Grenade attack on IRGC kills 2 in Iran’s Kurdistan province: What to know The deadly assault comes amid recurring tensions and clashes in Iran’s Kurdish-majority western region. Iran
Iraq bans PKK as security ties with Turkey gain momentum The decision comes after the high-level talks between Turkish and Iraqi officials in Baghdad. Turkey
Three top Turkey officials to visit Iraq as Erdogan threatens Kurdish militants The officials’ visit signals a fresh drive to dial up pressure on the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which Ankara accuses of collaborating with Kurdish militants. Turkey
Turkey’s FM tackles long-held disputes with Iraq in first official visit Hakan Fidan chose Iraq for his first official visit as Turkey's new foreign minister, but the visit appeared to yield little progress on long-standing disputes between Ankara and Baghdad. Turkey
Analysis Iran strikes Iraqi Kurdistan again, warns of possible ground operation By Shelly Kittleson In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics
Barzani asks Erdogan to free pro-Kurdish detainees In a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani has called for Turkey to release political leader Selahattin Demirtas and other pro-Kurdish lawmakers. Turkey
Iran pulls Palestine from the margins The Iranian leadership turns out in force for Palestinian conference; Turkey’s victory in al-Bab may be a prelude to a showdown with the Syrian Kurds. Palestine
Trump’s Middle East fans get caught up in global blowback Political leaders from Israel to Saudi Arabia are quickly finding out that siding with Trump comes at a price. Saudi Arabia
Syrian Kurds rebuilding Kobani from rubble The Kurds have high expectations for Rojava despite challenges. Syria
Iraq seeks to combine Sunni, Shiite troops As part of the national reconciliation, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered that the Sunni Ninevah Guard be included in the Popular Mobilization Units. Iraq
Iraqi Christians eager to rebuild their lives post-IS Christian families are preparing to return to their homeland in the liberated areas of Iraq, despite a lack of adequate support from the government and security forces. Iraq
KRG speaker: Independent Kurdish state complex issue Kurdish parliament Speaker Yusuf Mohammed Sadiq discusses with Al-Monitor the current issues of Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq
Who's fighting whom in Iraq's Sinjar? After KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani warned that the KRG may resort to force to expel the Kurdistan Workers Party from Sinjar, tensions rose in the region. Iraq
Is Iraqi Kurdistan heading toward civil war? Iraqi Kurdistan is bracing itself for further political instability, economic hardship and armed conflict after the Islamic State has been defeated. Iraq
Iraqi women join battle against Islamic State In response to the exploitation of women by the Islamic State as part of their "sexual jihad," women across Iraq are taking up arms in increasing numbers in the fight against the militant group. Iraq
Pressure mounts on PKK over Sinjar presence The United States, Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkey and Iraq have all expressed their strong opposition to the presence of the Kurdistan Workers Party in northern Iraq's Sinjar. Iraq
KRG PM: Talk of Iraqi Kurdish independence red line for Iran, but not Turkey In an extensive interview with Al-Monitor at his office in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani speaks about the battle for Mosul, relations with Baghdad and Ankara, and aspirations for independence. Iraq
