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Iraq

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Iraq. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Baghdad

Head of State

President Abdul Latif Rashid

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani

last updated:

29 November, 2024

Syria

Syrian rebels capture city of Hama in fresh blow to President Assad

Hama is critical to the control of major towns as Syrian rebels stage rapid advances.

6 Dec 2024 - 11:59AM

Middle East

Syrian conflict escalates as US-backed forces clash with Assad’s troops

3 Dec 2024 - 8:30PM

Middle East

Iraqi fighters head to Syria to battle rebels but Hezbollah stays out: sources

3 Dec 2024 - 10:08AM

Donald Trump

Will Trump’s cabinet picks ignite tensions in the Middle East and South Asia?

While Israel and India may be ‘happy’ with Trump’s nominees, analysts say they have raised fears of conflict with Iran and regional instability.

16 Nov 2024 - 8:19AM

Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump during a campaign event in Pennsylvania in October. Trump has picked Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel. Photo: Reuters

United States

Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib awarded US$42 million from US defence contractor

Civilian employees from CACI were accused of encouraging US soldiers to abuse detainees at the notorious prison.

13 Nov 2024 - 3:25AM

Middle East

Iran preparing to strike Israel from Iraq within days, US report says

Attacking through pro-Iran militias in Iraq could be a bid by Tehran to avoid Israeli retaliation on its own soil, the article says.

1 Nov 2024 - 5:16AMvideocam

Middle East

Pro-Iran protesters storm offices of Saudi-linked TV channel in Iraq

The ransack came following the airing of a report referring to commanders of Tehran-backed militant groups as “terrorists”.

19 Oct 2024 - 7:11PM

Iraqi activists hold the Palestine and Lebanon flag during a gathering at Al-firdos square in central Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday. Dozens of activists gather in central Baghdad to denounce the ongoing Israeli military strikes and operations in both Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Photo; EPA/EFE

Middle East

Pro-Iran groups ransack Saudi television channel’s Iraq office

It followed a report by Saudi broadcaster MBC that referred to the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups as ‘terrorists’.

19 Oct 2024 - 1:28PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel intensifies bombardment of Gaza, southern Lebanon before October 7 anniversary

Israel is battling Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as it prepares to strike Iran for a ballistic missile attack.

7 Oct 2024 - 9:28AM

Middle East

Opinion | How a wider Middle East war could bring a world recession

Volatile oil prices, shaky investor confidence and prospects of interest rate increases threaten a global slowdown if Israel’s war expands.

5 Oct 2024 - 5:59AMvideocam

China's military weapons

Can China’s military jets find favour in arms markets dominated by US, Russia?

From Central Asia to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Chinese-made warplanes offer an alternative to an increasing number of nations.

2 Oct 2024 - 10:29PMvideocam

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at a formal presentation of the JF-17C (Block-III) multirole fighter jets which were co-developed by China and Pakistan. Photo: Facebook/Ilham Aliyev

China-Japan relations

Opinion | Don’t hate people for their political leaders’ wars and crimes

It is the leaders, not the regular people, who use the military might of nations to invade other countries and oppress other peoples.

29 Sep 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

Middle East

Iraqi women fear rise in child marriages as lawmakers mull more say for clerics

Proposed amendments would allow Iraqis to turn to religious courts on issues of family law, including marriage

4 Sep 2024 - 11:52PMvideocam

Islamic State

15 Islamic State militants killed in desert raid by US and Iraqi forces

The US military says the joint operation targeted the Isis militants in Iraq’s western Anbar Desert region.

31 Aug 2024 - 3:13PM

US and Iraqi forces said 15 militants were killed in a joint operation targetting Islamic State. File photo: AP

Middle East

28 killed as bus carrying Pakistan pilgrims crashes in Iran

The pilgrims had been on their way to Iraq to commemorate the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala.

21 Aug 2024 - 4:14PM

The aftermath of a bus crash near Taft, Iran, early on Wednesday. Photo: Iranian state television/AP

Israel-Gaza war

Top Iraqi Shiite cleric warns of Middle East escalation

Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani warned of the risk of a regional escalation with potentially “catastrophic consequences”.

10 Aug 2024 - 8:17PM

Britain

Former ‘IS bride’, Shamima Begum, loses UK citizenship removal appeal bid

Shamima Begum had hoped to challenge an earlier ruling in which she lost an appeal against the removal of her citizenship.

7 Aug 2024 - 11:20PM

Israel-Gaza war

Blinken warns Iran and Israel not to ‘escalate’ conflict in Middle East

Iran has vowed a response after Israel was suspected of killing Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

7 Aug 2024 - 10:45AMvideocam

People take part in a march in Saida, Lebanon to protest against the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukur. Photo: AFP

Pakistan

Pakistani with Iran ties charged in US political assassinations plot

US prosecutors said Asif Merchant, 46, orchestrated a plot to kill an unidentified politician or US government officials.

7 Aug 2024 - 10:07AM

United States

China’s ‘coercive behaviour’ scrutinised at US-Australia talks

‘Shared security challenges’ tackled by two allies as ministerial consultations feature each country’s top defence and diplomatic officials.

7 Aug 2024 - 11:50PMvideocam

Middle East

US personnel wounded in attack on Iraq base as Middle East teeters on brink

Rocket attack on a base added to heightened regional tensions over an expected Iranian counter-attack on Israel.

6 Aug 2024 - 12:09PM

Ain al-Assad air base hosting US forces in Iraq in the western Anbar province. File photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Only path to Middle East peace is through talks

Assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh only adds to the potential for a wider conflict and undermines efforts by China to broker a ceasefire.

6 Aug 2024 - 5:21AMvideocam

Members of Imam al-Mahdi scouts carry a picture depicting late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during a protest condemning his killing, in Sidon, Lebanon, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Biden promises Netanyahu ‘new US defensive military deployments’ as Israel braces for revenge

Benjamin Netanyahu said attackers would pay a ‘very heavy price’ after Israel’s enemies threatened retaliation for assassinations.

2 Aug 2024 - 9:37AM

Diplomacy

Opinion | The rules-based order isn’t working. It’s time for an alternative

A clear guiding principle can help countries overcome different priorities and diverging ideas about global governance.

26 Jun 2024 - 8:30PM

WikiLeaks

‘Julian Assange is free’: WikiLeaks founder leaves UK in deal with US

The WikiLeaks founder is due to plead guilty this week to violating US espionage law, in a deal that will end his imprisonment in Britain and allow him to return home to Australia.

25 Jun 2024 - 6:26PMvideocam

Julian Assange boarding a private jet on Monday. Photo: @wikileaks via X

Israel

Iran-backed groups to fight ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Hezbollah against Israel

Officials from Lebanese and Iraqi groups backed by Iran say Iran-backed fighters from around the region will join in if war erupts on the Lebanon-Israel border.

23 Jun 2024 - 7:00PM

Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise. Photo: AP

Greece

Greece denies report of brutality to migrants, caused deaths of dozens at sea

BBC investigation alleged Greece coastguard caused the deaths of 43 migrants in pushback operations in 2020-2023.

18 Jun 2024 - 2:38PM

Britain

WikiLeaks’ Assange extradition appeal to be heard next month

US authorities want to put Assange on trial for divulging US military secrets about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

11 Jun 2024 - 7:53PM

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