Iraqi president (1979–2003) who oversaw decades of autocratic rule and Saddam-era conflicts
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.
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.
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 Trump administration has mobilized a broad sanctions push to choke Iran’s economy, promising the toughest penalties in history. Officials say secondary sanctions will target countries and firms doing business with Tehran, with aims to isolate Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the war disrupts regional trade.
The U.S. has struck Iranian oil tankers, prompting retaliatory actions from Iran and attacks on a U.S.-linked base in Jordan. Tankers are waiting to transit Hormuz, raising the risk of major oil spills and wider conflict as global shipping faces disruption.
The creators of South Park have announced that the show will officially be known as SOUTH AMERICA for its 29th season, a move inspired by Apple and Google renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. The announcement comes as Donald Trump has pushed for names changes in U.S. maps and fronts a broader political clash with Canada and tech platforms.
The Defense Secretary has faced resignations and blocked promotions amid a broader clash over modernization and culture-war priorities. Critics say leadership is being hollowed out as top brass depart and the Pentagon reshapes itself.
President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both chambers in the November midterms. The White House has released only a short fact sheet; Republicans, legal experts and budget analysts have questioned the plan’s legality, its roughly $1.2–1.4 trillion cost and how the payments would be funded or authorised without Congress.
A survey of how intelligence, counter-terrorism, and national security strategies have evolved since the 2001 attacks, reflecting on failures, reforms and shifting threats as the world marks the 25th anniversary.
The CIA has released 71 presidential daily briefs from 1998–2001, detailing Osama bin Laden’s movements, financing and networks. The documents include warnings that bin Laden may strike the US and pursue weapons, but do not reveal new details on the attacks themselves.
Protests over the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso in Hasakeh Province have sparked prison violence at Kobani. Inmates set dormitories ablaze as security forces wage a crackdown; authorities call for restraint while Kurdish groups demand a transparent investigation.
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.
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.
Jeffrey Archer has died. He was a prolific author and former Conservative politician who endured a public downfall for perjury in 2001. His life spanned politics, literature and public controversy.
US military planners have drawn up options to deploy the GBU-43/B MOAB against Iranian energy infrastructure and underground sites, according to CNN. No decision has been announced; the White House says all options remain on the table. The MOAB’s use would be a major escalation, with uncertain strategic value and significant civilian risk.
The United States has drawn up options for renewed strikes on Iran using the MOAB, though officials warn the move would be a symbolic escalation rather than a decisive shift. Reports indicate planning is under consideration and could target energy infrastructure or underground facilities, with officials stressing the weapon’s non-nuclear status.
Trump has told Newsmax the MOAB is not nuclear and that the US is considering strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain. He says ground troops are unlikely; oil and gas prices are expected to fall if the war ends soon.