US-Backed Troops Hunt for ISIS Leaders at Syria/Iraq Border

US-Backed Troops Hunt for ISIS Leaders at Syria/Iraq Border

U.S.-backed and led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), are trying to locate the key leaders of the Islamic State that are hiding along the Syria-Iraq border. The SDF along with the coalition has an ongoing operation to clear ISIS from the last of their Syrian strongholds. The U.S.-backed operation, code-named al-Jazeera Storm, was launched last week […]

Iran weighs in on Iraq’s parliamentary elections

Iran weighs in on Iraq’s parliamentary elections

Iran has expressed its support of Iraq’s upcoming elections claiming that they will pave the way not only the rehabilitation of the country progression into the modernized international community. Bahram Qasimi, the Foreign Ministry of Iran’s spokesman, stated this week that the parliamentary electoral race was key to progressing democracy in Iraq. He said, Due […]

Voting in Iraq to be done electronically

Voting in Iraq to be done electronically

Iraq has adopted a new electronic system for voting this election and President Fuad Masum is confident it will prevent potential voter fraud. The old system was arguably vulnerable to external manipulation on multiple levels throughout the voting process. President Masum told local press that, “When it is manual, an extension of one hour [for voting] might […]

Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution and CTG director Lahur Talabani

Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution and CTG director Lahur Talabani

Controversy over the proposal of Article 140 to the Iraqi constitution continues, as Kurdish leaders push to renew efforts towards Kurdish independence. Article 140 would give the Kurdish Regional Government the ability to reacquire disputed territories lost during the previous referendum. Lahur Talabani, who leads the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s CTG (Counter Terror Group), addressed […]

Turkish business in Iraq and economic stability

Turkish business in Iraq and economic stability

Turkey is moving to financially support Iraq by revisiting several business and investment agreements that were signed in 2009 by the two nations. The Ankara based government wants to give Iraq $5 billion in reconstruction support, they also desire the opening of a new border crossing which will develop further trade between the two countries. […]

Iraqi Prime Minister:  Air Force Hits Islamic State Targets in Syria

Iraqi Prime Minister: Air Force Hits Islamic State Targets in Syria

Iraqi air force planes have attacked Islamic State targets in Syria that were reportedly occupied by ISIS commanders. They targeted the positions as the terror group is still a threat to them as well. The airstrike was confirmed by Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi’s office in a statement released on Sunday morning. One of the strikes […]

UN Security Council set to meet in Iraq following elections

UN Security Council set to meet in Iraq following elections

The council will be sending 15 delegates to Iraq in support of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The meeting is scheduled to be held sometime this month. Holland’s ambassador to the U.N. spoke to local press while visiting the U.N. in New York, he confirmed the meeting would be in an effort by the U.N. to […]

Kurdish official kidnapped over Hashd al-Shaabi’s missing dead

Kurdish official kidnapped over Hashd al-Shaabi’s missing dead

A Kurdistan government official was recently abducted by armed men in Baghdad who demanded the remains of fallen Hashd al-Shaabi be returned to Iraq. The demands were about the events of October last year, when Iraqi supported paramilitary forces took over the city of Kirkuk from Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Several casualties were had by both sides […]

Committee formed to investigate ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk

Committee formed to investigate ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk

When the city of Kirkuk changed hands between the Peshmerga and Hashd al-Shaabi militants last October, many residents fled their homes as looting and murder began. Now, order has been somewhat restored by Iraqi security forces but these same displaced citizens believe they cannot return home. An investigative committee has been established by the central […]

KDP says they will fight for Kurdistan’s independence

KDP says they will fight for Kurdistan’s independence

Kurdistan’s current Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, is making some rousing statement amidst the current parliament electoral race in the region. In a campaign speech Barzani told supporters that, “The Democratic Party of Kurdistan agrees thoroughly with the right of self-determination, here, in Baghdad, or any place in the world. The KDP will struggle for it and seek […]

Korea contributes to Kurdistan government modernization

Korea contributes to Kurdistan government modernization

The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) met with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil last week to sign a memorandum. The memorandum was titled “Modernization of the Public Procurement System in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq.” The directer of KOICA, Ra Kapchae, met with the Minister of Planning, Dr. Ali Sindi, to sign the document. A statement from the […]

Yezidis kidnapped in Afrin by armed men

Yezidis kidnapped in Afrin by armed men

The activist organization Yazda is claiming that “11 Yezidi civilians” were abducted by unknown armed men in Afrin this week. In a statement released by Yazda last week they said, “Ten vehicles carrying masked gunmen stormed houses and arrested people. The group later released a man named Hanan Prem after torturing him and demanding a ransom of […]