Explainer
Iraq Conflict
Iraq is again becoming a major regional security flashpoint as Iran-backed militias, the Iraqi state and the U.S.-led security presence collide amid the wider Iran war. Baghdad is now seeking to bring militia weapons under state control, while the ISIS threat and the planned withdrawal of the international coalition add further instability.
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History from the archive
Live dossierUS defence secretary says drug cartels will be ‘targeted like ISIS’
US defence secretary says drug cartels will be ‘targeted like ISIS’
Source confidence: medium
Al Jazeera - All News
Despite Mideast wars, 20 million gather in Iraq for Shia pilgrimage
Despite wars ranging across the Middle East, more than 20 million Shia pilgrims gather in Iraq shrine city for Arbaeen festival
Source confidence: medium
NPR - World
Iraq’s Kurdish region wants to stay out of regional conflicts: PM Barzani
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Masrour Barzani denies any 'pressure' to enter the Iran war despite over 1,000 attacks.
Source confidence: medium
Al Jazeera - All News
Iraq says it had ‘no prior knowledge’ of US-Saudi attacks – as it happened
This blog is now closed – our live coverage of the Middle East continues here A liquefied natural gas tanker controlled by QatarEnergy exited the strait of Hormuz overnight – the first such vessel visible on ship-tracking data to leave the waterway since 11 July, data from analytics firms showed on Thursday. The Al Areesh tanker , which loaded a cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal around 4-6 July, sailed out of the strait overnight on 29 July, accordi...
Source confidence: medium
The Guardian - World
Iraq calls Saudi-US attacks a ‘flagrant violation of sovereignty’
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi cancels first official trip to Saudi Arabia in protest.
Source confidence: medium
Al Jazeera - All News
Videos show aftermath of US-Saudi strikes on Iraq PMF bases
US and Saudi forces launched coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) bases This event card combines 2 sources; each original remains available below.
Source confidence: strong
Al Jazeera - All News, The Guardian - World
US and Saudi Araba jointly strike Iraq, widening the conflict
The US-Israel war on Iran is widening once again, with the US and Saudi Arabia launching joint airstrikes on Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq. Earlier, Tehran targeted US bases in Jordan and ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump is now vowing further retaliation, raising fresh concerns that the conflict is entering a dangerous new phase.
Source confidence: medium
France 24 - English
Kuwait-Iraq border crossing hit in drone attack
Kuwait's Defence Ministry said a drone attack hit the Abdali border crossing with Iraq, causing damage but no casualties
Source confidence: medium
Al Jazeera - All News
US identifies soldier killed destroying downed Iranian drone in Iraq
Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton died during controlled detonation, bringing total of US personnel killed in war to 17 The US military has identified an army soldier killed recently during a “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq as Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. According to a press release from the US defense department on Tuesday morning, the 30-year-old Swinton was supporting overseas contingency operation... This event card combines 2 sources; each original remains available below.
Source confidence: strong
The Guardian - World, Al Jazeera - All News
US soldier killed and one injured after Iranian attack in Iraq
The US military reports another death a day after two of its soldiers were killed in Jordan.
Source confidence: medium
BBC World