• In Iraq, women whose husbands joined ISIS face severe punishment

    In Iraq, women whose husbands joined ISIS face severe punishment

    Jun 16, 2018 08:33 PM EST

    ... happening here. JANE ARRAF: Well Hari, so this is one of the leftovers of a very long, very bitter war. Now as ISIS came into Iraq and took over a third of Iraq when it came in in 2014, people flowed in, jihadis flowed in, and with them flowed in ...

  • Iraq's al-Sadr, promising reform, is constrained by Iran

    Iraq's al-Sadr, promising reform, is constrained by Iran

    May 20, 2018 08:50 PM EST

    ... that Iraq's sovereignty was going to be the new government's "guiding principle." "We warn any other country that wants to involve itself in Iraqi politics not to cross the Iraqi people," he said. However, even as al-Sadr is in position to nominate a prime minister and set ...

  • How Iraq election frontrunner Muqtada al-Sadr tapped widespread frustration

    How Iraq election frontrunner Muqtada al-Sadr tapped widespread frustration

    May 14, 2018 10:45 PM EST

    A firebrand cleric is leading the vote count after Iraq’s weekend parliamentary election. Results from Iraq's electoral commission show a startling apparent upset by the party led by Muqtada al-Sadr, a former symbol of sectarianism and resistance turned populist politician. U.S.-backed incumbent prime minister Haidar Al-Abadi is running third in most districts. Nick Schifrin reports.

  • Iraqi Shiite cleric gained ground with nationalist voice

    Iraqi Shiite cleric gained ground with nationalist voice

    May 14, 2018 06:45 PM EST

    ... his role overseeing the military defeat of IS in Iraq, al-Sadr tapped into long-simmering frustration with Baghdad's inability to improve the lives Iraqis far from the frontline fight. "After security improved, (Iraqis in Baghdad) began to notice how shabby the city is and the lack of utilities ...

  • Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr takes early lead in Iraq election

    Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr takes early lead in Iraq election

    May 14, 2018 02:29 PM EST

    ... gains. Al-Sadr is a strong Iraqi nationalist — he is critical of any outside influence in the country — and campaigned on a platform that criticized Iraq's current political leadership as deeply corrupt. He rose to prominence in Iraq after the 2003 U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein when ...

  • Is an era of nationalism beginning in Iraq?

    Is an era of nationalism beginning in Iraq?

    May 12, 2018 09:22 PM EST

    ... is the role of perhaps, Iran, in the influence that Iran wields in Iraq right now? Or how long the United States will stay in Iraq and kind of what capacity? MARGARET COKER: Yeah. So one of the amazing things about last fall and into the winter, when Iraq declared ...

  • Polls close across Iraq in first vote since victory over ISIS

    Polls close across Iraq in first vote since victory over ISIS

    May 12, 2018 03:28 PM EST

    ... he said. Some Sunnis voting Saturday said they are hopeful this election will help Iraq move beyond sectarian politics and become more inclusive. Marginalization of Iraq's Sunnis under al-Maliki is seen as a factor that allowed IS to rise in power in Iraq. Al-Abadi has led a ...

  • Iraqi forces capture 5 senior Islamic State leaders in cross-border raid

    Iraqi forces capture 5 senior Islamic State leaders in cross-border raid

    May 10, 2018 07:06 PM EST

    ... longer control significant pockets of territory inside Iraq, but do maintain a grip inside Syria along Iraq's border. The U.S. -led coalition supported Iraqi ground forces and Syrian fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces in the more than three-year war against IS. After Iraqi forces retook ...

  • 3,800 artifacts once bought by Hobby Lobby were just returned to Iraq

    3,800 artifacts once bought by Hobby Lobby were just returned to Iraq

    May 02, 2018 08:23 PM EST

    ... seals that can fit in the palm of your hand. ICE said 3,800 artifacts in total were turned over today to the Embassy of Iraq in Washington, D.C. NPR reported that an embassy official said the items would likely end up in Iraq's National Museum. What were ...

  • Iraqi women and children with perceived link to ISIS are sexually abused, denied aid, report finds

    Iraqi women and children with perceived link to ISIS are sexually abused, denied aid, report finds

    Apr 23, 2018 08:50 PM EST

    ... be deadly, even though they’re not able to have a sanctuary in the same way,” Hassan said. In the next year, international funding for Iraq will sharply decrease and will only be allocated to “priority areas,” according to the U.N. report, Iraq’s 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan. With ...