May 26 Tensions rise in Baghdad after arrest of militia commander By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Iraqi security forces have arrested a senior militia commander on terrorism charges, sparking a tense showdown in Baghdad. The Wednesday arrest of militia leader Qassim Mahmoud Musleh was based on a judicial investigation and arrest warrant. Continue reading
Apr 25 Death toll in fire at Iraqi COVID-19 hospital surpasses 80 By Samya Kullab, Associated Press The flames, described by one witness as “volcanoes of fire,” swept through the intensive care unit of the Ibn al-Khatib Hospital, which tends exclusively to COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms. Officials said the blaze, which also injured 110 people, was… Continue reading
Mar 07 Where IS ruled, pope calls on Christians to forgive, rebuild By Nicole Winfield, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Pope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community’s historic heartland, which was nearly erased… Continue reading
Mar 06 Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric deliver message of coexistence By Nicole Winfield, Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press Pope Francis walked through a narrow alley in Iraq’s holy city of Najaf for a historic meeting with the country’s top Shiite cleric Saturday, and together they delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence in a country still reeling from… Continue reading
Mar 05 Watch 4:25 Pope Francis makes first-ever papal visit to Iraq amid violent threats and a deadly virus By Nick Schifrin, Ali Rogin, Courtney Vinopal It was a pilgrimage never seen before, in the face of violent threats and a deadly virus. Pope Francis arrived on Friday in Baghdad for the first-ever papal visit to Iraq. Nick Schifrin reports. Continue watching
Mar 05 Biden signals support to replace war power authority By Aamer Madhani, Associated Press President Joe Biden on Friday signaled support to replace decades-old authorizations for the use of military force in the Middle East. Continue reading
Mar 05 Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemic By Nicole Winfield, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to make his… Continue reading
Mar 03 Watch 5:53 News Wrap: Biden denounces loosening of COVID restrictions in some states In our news wrap Wednesday, President Biden denounced decisions some state leaders are making to loosen COVID restrictions a day after Texas and Mississippi lifted mask mandates, the U.S. House moved to pass major election changes, at least 34 protesters… Continue watching
Mar 03 Watch 13:10 Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Biden administration's foreign policy priorities By PBS NewsHour In his first speech as secretary of state, Antony Blinken on Wednesday unveiled the Biden administration's top foreign policy priorities, including containing COVID and putting Americans first. Judy Woodruff spoke with Blinken about those topics as well as vaccine diplomacy,… Continue watching
Mar 03 U.S. contractor dies in rocket attack at Iraq base, Pentagon says By Samya Kullab, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press A U.S. contractor died Wednesday when at least 10 rockets slammed into an air base housing U.S. and other coalition troops in western Iraq, the Pentagon said. Continue reading