Iraq
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq declare support for regime in case of war against US
Akram al-Kaabi, a leader of paramilitary forces in Iraq, verbally attacked Trump and his Iraq envoy, saying that repeated violations of sovereignty would not be tolerated.
Trump intervenes in Iraq politics, warns Maliki comeback could repeat past mistakes
Trump says US won't help Iraq if it picks Maliki as prime minister
ISIS numbers grow as Syrian instability continues, Iraq warns
The American Venezuela operation marks end of era of US military hesitation - opinion
The central framing of the move is explicitly geopolitical, aimed at blocking the China-Russia-Iran axis in the US's backyard.
Voices from the Arab press: Education across the Middle East
A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.
Iraq moves to reclaim Ain al-Assad as US-led coalition ends mission
Assad's base was one of the few places the US remained, until Iran targeted the base with ballistic missiles in 2020 in response to the US killing Soleimani.
Haibat al-Halbousi elected Iraq’s parliament speaker as new legislature convenes
Iraq continues to face challenges as it navigates between the Iranian influence on the country and a push by the US and others to roll back Iranian-backed militias.
After Iraq legalizes child marriage, Baghdad bridal market booms as young girls sold to older men
Iraq’s decision to introduce the Ja’fari law in January means that girls can be married based on perceived “maturity and physical capacity.”
Iraqi Sunnis divided over upcoming vote for parliament speaker
Iraq’s top leadership is divided along sectarian lines, with the president being Kurdish and the prime minister usually a Shi’ite. The lower-level speaker of parliament's role goes to Sunnis.
Christian communities grow slowly as share of population falls in Middle East, North Africa
Analysts say the pattern is driven by a mix of factors: outward migration, lower birth rates, and increasingly, disaffiliation or conversion.
Iraqi militias may disarm over US-Israel threats, 30 million light weapons outside state control
With 90% of Iranian-backed groups agreeing to surrender weapons, experts warn that secret stockpiles, divided loyalties, and political bargaining could undermine the process.
Christmas passes peacefully in the Middle East
Christmas was celebrated by Christian communities across the region, including in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
Following shutdown, Iraq expects Iranian gas supplies to resume within a week, official says
The electricity ministry said on Tuesday that the flow of gas from Iran had been halted due to the shutdown of some generating units and load shedding at others.
