The clash of two cities: Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and the future of Iraq’s Kurdistan

The most successful Kurdish political experiment in West Asia is unravelling due to increasing divisions between the KDP and PUK, the two biggest political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iraq’s parliament gives green light to new government

Iraq held early elections more than a year ago as a result of mass anti-government protests that began in October 2019

Iraq’s new president vows to bring political rivals together

Rashid has taken it upon himself to solve existing issues and build strong relations between Iraq and its neighboring countries

One year after elections, Iraqi lawmakers name new president and PM

The newly named premier, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval

Joe Biden encourages ‘National Dialogue’ in Iraq

The US President voiced his support for a "independent and sovereign" Iraq

Iraqi president calls for early elections

President Salih also suggested reforming Iraq's current political system, which was formed under the supervision of the US military occupation

Muqtada al-Sadr’s drive to criminalize Iraq-Israel relations kills two birds with one stone

Iraq's legal offensive to criminalize normalization with Israel was praised across the region, however amidst a domestic political stalemate, there are ulterior motives at play 

Iraqi law to criminalize ties with Israel on hold, pending Kurdish approval

A strong US drive to offer economic support and financial incentive in return for normalization could influence the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to break away from the official Iraqi position

Iraqi officials slam Turkish military incursion into the Kurdistan region

Baghdad has stressed that all foreign military operations on Iraqi soil must be conducted in coordination with the government, which Turkey has failed to do

Iraq’s Sadrist and Sunni blocs to back KDP candidate for President

The announcement comes after the Federal Supreme Court rejected the nomination of Hoshyar Zibari for the post

Iraqi Federal Court rejects Zibari’s appeal for presidency

The court retained Barham Salih as the acting president until new presidential elections are announced

Iraqi parliament to re-open registration of presidential candidates

Barham Salih, current president and presidential candidate, has written to the Iraqi Federal Court, asking for an explanation of procedural legalities in electing the next president

KDP presidential nominee suspended from candidacy due to fraud charges

Zibari stated his respect for the federal court decision, but noted that he was confident the judiciary would approve him

Iraq’s Sadrist bloc withdraws from all negotiations to form next government

Prominent Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called on all members of his bloc to boycott Monday’s parliamentary session

Iraqi parliament approves 25 candidates for President

In line with the efforts to form a majority government, Muqtada al-Sadr has met with Nechirvan Barzani and Mohammad al-Halbousi

Newly-elected Iraqi parliament to convene for the first time on 9 January

The meeting will come amid a free-for-all race by all political actors to become part of the leading bloc in parliament

Quds Force chief visits Iraq after alleged assassination attempt on PM’s life

The visit of the Quds Force chief to Iraq comes at a complicated time; experts say the visit will cool tensions down

Iraq heads to the polls for early parliamentary elections

The ballots are taking place mere days after the US began to withdraw troops from the country after 18 years of occupation

Shaken by a family feud, will Iraqi Kurdistan’s PUK survive?

The PUK has just emerged from a three-year leadership battle between two branches of the Talabani family. It is unlikely to be over yet, and there are local and regional ramifications to this family fight.