Capital of Iraq, at the heart of Middle East politics and history
The US and Iran have moved toward a formal ceasefire and negotiations. Gulf states are expanding ties with new partners, reinforcing regional autonomy, while warning against tolls on the Hormuz Strait and pressuring for broader security guarantees.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's campaign targets officials accused of embezzlement and corruption. Authorities have detained dozens, with immunity removals enabling more arrests. The operation is expanding to Wasit, Kirkuk and Anbar as the government seeks to recover state funds and lock out faction-linked networks.
The Strait of Hormuz confrontation has intensified as Iran rejects foreign oversight and launches drone and missile strikes. A US-backed maritime route near Oman is expanding, provoking Tehran while top powers push for a ceasefire. Kuwait, Bahrain and other Gulf states report attacks and air defenses intercepting missiles and drones; Washington and Tehran trade retaliatory strikes.
Dame Penelope Keith has died after a battle with cancer. Her career spans stage, The Good Life and To the Manor Born, with a lasting impact on British comedy. Tributes praise her comic genius and decades of work in theatre, television and charity.
The US and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes this weekend and on Monday, reversing a recent interim ceasefire and re‑opening doubt over control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire "over," ordered further strikes and revoked a temporary oil waiver. Oil has jumped into the high $70s–$80s and global markets have fallen.
Iraq’s prime minister travels to Washington to deepen economic ties as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and fighting between the US and Iran intensifies. Oil output, IMF talks, and potential US investment are on the table while Iran-backed groups push back against disarmament. Diplomatic prospects hinge on stabilizing energy flows and expanding state control over weapons.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has announced there will be no more elections and his congress has begun drafting constitutional changes to extend the presidential term and block opposition candidates. The proposal would make terms seven years and bar those labeled "traitors" or "coup plotters" from office; the UN and the US have condemned the moves.
The Iraqi prime minister-designate has arrived in Washington as Washington pressures Baghdad to disarm Iran-backed militias and curb corruption. The visit centers on expanding economic ties, attracting investment, and reinforcing state control, amid Tehran’s influence and security challenges.
The United States plans to end its mission against ISIS in Iraq and withdraw most forces by Sept. 30, reaffirming a 2024 pact with Baghdad. Officials say American troops have largely left and the burden is shifting to Iraqi security forces, while U.S. companies will remain active in the country.
Since late July, US and Iranian forces have resumed strikes across the Middle East after a brief pause. The US and Saudi Arabia have carried out airstrikes on pro‑Iran militias in Iraq; Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; regional actors including the Houthis are expanding pressure on Red Sea routes. Diplomatic talks remain fragmented.
The United States has has backed plans to rehabilitate the Iraq–Syria crude oil pipeline as a priority infrastructure project linking Iraqi production with Mediterranean export markets. Deals with US firms aim to create alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz, with initial capacity of about 2 million barrels per day once completed.
US-backed deals have Iraq seeking long-term investment, with Chevron-backed pipelines and parallel routes to reduce Hormuz dependence. Analysts say regional pipelines could carry a large share of oil by 2028; the question remains when they’ll be viable.
Iraq has signed 48 agreements with American firms, spanning energy, healthcare and technology, as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi travels to the United States. The deals include oil and electricity cooperation with ExxonMobil, KBR, GE Vernova, Shell and Halliburton, plus a pipeline project with Syria to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Starlink will bring satellite services.
Iraq and Turkiye have renewed efforts to cooperate on energy and transport after the expiry of the 1975 oil-export agreement. Turkiye seeks new routes and expanded export capacity, with talks focusing on an energy framework, water management, security, and regional development.
Airstrikes by US and Saudi forces hit PMF sites in Iraq after attacks on Saudi facilities, while Iran-backed groups and regional rivalries threaten Iraq’s new prime minister’s plan to disarm militias and anchor the state. The broader Strait of Hormuz dynamics and Yemen’s Houthis add layers to the conflict, risking wider regional instability.
Military strikes targeting Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have intensified after recent drone and missile attacks on oil facilities and US-Saudi interests. Iraqi, Saudi, and US officials describe the actions as responses to ongoing threats, with Iraqi investigations underway and growing regional anger.
Iraq and Turkey have extended and refreshed arrangements for the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, aiming to diversify exports and reduce reliance on Hormuz. A one-year extension is set to keep flows through Ceyhan at about 750,000 barrels per day while broader energy cooperation is pursued. Talks include oil, electricity and water resources, with Ankara signaling a longer-term framework.
The movements of personnel and equipment between Harir Air Base, Erbil, and the US consulate are described as preparation for the withdrawal of remaining US troops under the 2024 agreement. Washington and Baghdad have framed the shift as a routine repositioning and a step toward ending the mission by September.
More than 4.88 million pilgrims have entered Iraq for Arbaeen, with Iranian officials and pilgrims prominent on the Najaf–Karbala corridor. The event highlights Iraq’s delicate balancing act between regional powers as it grapples with economic stress and security concerns ahead of disarming militias.
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 Guardian, Independent and BBC report Trump has overseen a security maneuver after reports of a heightened Iranian threat. The White House has not confirmed details, but officials describe increased protective measures and a temporary relocation using decoy assets to prevent targeted attacks.
President Trump has announced what he called the "most crushing economic operation ever" against Iran and warned any country that provides a lifeline to Tehran will face "tremendous economic consequences." Treasury officials have signalled stepped‑up secondary sanctions while Tehran has rejected the move; oil prices and US equities have reacted this week.
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.
Iraqi authorities have stepped back from a hard deadline on weapon handover as negotiations with armed factions continue. Baghdad is seeking a state monopoly on weapons while factions demand security guarantees and extensions beyond 30 September. Talks are ongoing with mediation from Coordination Framework leaders, and some factions are moving toward partial compliance.
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.