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  • Opinion: Will Iraq’s new prime minister bring change — or more of the same?

    After a year-long crisis in Iraq triggered by contested elections, Iraq finally has a government headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani. While this ends the political impasse, it’s unclear whether his new cabinet will bring about change or usher in more of the same.

  • The Sadrist movement in Iraq

    The authors of this paper present the findings of a bespoke sociological and political survey of more than 1,000 residents of the Baghdad closed district known as Sadr City, and analyse the shifting trajectory of the Sadrist movement and its implications for Iraq.

  • Iraq’s new premier meets with cabinet

    Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, who received a vote of confidence yesterday in the Iraqi Parliament, commenced his duties today. Sudani, together with 21 of his ministers, received a vote of confidence Thursday night. The parliament also voted to approve the government's program.

  • Drama at Baghdad airport as Iraq is rocked by 2.5B USD corruption case

    Iraqi authorities have arrested a key suspect implicated in the embezzlement of some 2.5B USD from state coffers. The massive corruption case has gained major traction on Iraqi social media, with the hashtag “heist_of_the_century” trending on Twitter. This comes amid reports of political pressure to release the suspect, and as Iran’s allies in Iraq are ramping up pressure on outgoing Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi—accusing him of involvement in the scandal.

  • Revival of key border crossing shows shift in Iraq-Saudi ties

    A new phase of Iraqi-Saudi relations has begun, marked by efforts to strengthen ties between the neighbors. For several decades the relationship between Baghdad and Riyadh was marred by waves of tension, turmoil, and mutual recrimination. But relations have warmed in recent years and continue to improve. High-profile diplomatic visits have taken place, while both countries have undertaken efforts to boost political and economic coordination as well as in the field of tourism.

  • Revival of key border crossing shows shift in Iraq-Saudi ties

    A new phase of Iraqi-Saudi relations has begun, marked by efforts to strengthen ties between the neighbors. For several decades the relationship between Baghdad and Riyadh was marred by waves of tension, turmoil, and mutual recrimination. But relations have warmed in recent years and continue to improve. High-profile diplomatic visits have taken place, while both countries have undertaken efforts to boost political and economic coordination as well as in the field of tourism.

  • With a President in Place, Can Iraq Finally Form a Government?

    The Iraqi Parliament was finally able to meet quorum October 13, and it elected Abdul Latif Rashid as Iraq’s new president, ending a yearlong political and legal gridlock over the presidency and the new government. Reflecting the consensual, post-2003 ethno-sectarian division of key offices, Rashid is a Kurd. The election of the president met an important constitutional requirement, allowing for formal government formation to begin. The new president immediately tasked the Coordination Framework’s designated prime minister, Mohammed al-Sudani, to form the next Iraqi government.

  • US citizen killed in Iran strikes in Iraq, State Dept says

    The State Department today confirmed that a U.S. citizen had been among thirteen people killed in Iranian rocket and drone strikes into Iraqi Kurdistan yesterday, launched as the Iranian government sought to clamp down on over ten days of protests at home in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest by Iran’s so-called morality police.

  • Iran launches airstrike against Kurdish group in northern Iraq

    Iran has launched a deadly cross-border airstrike into northern Iraq to punish Kurds for their role in supporting demonstrations over the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman in Iranian police custody that are still rattling the Tehran regime. As many as 13 people were killed and 58 injured in the Iranian drone strikes on military bases in northern Iraq that belong to the exiled Kurdish Democratic party of Iran. The KDPI said in a statement: “The forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran attacked the bases and headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic party of Iran with missiles and drones.”

  • Will Kadhimi remaining as PM avert renewed confrontation in Iraq?

    After a lull in tensions over the recent Shiite religious holiday of Arbaeen, the head of the Sadrist Movement is hinting at renewed escalation in Iraq. This comes as Muqtada Al-Sadr’s Shiite rivals have re-endorsed their prime minister candidate, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani—the same move that sparked a Sadrist storming of the Iraqi parliament in late July. A high-ranking delegation is expected to visit Sadr amid hints of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi remaining in office possibly averting a crisis.