Iraq’s Emboldened Terror Groups
Shelly Kittleson, an American journalist, was kidnapped off the streets of Baghdad on March 31 and is now a bargaining chip for the militia that took her. It’s a tragedy on replay....
Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani
Home of Kurdistan Region president targeted, American universities threatened as attacks escalate in Iraq
The home of Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, was targeted in a drone attack on March 28. The following day, Reuters, citing security sources, reported, “Air defenses shot...
Op-eds
Iraqi Security Institutions: The Latest Victims of Tehran’s Iraqi Proxies
The Iraqi government may not care about protecting Americans from Tehran’s militias, but it should certainly care about protecting its own citizens. Amidst bombardments against American assets in...
Policy Briefs
Iranian-backed militias escalate attacks in Iraq, send mixed signals on next steps
Iranian-backed militias have continued to carry out dozens of attacks in Iraq over the past week, including targeting the US Embassy in Baghdad and the United Arab Emirates consulate in...
Op-eds
How Iraq Is the New Frontline of the Iran War
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are seeking to tie down US forces in the Middle East.
Op-eds
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias in spotlight after Secretary of State Rubio’s call with Prime Minister Sudani
Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al Sudani “urged the United States to avoid unilateral decisions in Iraq, insisting that all actions impacting bilateral ties must go through formal diplomatic channels,”...
Op-eds
Assassination Casts Dark Cloud over Iraqi Elections
Iraq continues to suffer from lawlessness, where the politics of the gun – and not the ballot box – play too great a role In the early hours of October 15, an IED tore through a Chevy Tahoe...
Op-eds
New head of anti-Islamic State mission in Iraq and Syria takes command
Brigadier General Kevin Lambert took over as the new commander of the anti-Islamic State coalition of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in a ceremony in Iraq on...
Op-eds
Iraqi prime minister announces electoral alliance
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani announced a new alliance, the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, for the country’s November 2025 elections. Sudani is currently part of the...
Op-eds
Pro-Iranian Iraqi politicians, militia leaders object to Syrian president visiting Iraq
A possible visit by Syria’s new transitional president, Ahmad al Sharaa, is causing controversy in Iraq. Several key Shiite political and militia leaders have come out against the visit and called on...
Op-eds
Major Shiite parties to run separately in Iraq’s November election amid disagreements
The Coordination Framework, the ruling Shiite alliance in Iraq, announced its intention for parties to run on separate lists in the November 11 election but reunite the coalition under the same...
Op-eds
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq face an uncertain future
Iraq’s pro-Iranian militias face an uncertain future after the December fall of the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria and amid pressure from Iraqi authorities for armed groups to be disbanded or incorporated...
Op-eds
‘Disengaging Armed Factions’: Tehran Recalculates Its Influence in Iraq
Tehran and Baghdad Discuss Regional Developments: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on January 8. The two leaders...
Flash Briefs
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq may stop attacking Israel
A report this week indicates that some of these militias and groups have stepped back from attacks in the wake of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
Op-eds
Iran-backed militias target US base in Iraq
Two drones targeted the Ain al-Asad Airbase in Iraq on July 16, a military outpost that hosts American and coalition forces. The drone strikes mark the second attack on American forces in Iraq...
Op-eds
Iran’s FM warns Israel against attack on Lebanon amid Hezbollah’s attacks
Meanwhile Iran continued to support attacks on Israel in the region. The pro-Iran Al-Mayadeen media noted that Palestinian terrorists in Jenin had fought with the IDF.
Op-eds
Houthis renew attacks in Red Sea after three day hiatus
After a three-day hiatus, the Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group has commenced attacks on the Red Sea targeting ships.
Op-eds
Why Iran Doesn’t Want U.S. Forces Out of Iraq
The Islamic Republic is more afraid of yet more sanctions than it is of 2,500 U.S. military advisors in Iraq’s anti-ISIS coalition.
Op-eds
Iran begins diplomatic offensive against Israel and US
The key leaders in Iran’s efforts are President Ibrahim Raisi and chief diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Op-eds
Why is Baghdad funding pro-Iran militias?
Iraq is about to approve a budget that allocates $2.8 billion to the Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU), marking an increase of $600 million from the previous budget in 2021.