Jul 03 Dempsey: Iraqi forces can defend Baghdad By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says Iraqi security forces are capable of defending Baghdad but are unable to act unilaterally to launch an offensive to seize back territory occupied by a Sunni insurgent group. Continue reading
Jul 03 Sunni militants seize towns and key oil field in Syria By News Desk Sunni militants under the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant took over more towns in Syria near the border with Iraq on Thursday, working to expand their claim on the area after declaring a new Muslim state, or caliphate. Continue reading
Jul 02 Watch Kurds push for independence while Baghdad faces political turmoil By PBS News Hour Iraqi Kurds in the country’s northeast are taking advantage of Baghdad’s battle with Sunni insurgents, in hopes of gaining their own state. Kurdish leaders are vowing to hold a vote on independence, a move denounced by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki… Continue watching
Jul 02 Watch Kurds don't want to 'fix Baghdad' at their expense, says Kurdish foreign chief By PBS News Hour Kurdish leaders are making their case for independence, despite U.S. pleas to keep Iraq intact. Chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Warner talks to Falah Mustafa Bakir, head of foreign relations for the Kurdish regional government about the instability of Iraq… Continue watching
Jul 02 Kurdish official: 'We don't want to stay within an Iraq that has failed' By Larisa Epatko Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir said Wednesday that the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq is "determined to go ahead with the referendum" for independence because Iraq has failed politically. Continue reading
Jul 01 Watch 53:17 Tuesday, July 1, 2014 By PBS News Hour Tuesday on the NewsHour, Iraqi lawmakers walk out of parliament in a standoff over their leadership and demonstrators flood Hong Kong demanding democracy. Fred de Sam Lazaro travels to Vietnam to investigate human trafficking, Jeffrey Brown uncovers Facebook’s massive user… Continue watching
Jul 01 Watch How ISIL's bid for a new caliphate taps historical yearning By PBS News Hour How does ISIL's declaration of a new Islamic state complicate the military and political problems already challenging the Iraqi government? Chief foreign correspondent Margaret Warner joins Judy Woodruff to examine the history of the term “caliphate” and what threats ISIL… Continue watching
Jul 01 Watch Seeking unity amid crisis, Iraqi parliament fails to agree on Maliki replacement By PBS News Hour Minority Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers walked out of a meeting of the new Iraqi parliament after majority Shiites failed to select a replacement for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, escalating fears among citizens as Sunni insurgents advance on the Baghdad. Chief… Continue watching
Jul 01 What is a caliphate? By Larisa Epatko Sunni armed militants, who have taken control of parts of Syria and northern Iraq, on Sunday declared their territory a new “caliphate” governed by strict sharia law. Continue reading