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
Jun 30 Watch News Wrap: Sunni extremists declare new Islamic state in Iraq and Syria By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Monday, there was celebration and and condemnation for the announcement of a new Islamic state, or caliphate, in Iraq and Syria, declared by ISIL on Sunday. Also, President Obama formally announced his nominee to replace former… Continue watching
Jun 27 Watch Unease in Baghdad grows amid echoes of past sectarian strife By PBS News Hour The U.S. is now flying armed drones over Baghdad to protect U.S. civilians and military forces in the Iraqi capital, the Pentagon confirmed. Also, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that ISIL conducted mass executions of more than 160… Continue watching
Jun 27 Watch Will an alternative to prime minister Maliki emerge in Iraq? By PBS News Hour Iraq’s top Shiite cleric ramped up pressure on politicians to agree on the nation’s next prime minister by Tuesday. Iraq’s current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, continues to lose the confidence of former allies in the fight against ISIL insurgents. Judy… Continue watching
Jun 27 Watch News Wrap: Moderate Syrian opposition renews plea for U.S. help By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, the head of Syria’s moderate opposition, Ahmad al-Jarba, met with Secretary of State John Kerry in Saudi Arabia. The White House called for $500 million to aid his forces. Also, in Afghanistan, thousands filled the… Continue watching
Jun 26 Watch Assaults on Iraqi oil fields sow worry over global gas prices By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Jun 26 Iraqis trickling back to Mosul, but bracing for more violence By Larisa Epatko When Islamic militants swept into Mosul in northern Iraq earlier this month, at least 500,000 people fled the city. Some have since returned, but many others are watching and waiting in the nearby relatively peaceful Kurdish region. Continue reading
Jun 25 Watch News Wrap: Maliki rejects appeals for a unity government in Iraq By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Jun 23 Watch Kerry urges Iraq’s embattled premier to use more inclusive government to oppose ISIL By PBS News Hour Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a stern warning during a visit with the Shiite-led Iraqi government, urging immediate and united action to stand against ISIL. Meanwhile government forces lost control of the entire frontier with Syria and Jordan and… Continue watching