Nov 01 Iraqis defy crackdown to hold biggest protests yet By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Joseph Krauss, Associated Press The square and the wide boulevards leading into it were packed with flag-waving protesters, as security forces reinforced barricades on two bridges leading to the heavily-fortified Green Zone, the seat of government. Continue reading
Oct 31 Iraq president bows to protesters and calls for new voting law By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Joseph Krauss, Associated Press Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said he is prepared to resign once political leaders agree on a replacement. Continue reading
Oct 30 Watch 8:09 In Iraq and Lebanon, economic needs push protesters past sectarian divide In Iraq and Lebanon, different events sparked current mass demonstrations, but protesters in both countries believe their governments are broken. Journalist Pesha Magid, reporting from Baghdad, and special correspondent Jane Ferguson, in Beirut, join Nick Schifrin to discuss economic and… Continue watching
Oct 29 Masked gunman opens fire on Iraqi protesters, killing 18 By Zeina Karam, Joseph Krauss, Associated Press The attack, which happened overnight, came as Iraqis took to the streets for a fifth consecutive day, protesting their government's corruption, lack of services and other grievances. Continue reading
Oct 28 Watch 3:02 U.S. military says Syria objectives remain unchanged, despite al-Baghdadi's death By Nick Schifrin The leader of the Islamic State group is dead. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died over the weekend in a U.S. special forces raid in northwest Syria. U.S. officials said Kurdish partners provided useful intelligence about al-Baghdadi's location. The terrorist leader motivated… Continue watching
Oct 28 Watch 7:33 After al-Baghdadi's death, how the U.S. can prevent an ISIS resurgence The Trump administration believes the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has major implications for the terror group. Nonetheless, the U.S. mission in Syria to counter ISIS will continue. Nick Schifrin talks to the Center for Global Policy’s… Continue watching
Oct 26 Anti-government protests rage in Iraq, 7 killed By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press Iraqi security forces fired tear gas on Saturday to push back protesters who tried to remove blast walls erected on a bridge in central Baghdad to prevent anti-government rallies from reaching a heavily fortified government area, a day after violence… Continue reading
Oct 23 Defense secretary in Baghdad to discuss U.S. troops leaving Syria By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Mark Esper has said that under the current plan, all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the military would continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State. Continue reading
Oct 22 Watch 11:39 Turning to Putin, Erdogan ignores U.S. agreement for northeastern Syria As a cease-fire in northern Syria expired Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders announced a joint plan to evict Kurdish YPG fighters from northeast Syria -- displeasing Syrian President Bashar… Continue watching
Oct 22 U.S. troops leaving Syria can't stay in Iraq, Iraq's military says By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Zeina Karam, Associated Press The U.S. had planned for troops leaving Syria to go to western Iraq and continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent its resurgence in the region. Continue reading