To reassure Syrians, pro-Iran militias in Iraq leave border area

To reassure Syrians, pro-Iran militias in Iraq leave border area

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq may move away from the Syrian border after years of using the area to move into Syria and smuggle weapons to pro-Iran groups there, according to a recent report. This is a significant development and follows reports that the Iraqi militias have decided to temporarily stop targeting Israel. In addition, … Read more

Westminster’s top books of 2024

Westminster’s top books of 2024

LONDON — There wasn’t a great deal of time for reading in Westminster this year. Labour’s election supermajority, dramas over freebies and staff, war everywhere, a tax-hiking budget, and a heap of missions, milestones, foundations, pillars and steps kept Britain’s politicians on their toes. But, thankfully, some of Westminster’s finest still managed to steal a … Read more

Iranian-backed militias may stop attacking Israel after ceasefire

Iranian-backed militias may stop attacking Israel after ceasefire

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have been attacking Israel for a year, in the wake of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. They began their attacks almost immediately after the Hamas attack, first targeting US forces in Syria and Iraq and then expanding the attacks to strike at Israel. These groups call themselves the … Read more

Iranian IRGC captain charged with terrorism and murder

Iranian IRGC captain charged with terrorism and murder

An Iranian national and officer in the IRGC, Mohammad Reza Nouri, 36, was charged with murder and terrorism for his alleged role in orchestrating the Nov. 7, 2022, murder of American Stephen Troell in Baghdad, the FBI announced on Friday. Nouri was arrested in Iraq in March 2023, where he currently remains in custody. … Read more

Iraq, Saudi Arabi, UAE and Qatar condemn Israeli plans for Golan

Iraq, Saudi Arabi, UAE and Qatar condemn Israeli plans for Golan

Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq have condemned Israel’s move to expand settlements in the Golan Heights. This comes after the Israeli government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s NIS 40 million plan to encourage demographic growth in the Golan Heights, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday. Netanyahu … Read more

I sold my house to go travelling full time and I’ve visited 168 countries – here’s why Iran and Iraq are two of my favourite places (and why I feel safer abroad than in the UK)

I sold my house to go travelling full time and I’ve visited 168 countries – here’s why Iran and Iraq are two of my favourite places (and why I feel safer abroad than in the UK)

To say that Lynn Stephenson likes travelling would be an understatement. The 61-year-old’s wanderlust is so powerful that she sold her house to go globetrotting full-time and has now visited 168 countries out of 195. She told MailOnline Travel that she has no ‘plan B’ in the event of the money running out and no … Read more

Washington pushes back Iran’s influence with surprise Blinken Iraq visit

Washington pushes back Iran’s influence with surprise Blinken Iraq visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday to meet Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for talks on the future of neighbouring Syria. Blinken is touring the region in the wake of the swift collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in the face of an advance by Syrian opposition … Read more

Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad’s fall as his whereabouts remain unknown

Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad’s fall as his whereabouts remain unknown

By The Associated Press Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the … Read more

Iran, Baghdad worry Syria civil unrest will spread to Iraq

To reassure Syrians, pro-Iran militias in Iraq leave border area

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani recently said that the escalating conflict in Syria has ties to the rest of the region. He argued that it is connected to the war in Gaza and Lebanon. Baghdad appeared concerned that the conflict could spill over to Iraq. Iraq has grounds to believe this as … Read more