Capital of Iraq, on the Tigris, 8 million residents
Kurdistan authorities have reported Iranian-launched drones struck the private office of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region's security agency chief on 17 August, with no casualties. The attacks come as Baghdad presses for a September 30 deadline to bring armed factions under state control and as cross-border strikes and US-Saudi operations have raised tensions across Iraq.
Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaee as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and elevated its top commanders, reshaping the security and military leadership amid ongoing US-Israel war. The moves consolidate Mojtaba Khamenei’s influence and signal a hardline stance, even as some officials call for de-escalation and negotiations.
Iraq has set Sept. 30 as the fixed date to end the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and to transfer bases to Iraqi forces, with US-led coalition drawing down in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Officials say the pullout is on track, though disarmament of non-state groups remains unresolved and militias may resist the deadline.
The president has secretly moved to a military aircraft amid threats, then flown to the U.K. on a separate jet while decoys remained on Air Force One. Officials say the move is part of ongoing security measures amid heightened Iranian threats following a Nato summit.
President Trump has announced an "economic D‑Day" aimed at isolating Iran, warning any country or firm that provides a "lifeline" to Tehran will face "tremendous economic consequences." Treasury officials have signalled stepped-up secondary sanctions. Markets have reacted this week as crude has risen and US equities have fallen while Iran has rejected the move.
Iran faces intensified pressure from U.S. sanctions while the Strait of Hormuz remains bottlenecked. Washington warns of the toughest sanctions yet; Tehran vows crushing responses. Iraqi tankers seek passage; global oil flows are at risk.
The government has signaled it may extend talks on weapon handover to state control beyond the September deadline as negotiations with Iran-aligned factions continue. Talks are ongoing, with mediation from Coordination Framework leaders, and the aim remains to restrict weapons to the state while avoiding a confrontation.
The Syrian Democratic Forces have dissolved as an independent unit and merged into the Syrian army following a January deal with Damascus. The move ends a decade of de facto autonomy in the northeast and positions the country for a new chapter of peace and reconstruction.
The United States plans to withdraw its military coalition from Iraq by Sept. 30, 2026, as Baghdad and Washington finalize the exit, with air defence systems in Erbil to be removed and weapons under state control to follow. The transition aims to prevent a security vacuum while maintaining security cooperation.
Air quality in major MENA cities is deteriorating amid rapid urbanization, with health, productivity and tourism at stake. A multipronged approach is urged to curb pollution and safeguard long-term development.
Houthi forces have struck multiple sites in southern Saudi Arabia, causing fires and injuring dozens, the Saudi energy ministry has said. The Saudi-led coalition has reported at least 73 people injured in attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran and has vowed a firm military response. The Houthis have promised a statement on a "large-scale military operation."
Iraq has agreed to a joint investigation with Iran into drone launch sites near the border, while border crossings with Iran are closed. The Saudi East-West pipeline has been attacked, with Riyadh suspending the route as security reviews proceed. Officials say no group has claimed responsibility.
The latest round of tit-for-tat strikes has targeted Iranian oil tankers and U.S. ships in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, with Iran and the U.S. exchanging retaliatory blows. The flare-up follows Houthi attacks on Saudi facilities and heightens fears for global oil shipments through the Hormuz chokepoint.
Saudi Arabia has closed its 1,200km East–West oil pipeline after a drone attack that Riyadh has blamed on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. Officials and analysts have said repairs could take three to five weeks, jeopardising 2.6–4 million barrels per day of exports and pushing Brent above $105–$108 a barrel while Houthi gains in the Red Sea are further restricting routes.
The United States is finalizing a drawdown in northern Iraq, with hundreds of troops set to depart by September 30. Iraq’s government links the exit to a demand for militias to disarm, but Iran-backed groups are signaling that disarmament is unlikely and favor regulation instead. Tehran seeks to keep influence in Iraq while Baghdad weighs its options amid regional tensions.
Drones launched from Iraqi soil have disrupted the East-West oil pipeline, triggering Iraqi authorities to close three border crossings and sack a Missan province commander. Baghdad is reviewing operations as it probes the incident, while Saudi Arabia suspends the pipeline route.
Baghdad has effectively shifted the deadline for surrendering militia weapons, with a new process and oversight directorate in place as Iran-backed groups push back on timelines. Officials say this underscores a prolonged, state-led effort to consolidate armed power and secure the monopoly on force.
Iranian civil aviation has suspended flights to several regional destinations amid U.S. sanctions pressure. Iraqi authorities are diverting potential flights to Najaf as Baghdad considers rerouting Tehran-bound services. Iran insists remaining international routes—including Istanbul—will operate as scheduled.
Iraq and Turkey have agreed to establish full state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of outlawed armed elements. Turkish forces will hand over a Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Baghdad under an agreed mechanism, with a timetable not specified. The pact follows talks between Erdogan and al-Zaidi at the UN General Assembly, and aligns with earlier Kurdish armed groups’ disarmament efforts.
The US-led coalition has formally concluded its combat and operational presence in Iraq, winding down to an advisory role. Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga are expected to lead security efforts, with the government emphasising sovereignty while pro-Iran factions press for disarmament and continued influence.
The final U.S. troops have withdrawn from Iraq, ending Operation Inherent Resolve. Tehran and its allies call the pullout a victory and push for American forces to leave the region. Iraqi leaders warn security gaps could follow, as militias and Islamic State remnants pose fresh risks.
The United States-led coalition has completed its orderly withdrawal from Erbil, handing security responsibilities to Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Iraq aims to preserve sovereignty amid Iran-aligned pressure and regional volatility. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is pushing to place weapons under state control while diversifying the economy to reduce external influence.
Iran says there is no military solution to the war and conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain sevenfold. Indirect talks with the United States are ongoing on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly as vessels persistently collide with the Hormuz blockade. The United States continues a counterblockade and regional players watch closely.
The PKK has vacated camps in Iraq’s Metina region, a move Turkish officials say advances a peace process after parliament approved a conditional pardon law. The PKK’s leadership remains in northern Iraq, with Turkey stressing that full dissolution and disarmament are prerequisites for broader reintegration and legal measures.
Turkish President has indicated that Turkish troops remain in northern Iraq and Syria to guard borders and contain PKK and Daesh threats. The number of troops is kept proportional to ground needs, and a reassessment will occur once security conditions and state authority are established across Syria and borders are secure.
France-bound IS suspects transferred from Syria are being tried in Iraq. A number have been handed life sentences while others receive long terms; several cases involve young defendants. Trials highlight ongoing Iraqi efforts to prosecute foreign fighters linked to the ISIS caliphate decades after its rise.
Arab News and Al Jazeera report a thaw in Turkish, Iraqi and Syrian relations. Erdogan plans a Syria visit; Iraq-Syria dialogue focuses on security, energy and trade. Damascus and Baghdad are reviving energy links and coordinating on regional stability.
Egyptian-American surgeon Adam Hamawy has won a seat in the U.S. House, becoming New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman. His campaign emphasized healthcare funding and opposition to arms funding for Gaza. His background includes Army service and humanitarian medical work in Gaza, Haiti, and other conflict zones.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has withdrawn from the Kurdistan Regional Government, citing a failed, unequal partnership with the KDP after parliament resumed without PUK participation. The move follows a two-year paralysed parliament and raises the possibility of parallel administrations in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.