIS takeover, Iraq's Mosul Airport reopens: What to know

The airport has been out of operation since the fall of the northern Iraqi city to the Islamic State in 2014.

SAFIN HAMID/AFP via Getty Images

Drone strike halts operations at Iraqi Kurdistan oil field: What to know

A second drone attack in as many days has suspended operations at an oil facility in Iraqi Kurdistan, with initial investigations pointing to Iran-aligned armed groups.

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 25: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks with President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L), as they arrive for the North Atlantic Council Plenary Session on the second day of the 2025 NATO Summit on June 25, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands. Among other matters, members are to approve a new defense investment plan that raises the target for defense spending to 5% of GDP. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Analysis

From Caucasus to Iraq: How Israel’s war hands Turkey edge over Iran

After the war with Israel, a wounded Iran opens new doors for Turkey from Iraq to the Caucasus, but advancing its agenda could rekindle their rivalry.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Latest News

From Iraq to Algeria, Trump’s looming tariffs could target 4 MENA countries

US President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025, in Washington.

Turkey's spy chief heads for Iraq as PKK militants prepare to disarm

An Iraqi Kurdish man holds a flag with the portrait of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan during a demonstration in the northern Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah on Oct. 10, 2019 against the Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria.

Turkey gives drought-stricken Iraq more water in boost to PM Sudani

An Iraqi boy catches fish in the Tigris River in central Baghdad as the sun sets, on April 15, 2025.

Exclusive

US Syria envoy Barrack to meet Iraqi Kurdish PM Barzani in Erbil

CEO of Colony Capital Tom Barrack speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 21, 2016.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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

Kurdish peshmerga forces learn battlefield first aid techniques from a military doctor during a medical training session on Nov. 3, 2015, in Erbil, Iraq.

IRGC-linked factions step up activity against Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Armed factions in Iraq with links to Iran have increased accusations against Kurds in the country’s autonomous region and may have been behind some recent attacks on them.

Iraq Kuwait

Iraq's credit rating lifts with final reparations payment to Kuwait

Iraq paid Kuwait a final installment of war reparations more than 31 years after the invasion of Kuwait, which may free up funds for new domestic projects.

Anti-government protesters carry a mock coffin during a demonstration calling for resignation of Gov. Nazem al-Waeli and against deteriorating public services, in the province of Dhi Qar on Feb. 26, 2021.

Protests challenge local Iraqi authorities

The popular protests erupted in rejection of local administrations since parliamentary blocs in Iraq neglected to hold provincial elections.

Shiite Muslim clerics march with a banner saying that alcohol is the root of all sin, during a demonstration in Baghdad on Dec. 3, 2020.

Conservative groups seek to shut down concerts in Iraq

Iraqis fear that Islamic parties and armed religious groups are trying to impose their fundamentalist views on social and personal freedoms.

This picture taken on Sept. 26, 2021, shows current parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi.

Iraq's speaker reelected with backing of Muqtada al-Sadr

Mohammed al-Halbusi is Iraq's speaker of parliament for a second term despite opposition from Shiite parties aligned with Iran.

Shiite Muslim men in the military fatigues of Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah wave the party's yellow flags as they march through Baghdad during a parade marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) International Day on July 25, 2014.

Kataib Hezbollah member’s family massacred in Baghdad

An assassination attempt on a member of the Popular Mobilization Units and the massacre of his wife and children have raised questions about security in the Iraqi capital amid continuing US-Iran geopolitical tension in the region.

A supporter of the Iran-backed Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary forces stands holding a picture showing the faces of (L to R) slain Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis during a demonstration outside the entrance to the Iraqi capital Baghdad's highly-fortified Green Zone on Nov. 7, 2020, demanding the departure of remaining US forces from Iraq.

Coalition hits back at Iran-backed groups

A sharp uptick in drone and rocket attacks allegedly by Iran-backed groups have targeted bases housing US-led coalition forces in both Syria and Iraq as part of a push to force all US troops to leave the region.

Members of the Iraqi federal police force stand guard at a checkpoint in Baghdad, on January 29, 2021.

Babil massacre increases demand to reform Iraqi security forces

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi refers to the "heartbreaking massacre" and reinforces his commitment to security reform after 20 family members are killed based on specious charges.

SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq records first omicron cases

Five cases were confirmed in Dohuk province and an unknown number of infections were recorded among foreign diplomats in Baghdad.

Protesters hold pictures of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, during a demonstration outside the US consulate in Istanbul, on Jan. 5, 2020, two days after top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike.

Attacks on US in Iraq meant to send ‘harsh’ message — without spilling blood

On the anniversary of the death of former IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani and with the resumption of the nuclear talks in Vienna, Iran stakes out a hard line.

Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr celebrate in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Oct. 11, 2021.

The Takeaway: Iraq’s elections: What comes next?

Updates from our correspondents in Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt and New York; Multimedia reporting on Kurds, Tel Aviv, Egypt and Sharjah!

Iraq rockets

US troops in Syria, Iraq targeted with renewed rocket and drone attacks

Iran-backed militias are not buying the Pentagon's attempt to rebrand the coalition's defeat-ISIS mission.