• Iraqis defy crackdown to hold biggest protests yet

    Iraqis defy crackdown to hold biggest protests yet

    Nov 01, 2019 09:52 PM EST

    ... they have been dominated by sectarian political parties, many of which are close to Iran. The protests have occurred in Baghdad and mostly Shiite southern Iraq, and have been directed against the Shiite-led government. In southern Iraq, demonstrators have attacked and set fire to political party offices. The protesters ...

  • Iraq president bows to protesters and calls for new voting law

    Iraq president bows to protesters and calls for new voting law

    Oct 31, 2019 06:03 PM EST

    ... protests to vent their frustration at the political class. The protests have been concentrated in Shiite-majority areas and directed at the Shiite-dominated government. Iraq suffers from high unemployment and poor public services despite being an OPEC member with the world's fourth largest proven oil reserves. The sectarian ...

  • In Iraq and Lebanon, economic needs push protesters past sectarian divide

    In Iraq and Lebanon, economic needs push protesters past sectarian divide

    Oct 30, 2019 10:30 PM EST

    ... political elite. Hassan Nasrallah is seen as a political elite. Nick Schifrin: Pesha, some of the fundamental reforms that the experts say are necessary in Iraq, cutting public sector payrolls, nurturing the private sector, liberalizing oil profits, is the government capable and willing to actually institute some of those reforms ...

  • News Wrap: Deadly violence, anti-government protests continue in Iraq

    News Wrap: Deadly violence, anti-government protests continue in Iraq

    Oct 29, 2019 10:50 PM EST

    In our news wrap Tuesday, masked gunmen killed 18 people and wounded hundreds at a tent encampment in Karbala, Iraq. The bloodbath sparked one of the largest anti-government protests yet in Baghdad, where police fired tear gas. Also, Lebanon’s embattled prime minister resigned after nearly two weeks of mass protests in that country. Saad Hariri...

  • Masked gunman opens fire on Iraqi protesters, killing 18

    Masked gunman opens fire on Iraqi protesters, killing 18

    Oct 29, 2019 01:45 PM EST

    In Tehran, the Foreign Ministry warned Iranians over traveling to Iraq during the demonstrations and asked them to postpone their trips until further notice, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Karbala is one of the holiest places in Shiite Islam, where Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad ...

  • Anti-government protests rage in Iraq, 7 killed

    Anti-government protests rage in Iraq, 7 killed

    Oct 26, 2019 04:29 PM EST

    The protests against the Shiite-dominated government have been largely concentrated in Shiite areas. Some have also criticized Iran’s influence over the country. “Iraq is free. Iran out, out!” some protesters chanted in Tahrir Square. In the Shiite holy city of Karbala, a security official said demonstrators in a ...

  • U.S. troops leaving Syria can't stay in Iraq, Iraq's military says

    U.S. troops leaving Syria can't stay in Iraq, Iraq's military says

    Oct 22, 2019 02:06 PM EST

    ... look like. Esper said he has spoken to his Iraqi counterpart about the plan to shift the estimated 1,000 troops leaving Syria into western Iraq. The statement by the Iraqi military, however, said that all American troops that withdrew from Syria have permission to enter northern Iraq's semi ...

  • Pentagon chief says US troops leaving Syria for western Iraq

    Pentagon chief says US troops leaving Syria for western Iraq

    Oct 20, 2019 01:54 PM EST

    Esper said the troops going into Iraq will have two missions. "One is to help defend Iraq and two is to perform a counter-ISIS mission as we sort through the next steps," he said. "Things could change between now and whenever we complete the withdrawal, but that's the ...

  • In Iraq, concern that Syria chaos would bring back ISIS

    In Iraq, concern that Syria chaos would bring back ISIS

    Oct 16, 2019 07:41 PM EST

    ... amid the chaos and cross into Iraq. Speaking to a group of journalists touring the Iraq-Syria border with him, Najah al-Shammari urged the Iraqi government to work quickly on sealing the border. "The Iraqi government should act quickly to close illegal crossings between Iraq and Syria," al-Shammari ...

  • Protesters' rage over 'income and bread' challenges Iraqi government

    Protesters' rage over 'income and bread' challenges Iraqi government

    Oct 08, 2019 10:40 PM EST

    ... assumed office last year. Last weekend, Iraq's Parliament speaker met with representatives of the protest movement in an attempt to calm the unrest. And Iraqi authorities lifted a days-long curfew and Internet blackout on Saturday. Now Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi said he was willing to respond to ...