Iraq

Iran attacks US base in Kuwait, vessel hit by projectile near Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime and Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said in a post on X/Twitter that a cargo vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman.

Smoke billows near the oil facility in Mangaf, Kuwait, July 18, 2026, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video.
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a parliamentary session to vote in a new government headed by Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister, at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 14, 2026.

Saudi Arabia, Middle East neighbors pressure Iraq to rein in Iranian-backed militias - analysis

Security personnel stand guard on the day of a funeral procession for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and US airstrikes, in Najaf, Iraq, July 8, 2026.

US troop pullback raises fears of more attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan - analysis

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu emerged from Tuesday’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, calling it one of the best he has ever had, which is a notable assessment, considering how many times the two men have met over the years.

Beyond the optics: Is the Netanyahu-Trump rift real, or are they still aligned on Iran?


Iranian-backed militias search Iraq for 'Zionist-American' base in show of force - analysis

Reports of a secret Israeli base in Iraq have now led Baghdad to feel it must do something and stage a show of force, resulting in Iranian-backed militias sending forces to southern Iraq.

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces stand guard at a military base near the Iraqi-Syrian border in Al-Qaim, west of Iraq on January 23, 2026.

Iraqi PM-designate caught between US endorsement, militia violence - report

The endorsement is contingent on Ali al-Zaidi excluding Iran-backed militias from his potential government, a move that could prompt those militias to fight back.

New Iraqi Prime Minister designate Ali al-Zaidi, uses a phone at his office in Baghdad, Iraq, April 28, 2026.

Iraqi media shocked by reports of secret Israeli base as Baghdad hits critical juncture - analysis

Reports that Iraq’s sovereignty may have been undermined by a foreign force operating in the desert will cause controversy in Baghdad.

An aerial view shows camels wondering in the Samawa desert, midway between the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the southern city of Basra on February 14, 2026.

Israel reportedly operates covert base in Iraq during Iran campaign

A secret Israeli outpost in Iraq allegedly supported airstrikes on Iran and stayed hidden until an Iraqi patrol came dangerously close.

Smoke rises following an airstrike on a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) headquarters at Kirkuk International Airport, in Kirkuk, Iraq, March 28, 2026.

'Historic, unprecedented': IDF, US ran covert rescue operations from Iraq during Iran war

IDF special forces rescue units had been clandestinely placed in Iraq in order to have the capability to jump into action to rescue any IDF pilots who might crash-land if they were shot down.

Israel Air Force fighter jets participate in a Remembrance Day flyover, April 2026.

Iranian regime relying on foreign militias to bolster security efforts, suppress protests - report

Iran’s government has not officially acknowledged the role of these foreign militias.

A member of Iranian militia forces (Basij) gestures during an anti-Israeli march in Tehran, Iran, January 10, 2025; illustrative.

Israel built secret base in Iraqi desert during war with Iran - report

IDF troops were stationed at the secret base in case IAF pilots were shot down over enemy territory. 

A view of the Iraqi Desert.

Kurdish leaders in Iraq seek stability and influence under Zaidi government - analysis

Iraqi Kurdish leaders are seeking greater influence in Baghdad as Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi forms a new government amid rising regional tensions.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) members pose for the camera as they celebrate Nowruz at the Jezhnikan Village around Baharka, Iraq, on March 18, 2025.

Iran continues to attack Kurdish groups in Iraq despite new Iraqi PM

Iran and its militias have carried out more than 800 attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since February 28, when the US and Israel began strikes on Iran.

Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party, known as PAK take part in a training session at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq.

Syria’s crackdown on Hezbollah shows Damascus's commitment to security - analysis

Hezbollah entered Syria in large numbers around 2012-2013 via the city of Qusayr, with its role in Syria diminishing since the fall of the Assad regime.

A Syrian army soldier stands guard next to an armoured vehicle positioned along the SyrianLebanese border in the rural area of Al Qusayr on April 1, 2026.