All articles tagged with #iraq
The United Arab Emirates said the drones used in the Barakah nuclear power plant attack originated from Iraqi territory, describing it as a cross-border incident. The report does not specify who carried out the attack or note any casualties, but it underscores regional security concerns.
The UAE says drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraqi territory, marking a cross-border incident. No injuries were reported, and authorities say they are continuing investigations and measures to bolster security.
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three drones that crossed into its airspace from Iraqi territory, following a drone attack near the UAE’s Barakah nuclear site. Riyadh warned of action to defend sovereignty, while analysts note possible Iranian-backed proxies testing new drone routes in the Gulf amid a fragile Iran ceasefire.
The Jerusalem Post cites The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal in reporting that Israel built two secret bases in Iraq’s desert to aid its war against Iran; the second base predates the current conflict and was used in June 2025 during Operation Rising Lion. It was reportedly discovered March 3 by a Bedouin shepherd, housed Air Force special forces and logistics, and prompted Iraqi forces to be pushed back by airstrikes with no involvement from the U.S., according to sources cited by the reporting.
New York Times reports two secret Israeli bases in western Iraq used to back air operations during the conflict; a shepherd who discovered one base was killed when a helicopter fired on his truck, and Iraqi officials accuse Washington of withholding knowledge of the bases, sparking calls for accountability while Baghdad has yet to respond.
A 32-year-old Iraqi militia commander linked to Kataib Hizballah and Iran's IRGC was arrested and charged by U.S. prosecutors with plotting more than a dozen terrorist attacks against Jewish targets and U.S./Israeli interests across Europe and North America, including synagogues in New York and Los Angeles; he allegedly directed plots, sought to hire operatives, and was extradited from Turkey after capture, while his defense calls the case political persecution.
AP reports satellite imagery from Airbus DS showing a man-made track in Iraq’s Nukhaib desert (southwest of Baghdad), with officials saying Israel has established a presence in the western desert amid the Iran war.
Federal prosecutors charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi national, with directing and urging attacks on U.S. and Israeli interests to end the Iran war, coordinating at least 18 planned terrorist plots across Europe, with additional plots in Canada and the United States (including a New York City synagogue). He was arrested in Turkey, extradited to the United States, and ordered held without bail; prosecutors say he sought to coordinate violence with a designated foreign terrorist organization, while an undercover agent foiled the synagogue plot.
The Wall Street Journal, citing US sources, reports Israel secretly established a military base in western Iraq’s Anbar desert last February to provide air cover for operations. The base was allegedly discovered by a shepherd who noticed unusual helicopter activity and gunfire, prompting Iraqi investigations and Israeli strikes that killed one Iraqi soldier. The report comes as Iraq negotiates its balance between the US and Iran, and experts note the vast, sparsely populated desert makes it an attractive setting for covert bases.
ISW/CTP publish daily updates on the Iran war, noting Russia and China backing Tehran to rebuild its missile and drone capabilities during the ceasefire, reports of drone components and satellite imagery flowing to Iran, ongoing US proposals and Tehran’s delays, sanctions pressure linked to Iraqi militias, a possible oil spill near Kharg Island, and Qatar-mediated diplomacy shaping the broader confrontation.
Former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Ali al-Zaidi, the Iraqi prime minister-designate, as he works to form a government in Baghdad amid negotiations with the pro-government Coordination Framework bloc.
Winter rains revived southern Iraq’s Huwaizah/Hawizeh marshes, with about 85% submerged as water levels rise after years of drought blamed on climate change and upstream damming; reservoirs on the Tigris are near capacity and Euphrates inflows from Syria could follow, offering renewed life for fish, water buffalo and migratory birds, though the ecosystem remains fragile and dependent on sustained water flows and protections.
Iraq’s president Nizar al-Amedi named Ali al-Zaidi, a banker with economic ties, as prime minister-designate from the Coordination Framework, breaking a months-long deadlock after President Trump opposed the pro-Iran former PM Nouri al-Maliki; al-Zaidi must present a cabinet within 30 days with 167 votes, as Iraq navigates regional tensions, oil disruptions from the Hormuz closures, and ongoing corruption and PMF questions.
Amid Strait of Hormuz tensions, Iraq’s $24 billion Development Road is gaining momentum, with Basra emerging as a key overland transit hub that could reduce Tehran’s leverage and link the Gulf with Turkey and Europe; Phase 1 began in 2025 and is targeted for 2028 completion, signaling a potential shift in regional trade and energy logistics alongside parallel Gulf infrastructure projects.
An Iraqi ship captain keeps steering through volatile waters despite the risk of attacks, highlighting the wartime toll on mariners: months at sea away from family, while supplies stay steady and decades of experience help him adapt under pressure.