Gas cylinder explosion in Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah kills 15 people
A gas cylinder explosion in a residential area in the Iraqi city of Sulaimaniyah has killed 15 people. The explosion occurred on Thursday, caused a house to collapse and injured 16 additional people. The rescue operation to find victims lasted 17 hours. Sulaimaniyah is the second largest city in the
Iraq names new president and prime minister, ending a year of political deadlock
Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid was elected as Iraq’s new president by parliament on Thursday. This move ends a year of political stalemates and violence. Rashid won 162 out of the 269 votes in parliament, beating the current President Barham Salim. Rashid has named Mohammad Shia al-Sudani as prime minister,
At least 23 dead amid fighting in Iraq after Moqtada al-Sadr quits
Some of the worst fighting in years has broken out in Iraq’s capital of Baghdad. At least 23 people have been killed in the fighting that was sparked by Moqtada al-Sadr’s decision to quit politics. Supporters of Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr clashed with security forces and militias aligned with
Mass gathering in Iraq a potential sign of a summer of protests
A large gathering of Muqtada al-Sadr supporters for a prayer session in Baghdad on Friday showed that the Shia leader was not ending his large presence in Iraqi politics, even when he removed his bloc from the Iraqi parliament in june. This move of prayer may be the beginning of
Iraq faces deadlock after ‘West-friendly’ candidate suspended
Hoshyar Zebari was Iraq’s longest-serving foreign minister and cultivated strong ties with neighboring Arab states and had many discussions with Western diplomats and journalists. Zebari bid to run for the presidency of Iraq, but his candidacy was suspended by the federal court due to past corruption charges. This suspension caused
Iraq faces growing violence as political rift deepens
Fears of worsening violence looms in Baghdad, emphasizing the challenges faced by Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of parliament’s biggest bloc as he attempts to form a majority government have October’s contested election. There were two explosions Sunday targeting two banks associated with Kurdish politicians in the Karrada district
Flash floods in northern Iraq kill 12 people
Flash floods that were caused by heavy rains overnight in northern and northeastern Iraq have killed at least 12 people. The floods affected Erbil, the capital city of Iraq’s semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan and other areas throughout the province. Muddy water flooded the streets and homes of the city. Rescue
Iraq’s Prime Minister Targeted in Assassination Attempt
On Sunday, a drone equipped with explosives attacked the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Baghdad early on Sunday. Iraqi security officials believe that the incident was an assassination attempt, marking an escalation of tensions between Iran-backed militia groups and the Iraqi government. Mr. Khadhimi addressed the nation
ISIS claims responsibility for Iraq blast that left dozens dead
On Monday, a blast ripped through a busy market in the capital of Iraq, killing 27 and wounding 32. ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the explosion, however, Afghan forces are still investigating the situation to determine the source of the blast. According to local health and security officials, children
Iraq hospital fire: Protests as Covid ward blaze kills more than 60
A fire in a coronavirus isolation ward has killed more than 60 people in a hospital in the Iraqi city of Nasiriya. Angry relatives of the victims have been protesting outside the al-Hussein hospital, as the cause of the fire is unclear. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered the arrest