Tag

Iraq

All articles tagged with #iraq

middle-east5 hours ago•15 min saved

US Tightens Iran Isolation with Economic Outcast as Regional Conflicts Intensify

The US unveils Operation Economic Outcast to block Iranian revenue sources and strengthen sanctions enforcement, as Iran’s economy deteriorates with the rial at a record low and high inflation. Iran signals potential retaliation while seeking new export routes and domestic stability amid the pressure. The Houthis strike a Saudi tanker far offshore, suggesting extended reach, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq contemplate integrating with the PMF. Lebanon’s army faces challenges disarming Hezbollah amid stalled Israel-Lebanon talks. US-led pressure lines up against Tehran even as regional actors adjust tactics to endure the sanctions regime.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#economy #houthis #iran

world2 days ago•3 min saved

Iran Opens Hormuz Passage for Selected Iraqi Oil Tankers

Iran has granted permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after Baghdad’s repeated requests, with Iraqi President Nizar Amidi saying Iraq’s territory will not be used to attack other states; the move comes as Iraq seeks to expand export routes and Baghdad and Tehran discuss arrangements amid broader regional tensions and ongoing US-Israel pressure.

via Al Jazeera|

#energy-transit #iran #iraq

world3 days ago•24 min saved

Iran and Iraq parliaments clash over Gulf name after Trump map post

Iran's and Iraq's parliament speakers traded map-based jabs over whether the southern body of water should be called the Persian Gulf or Arabian Gulf, after a Trump post labeled the Strait of Hormuz as 'new U.S. territory,' a dispute that highlights ongoing US-Iran tensions and Iraq's oil-export concerns.

via New York Post|

#arabian-gulf #iran #iraq

world5 days ago•18 min saved

UAE Ends Trade Ties With Iran Amid Hormuz Tensions

The UAE announced a complete halt of trade and financial transactions with Iran after accusing Tehran of missile attacks near the UAE, heightening economic pressure to deter Iran’s bid for control of the Strait of Hormuz; ISW-CTP warn that Iran’s leadership may accept costs if they advance core objectives, while UAE-US alignment signals longer‑term regional hostility. In Iraq, Iranian-backed militias resist disarmament and Tehran Presses Baghdad to limit conflict, with officials in Baghdad engaging Tehran to safeguard influence over oil transit. Iran also reshuffles judiciary leadership amid unrest concerns. Overall, the updates depict intensified competition over Hormuz, deeper regional alignments, and ongoing economic and security pressure among Gulf states and Iraq.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#iran #iraq #sanctions

world14 days ago•8 min saved

Karbala Arbaeen Draws 20 Million as Faith Meets Geopolitics

In Karbala, about 20 million Shia pilgrims attend Arbaeen, with a large Iranian presence, to mourn Imam Hussein at the Imam Hussein Shrine; the mass pilgrimage is interwoven with regional politics, notably around Iran’s leadership and perceptions of U.S. and Israeli actions, while Iraq’s Shiite-led governance and Iran’s influence are on display through processions, portraits, and prayers.

via npr.org|

#arbaeen #iran #iraq

middle-east18 days ago•15 min saved

PKK Amnesty Could Reframe Turkey’s Regional Strategy

Turkey’s draft PKK amnesty would shield many militants from prosecution and suspend sentences (leaders like Öcalan excluded), enabling Ankara to pivot security and economic resources from counterterrorism to regional priorities. Analysts say it could ease tensions with Iraq, curb cross-border operations, and free capacity for Syria, the Black Sea, and NATO, with domestic politics and the need for transparency and victim considerations shaping its fate.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#iraq #kurdish #middle-east

world24 days ago•4 min saved

Saudi shifts from restraint to direct action with US strikes in Iraq

Saudi Arabia joined the US in strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, marking its first direct military action alongside Washington since the Iran war escalated, in what officials describe as self-defence after drones attacked Saudi energy infrastructure. Analysts say the move signals a shift from restraint to deterrence, aiming to prevent further attacks while avoiding a direct confrontation with Iran. Iraqi politics and efforts to bring militias under state control also shape the calculation, with Riyadh signaling willingness to respond but not to widen the war.

via France 24|

#iran #iraq #irgc

middle-east24 days ago•17 min saved

Houthis Escalate, Pull Iran and Saudi Into a Wider Regional Clash

Saudi air defenses downed drones launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-aligned militias as Houthi attacks on Saudi energy sites widen a regional confrontation that ties Yemen’s civil war to the broader Iran–U.S. confrontation. Analysts describe the crisis as nesting dolls—Yemen’s conflict inside Saudi–Iran rivalry inside the wider conflict—raising risks to oil flows and the Hormuz route while Oman-brokered diplomacy seeks de-escalation, though Saudi hedging and Iranian involvement make a negotiated path precarious.

via responsiblestatecraft.org|

#houthis #iran #iraq

world24 days ago•31 min saved

US widens retaliation: big strikes on Iran after missile attack on troops

The US military says it completed a heavy wave of strikes against Iran in response to Iran’s missile attack on a US base in Jordan, targeting dozens of IRGC sites including command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal defenses. The actions followed earlier US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, which reportedly killed at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. The clashes risk broadening the conflict and spiking oil prices, with mediators still pursuing de-escalation as Iraqi officials condemn the strikes and reports vary on casualties among Iranian advisers and Iraqi militias.

via nypost.com|

#iran #iraq #middle-east

world25 days ago•52 min saved

Widening fronts: Middle East tensions flare as US-Iran standoff deepens

AP reports a widening set of fronts in the Middle East tied to the US-Iran confrontation: Yemen’s Houthis attack Saudi oil facilities, Saudi-led forces strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Iran fires missiles at Jordan, and drones ignite ships in Egypt’s Damietta, all centered on the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran aims to cement control and pressure sanctions. The development risks broader regional conflict amid shifting naval movements and energy routes, with Israel largely on the sidelines for now.

via Yahoo|

#iran #iraq #oil

world25 days ago•53 min saved

Multi-Front Middle East: Hormuz, Houthis and the New Wave of Conflict

AP explains why tensions are flaring on multiple fronts: Iran seeks to cement control over the Strait of Hormuz and retaliates against U.S.-aligned Arab states, prompting American and regional responses; Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis threaten Saudi oil infrastructure and have blocked shipping through the Red Sea; Iraq’s Iran-backed militias have been targeted by U.S./Saudi strikes; a drone attack hit Egypt’s Damietta, signaling possible widening; Israel remains on the sidelines for now but tensions with Hezbollah persist, raising the risk of a broader conflict that could disrupt global energy supplies.

via yahoo.com|

#houthis #iran #iraq

world26 days ago•66 min saved

US hits Iranian targets as tensions flare after attacks on American forces

The U.S. military says it conducted fresh strikes on Iranian targets in retaliation for Tehran's attack on American bases in the Middle East, following joint U.S.-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed Iraqi militias that killed at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. The escalation broadens regional conflict risks, with oil prices rising and mediation efforts continuing amid further threats and counterstrikes.

via Yahoo|

#iran #iranian-backed-militias #iraq

world26 days ago•4 min saved

Jordan intercepts Iranian missiles as U.S.-led strikes hit Iraqi militias

Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran, while the U.S. said it and Saudi forces struck Iran-backed militias’ sites in eastern Iraq after a barrage against American forces. Iran’s IRGC claimed strikes on a Jordan-based base and CENTCOM headquarters, and the Iraqi PMF said overnight strikes killed about 20 fighters and wounded 32. The flare-up comes as Washington warns of further action and Saudi officials emphasize they do not seek escalation but will respond to aggression.

via MS NOW|

#iran #iraq #jordan

world26 days ago•5 min saved

Regional tensions spike as US-Saudi strikes hit Iraqi militias, signaling a new phase

US-Saudi airstrikes against Iran-backed PMF bases in Iraq kill at least 20 and push the region into uncharted, more unpredictable territory, as Tehran’s proxies respond and Iran fires missiles at US sites in Jordan. A drone strike near Egypt’s Damietta raises spillover concerns, while Baghdad condemns the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and analysts warn the broader conflict could widen with unclear responses from regional powers.

via The Guardian|

#iran #iraq #middle-east-tension

world26 days ago•8 min saved

Saudi on a Tightrope as Iran-Linked Attacks Push Region Toward Wider War

Saudi Arabia, after months of restraint, is squeezed from three sides—Iran and its proxies in Yemen and Iraq—driving Riyadh to strike in eastern Iraq while weighing escalation against the risk of a broader regional war that could threaten its oil infrastructure and strain its détente with Tehran amid rising regional volatility.

via CNN|

#houthis #iran #iraq