Baghdad

Kurdistan Region of Iraq announces Peshmerga unification

The Kurdistan Regional Government announced the completion of a years-long process to unify the Peshmerga armed forces under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, ending longstanding divisions between units linked to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The move comes amid the departure of US forces, pressure to disarm Iran-backed militias, and efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.

Long War Journal•Seth Frantzman4h ago

Iran’s Airlines Now Welcomed At Fewer Airports

Baghdad and Muscat will stop accepting flights from Iran at midnight local time today. Iranian authorities are scrambling to redirect Baghdad-bound traffic to Najaf instead, and negotiating with Oman over alternatives. It’s a visible consequence of a new US sanctions…

Air Insight•Addison Schonland6h ago

Iran flights to Baghdad, Muscat cancelled ahead of US aviation sanctions

Iran's aviation officials negotiate with Oman and Iraq as US's Bessent targets carriers seven months into the conflict.

Al Jazeera18h ago

Iran suspends flights to Baghdad, Muscat, Azerbaijan amid new US sanctions

The suspension of flights highlights escalating tensions, potentially leading to broader regional airspace restrictions and economic impacts.

CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez18h ago

The U.S. Has More Leverage in Iraq Than It Thinks

If U.S. forces leave Iraq by 30 September 2026, Washington should view the departure not as the end of its relationship with Baghdad but as an opportunity to redefine it. The U.S. will retain influence in Iraq, but it will have to exercise that influence differently. America’s challenge will be transitioning from control to influence. For two decades, the military presence gave Washington an extraordinary degree of leverage over Iraq. Once U.S. troops leave, leverage will diminish, but the U.S. will retain important instruments of power:…

OilPrice.com•James Durso23h ago

Iraq to collect 6 million weapons despite pushback from Iran-backed militias

Baghdad recast 30 September — originally a hard deadline for armed factions to surrender an estimated 6 million weapons — as the start of the regulatory process as Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba refuse to hand over what they call "resistance weapons".

Euronews22 Sept

Trial of six French Islamic State suspects opens in Baghdad

The suspects were part of a group of 47 French nationals transferred last year from Syria to Iraq, where numerous suspected IS members were already being held.

Euronews21 Sept

• neutral toward Islamic State · 94%

Yazidi armed group YBS to disarm, integrate into Iraqi security forces

The Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a Yazidi armed group with links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has agreed to disarm and integrate eligible members into Iraq’s security forces as Baghdad seeks to stabilize Sinjar and facilitate the return of displaced Yazidis. The agreement comes amid broader efforts to disarm Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and parallels integration processes involving the Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria.

Long War Journal•Seth Frantzman18 Sept

Iraq continues investigating attack on Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory

Iraq is investigating September 11 drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Crude Oil Pipeline after confirming the attack originated from its territory. The incident comes as Baghdad faces pressure over militia activity and continued Iranian strikes on Kurdish Iranian opposition groups based in northern Iraq.

Long War Journal•Seth Frantzman16 Sept

Militias in Iraq remain defiant as the last US troops pack up to leave

After withdrawing in 2011, U.S. troops returned three years later at Baghdad’s invitation to lead a smaller coalition against Islamic State militants who had seized wide areas of the country

The Independent•Abby Sewell and Qassim Abdul-Zahra15 Sept

First Thing: Oil prices surge as attacks on Saudi Arabia stoke supply fears

Strike on kingdom’s east-west pipeline could affect 4% of global oil supply. Plus, report reveals British monarchy’s role in financing slave trade Good morning. Oil prices have climbed above $108 a barrel after a series of drone attacks from Iraq’s territory forced Saudi Arabia to close its east-west crude pipeline. Saudi traders said the kingdom would run out of oil stocks for export if it did not reopen within days. Gas prices also climbed higher. Energy prices have surged this year, as the US-Israel war with Iran has disrupted oil and gas supply across the Middle East. The spike came as the Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen launched several attacks against Saudi Arabia and captured the strategic island of Perim in the Bab al-Mandab strait on Sunday, expanding their control of the waterway. Where did the attack on Saudi Arabia come from? Iraq’s government confirmed the attacks were launched from its territory and ordered an investigation. Baghdad is under mounting pressure to stop militant groups – including those backed by Saudi Arabia’s regional rival Iran – launching attacks on Gulf countries from Iraqi soil. The US president, Donald Trump, said he believed Tehran was responsible. Why has Saudi Arabia been relying on its east-west pipeline? Riyadh has increased the use of the 745-mile pipeline since the start of the war on Iran in order to bypass the strait of Hormuz’s closure. The world’s biggest exporter has used the pipeline to reroute about 4m barrels a day – about 4% of global supply – but with the ‌pipeline out of service, the Red Sea port of Yanbu now has stocks to maintain exports for just five to seven days. What is the Anthropic CEO proposing? Robert Booth explains Amodei’s suggestion: first, each US AI company grants access to third-party evaluators; second, all companies in democratic countries establish common safety standards; and third, the world’s democratic AI powers coordinate with autocracies – notably China – to control the race. How has Barack Obama intervened over AI? The former US president made a direct appeal to Democrats to coalesce around a unified AI safety policy, arguing that waiting for voluntary compliance from tech firms was a recipe for governance failure. Continue reading...

The Guardian•Martin Belam14 Sept

Iraq’s militias grow bolder in Iran war

Baghdad is seeking to reduce the power of Tehran-linked forces accused of striking a Saudi oil pipeline

Financial Times13 Sept

Baghdad confirms attack on Saudi pipeline came from Iraq

Saudi Arabia has said it will not relatiate and wants Iraq to "take the necessary measures." Baghdad is under pressure from the United States to rein in Iran-backed militias.

Deutsche Welle12 Sept

Saudi Arabia shuts critical oil pipeline after drone attack: What it means

Baghdad launches investigation, closes border after confirming strike came from Iraqi territory.

Al Jazeera12 Sept

Iranian-backed militia in Iraq sets ‘conditions’ for disarmament

Iraq’s efforts to bring the weapons of Iranian-backed militias under state control are facing a new challenge as one of the country's groups, Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, has laid out conditions for disarmament. The debate comes amid continued US pressure on Baghdad to disarm the groups, a looming coalition withdrawal deadline, and renewed efforts by the Iraqi government to assert its authority over armed factions.

Long War Journal•Seth Frantzman1 Sept

US Treasury targets Dubai, Istanbul, and Baghdad in Iran sanctions push

The US Treasury's sanctions on financial networks in key cities may strain international banking relations and challenge regional economic ties.

CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team29 Aug

Iranian-backed Iraqi militias may seek to delay disarmament

Iraq's efforts to disarm the country’s Iranian-backed militias appear to be facing growing political resistance as some factions seek to delay or avoid a September deadline. The debate comes as Washington continues pressing Baghdad to bring all weapons under state control.

Long War Journal•Seth Frantzman28 Aug

Countries condemn Iranian attack on Kurdistan Region prime minister’s office

Iran's August 17 drone attack targeting the office of Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani drew widespread international condemnation. The strike comes as Baghdad faces increasing pressure to rein in Iranian-backed militias and assert state control over their weapons.

Long War Journal•Seth Frantzman18 Aug

U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Fly Baghdad

The Treasury Department formerly accused the carrier of working with the Iranian government.

AirlineGeeks•Zach Vasile5 Aug

US Embassy in Baghdad raises security alert amid Iraq tensions

US Embassy in Baghdad raises security alert amid Iraq tensions. Iranian military action against a Gulf state by July 30 at 25% YES.

CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez25 Jul