Iraqis voted a year ago but still don’t have a government Hamzeh Hadad - October 10, 2022 Iraq’s democracy depends on consensus — yet parties in the minority in parliament don’t want to take the opposition role
Iraq’s populist leader quit parliament. What happens now? Renad Mansour and Benedict Robin-D’Cruz - June 21, 2022 Rallying anti-establishment protests strengthened Muqtada al-Sadr’s hand in the past. It might not work now.
Condemning Putin will make it harder to end the conflict with Russia Samuel Helfont - March 30, 2022 Consider how hard it was to lift sanctions after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait
The Russian invasion has some logistical problems. That doesn’t mean it’s doomed. Ryan Baker - February 28, 2022 Supply problems are the norm, not the exception
Iraqis protest deadly hospital fires as symptom of embedded corruption Renad Mansour - July 19, 2021 Demands for a stable electricity supply also raise the stakes in this fall’s election
Important Iraqi archives are now back in Baghdad. Where were they, and what happens now? Marsin Alshamary - September 15, 2020 These documents detail crimes during Saddam Hussein’s regime
U.S. officials are talking about urban warfare. Here’s what urban warfare really involves. Margarita Konaev and Kirstin J.H. Brathwaite - June 4, 2020 How do you ‘mass and dominate the battlespace’ in a U.S. city?
How coronavirus changes the political outlook in China and the U.S. Jessica Weiss - April 22, 2020 Tough talk on China may have consequences.
Iraq is trying yet again to form a government. Why is it so hard? Renad Mansour - April 15, 2020 Mustafa al-Kadhimi has emerged as the compromise prime minister designate
With two American soldiers dead in Iraq, how will the U.S. respond? Ramzy Mardini and Asfandyar Mir - March 12, 2020 Iran and its Shiite militias may be trying to provoke the U.S. into attacking.
What will happen to Iraqi Shiite militias after one key leader’s death? Ranj Alaaldin - February 28, 2020 This won’t help U.S.-Iran tensions
Iraqis have been holding peaceful mass protests. The U.S. strike and its aftermath are undermining that. Zahra Ali - January 7, 2020 Here’s what Iraqi protesters want.
Trump thought escalating the Iran crisis would solve it. That’s not how escalation works Danielle Lupton - January 7, 2020 Here are four reasons deterrence by escalation is difficult to achieve.
If any Iranians supported Soleimani’s killing, it would’ve been dissidents on Twitter. The opposite happened. Steven L. Wilson and Layla M. Hashemi - January 7, 2020 The attack may have united Iranians in outrage against the U.S.
Trump threatens ‘sanctions like they’ve never seen’ if Iraq evicts U.S. forces. Can Iraq do it? Stacie L. Pettyjohn - January 6, 2020 It’s likely that Iraq will expel U.S. forces.
2020 is the year to worry about nuclear weapons Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer - January 5, 2020 The confrontation between the United States and Iran is just the beginning
How terrorism helps — and hurts — Iran Daniel Byman - January 3, 2020 Why Iran supports terrorist groups — and what the consequences can be.
How did the U.S. get to the brink of war with Iran? Afshon Ostovar - January 3, 2020 The assassination of Soleimani will provoke Iran to act
Expect a tumultuous 2020 in the Middle East Marc Lynch - December 31, 2019 The embassy assault in Baghdad is just the beginning. Here are 3 trends to watch.
Iraqi protesters are mostly Shiite. And this identity is shaping how they protest. Marsin Alshamary - December 13, 2019 They are using religious symbolism to oppose the government.
Iraq’s protests haven’t yet changed the system — but they’re transforming Iraqis’ belief in themselves Munqith Dagher - December 9, 2019 New survey data shows that demonstrators feel more important, and prouder to be Iraqi, than before
These Iraqi militias are attacking protesters and getting away with it. Here’s why. Thanassis Cambanis, Renad Mansour, and Michael Hanna - November 17, 2019 They’re supported by the Iraqi government — and by Iran.
Iraqi protesters demand constitutional change. Can they make it happen? Safwan Al-Amin and Marsin Alshamary - November 6, 2019 Learning from past mistakes is key.
Iraqis plan to continue protests Friday. Here’s what might happen. Haley Bobseine - October 24, 2019 After state crackdowns on anti-government protests this month, many fear more violence.
Trump once talked of a ‘beautiful safe zone’ in Syria. But safe zones aren’t actually safe. Lionel Beehner - October 21, 2019 They can escalate conflicts, research shows.
In Iraq, demonstrators demand change — and the government fights back Zahra Ali and Safaa Khalaf - October 7, 2019 Initially described as protests over the economy, they have become a call for revolution.
Designating Iranian military unit a ‘terrorist organization’ will make U.S. relations with Iran more difficult. Here’s how. Afshon Ostovar - April 8, 2019 It’s a first for the United States to designate a foreign government entity as a terrorist organization.
Trump’s Golan Heights tweet will have global consequences on territorial expansion Stacie Goddard - March 23, 2019 As if undercutting efforts to build a lasting peace with the Palestinians and the region weren’t enough.
The role of Iraq’s influential Shiite clerics is changing. Here’s how. Marsin Alshamary - February 4, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83379" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the
As the U.S. withdraws from Syria and Afghanistan, here are lessons from the Iraq War Debora Han and Andrew Shaver - January 7, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82173" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump speaks to members of
How the Iraqi crackdown on the Islamic State may actually increase support for the Islamic State Mara Revkin and Kristen Kao - January 7, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82203" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man, blindfolded and handcuffed, kneels
Iran’s influence in Iraq is declining. Here’s why. Munqith al-Dagher - November 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80301" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Demonstrators waved Iranian and pro-Iranian party
After several high-profile murders in Iraq, here’s what headlines missed about their cause. Zahra Ali - October 15, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78816" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this image from Oct. 1,
Can a new president and prime minister solve Iraq’s broken politics? Renad Mansour - October 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78733" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraq's new president, Barham Salih, front
After the big protests in Basra, what’s next? E. Mulherin and Benjamin Isakhan - September 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78051" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man holds a national flag
Who to blame for the protests in Basra, Iraq? Safwan Al-Amin and Marsin Alshamary - September 14, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77741" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters trample a portrait of Iran's
How violent protests in Iraq could escalate Benedict Robin-D’Cruz - September 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77539" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A protester in front of the
Protests are mounting in Iraq. Why? Benedict Robin-D’Cruz - July 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76040" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Iraqis react to tear gas fired
An emerging populism is sweeping the Middle East Renad Mansour and Lina Khatib - July 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75521" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
Why many failed to predict the leftist-Islamist alliance that won Iraq’s 2018 elections Benedict Robin - June 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74248" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this May 14 photo, supporters
Why Iraq’s surprising election doesn’t signal major changes Al Ali - May 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73384" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Iraqi woman prepares to cast
What Iraq’s election means for its Shiite militias Ranj Alaaldin - May 12, 2018 https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/world/baghdad-residents-vote-in-parliamentary-election/2018/05/12/77c31d4c-55d0-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_video.html Today's parliamentary elections in Iraq are the country’s first since the Islamic
What to expect from Iraq’s election on Saturday Renad Mansour - May 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73005" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People cast their ballots at a voting
Why Putin’s oil maneuvers will keep Russia in the Middle East Nicholas Trickett - April 5, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71814" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A worker passes an illuminated drilling
Was the mosque massacre in Egypt preventable? Omar Ashour - December 1, 2017 Last week’s attack on worshipers at a mosque in Egypt was
Women’s rights are under threat in Iraq Zahra Ali - November 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66419" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqis register their names before voting
Here’s what old constitutional debates tell us about the new crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan Al Ali - October 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65511" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Smoke rises while Iraqi security forces
The Kurdish referendum backfired badly. Here’s why. Renad Mansour - October 25, 2017 Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered his forces
How 9/11 created a feedback loop for international jihadism Martha Crenshaw and Lisa Blaydes - September 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63827" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians pull
5 things to know about the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan Ramzy Mardini and Morgan Kaplan - September 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63723" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqi Kurds rally to urge people to
A striking positive shift in Sunni opinion in Iraq is underway. Here’s what it means. Munqith al-Dagher and Karl Kaltenthaler - September 14, 2017 Iraqi security forces have made great progress toward defeating the
Why a controversial Iraqi Shiite cleric visited Saudi Arabia Fanar Haddad - August 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr visited
The Kurdish region of Iraq is going to vote on independence. Here’s what you need to know. Ramzy Mardini and Morgan Kaplan - June 21, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60140" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President of the Iraqi Kurdistan region
The U.S. carried out extraordinary rendition flights from 2001-2005. Here are 15 more countries that helped. Rebecca Cordell - March 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55337" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A barbed wire fence surrounding a
‘Enhanced interrogations’ don’t work as well as regular ones Misty Duke and Van Puyvelde - February 9, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53823" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Iraqi army soldier closes the
Kuwait’s emir just dissolved the country’s parliament. Here’s why. Scott Weiner - October 17, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47937" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah
Calls for prosecuting war crimes in Syria are growing. Is international justice possible? Mark Kersten - October 14, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47881" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Syrian volunteers carry an injured person
Why some dictators are more likely to get nuclear weapons. 5 lessons from Iraq and Libya. Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer - October 10, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47601" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.N. safety inspectors from the International
Here’s why terrorist suicide attacks are increasing: They attract rewards from ISIS and al-Qaeda Sam Winter-Levy and Nikita Lalwani - August 16, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45332" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqi rescue workers inspect damages after
How to break the Middle East’s sectarian spiral Bassel Salloukh - August 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45005" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese antigovernment activists march from Bourj
Mitch McConnell said you don’t need experience to be president Elizabeth N. Saunders - July 27, 2016 Here's why he's wrong.
This is the problem with trying to destroy the Islamic State Colin Clarke and Chad Serena - July 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42441" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A fighter of the Islamic State
Has the American military fallen behind? Bear Braumoeller - May 4, 2016 [caption id="attachment_39993" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commander of
Here’s what we can learn from how Twitter responded to Paris Alexandra Siegel - November 16, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32319" align="aligncenter" width="908"] French soldiers enforce the Vigipirate plan,
Why the U.S. (still) can't train the Iraqi military - September 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29703" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Iraqi soldiers with U.S.-made weapons take
Why the U.S. (still) can’t train the Iraqi military Caitlin Talmadge and Austin Long - September 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29703" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Iraqi soldiers with U.S.-made weapons take
Lebanese protesters united against garbage… and sectarianism Bassel Salloukh - September 14, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29366" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Police use water cannons on activists
A provocative article says the Islamic State is a mystery. Here's why that's wrong. - August 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28953" align="aligncenter" width="908"] In this June 23, 2014, file
A provocative article says the Islamic State is a mystery. Here’s why that’s wrong. Costantino Pischedda - August 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28953" align="aligncenter" width="908"] In this June 23, 2014, file
Lessons from the destruction of Iraq's marshes - August 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28587" align="aligncenter" width="724"] Using a type of tar and
Lessons from the destruction of Iraq’s marshes Ariel Ahram - August 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28587" align="aligncenter" width="724"] Using a type of tar and
Premature excitement about Iraq's new government reforms - August 14, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28575" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Demonstrators chant in support of Iraqi
Premature excitement about Iraq’s new government reforms Al Ali - August 14, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28575" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Demonstrators chant in support of Iraqi
Stronger Baghdad, weaker Irbil? Serhun Al - August 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28440" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A Kurdish peshmerga soldier looks out
The danger of (mis)perceptions after the Iran deal Mohammad Tabaar - August 3, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28151" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] Iranian Foreign Minister
No one talks about democratization any more. Is there a better policy? Matthew Baum - July 5, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26905" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers pull
The dilemmas of working with Iraqi militias Marc Lynch - June 25, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26488" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Members of Iraqi security forces
The jihadi threat to international order Barak Mendelsohn - May 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_24852" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Displaced people cross the Bzebiz bridge
How Iranians are debating the nuclear deal Mohammad Tabaar - April 21, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23868" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivers
The Iran deal sharpens the Persian Gulf region’s sectarian divide Frederic Wehrey - April 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23825" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Anti-Houthi protesters demonstrate to show
Redefining the Kurdish nation Nicole Watts - February 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22025" align="aligncenter" width="640"] University students march to support pro-democracy
The U.S. just leaked its war plan in Iraq. Why? Joshua Rovner and Caitlin Talmadge - February 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_12228" align="aligncenter" width="908"] The jacket belonging to an Iraqi
How to make surveys in war zones better, and why this is important Yang-Yang Zhou and Andrew Shaver - January 7, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19443" align="alignnone" width="620"] Members of the Iraqi security forces
Are militias a menace? Ariel Ahram - January 5, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19788" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Fighters from the Shiite Kataib Imam
Informal counterinsurgency from Iraq to Nigeria: Who pays the price? Sabine Carey and Neil Mitchell - December 22, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19420" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Iraqi soldiers supported by volunteers from
Militaries, civilians and the crisis of the Arab state Yezid Sayigh - December 8, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18780" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi soldiers parade inside the main
Turning the lights off on the Islamic State Andrew Shaver - October 16, 2014 The following is a guest post from Princeton University political science
Why the U.S. backed the Kurds Morgan Kaplan - September 9, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15516" align="aligncenter" width="620"] An Iraqi Kurdish pesh merga fighter
The past and future of Iraq's minorities Elizabeth Ferris and Abbie Taylor - September 8, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15391" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Displaced people from the minority Yazidi
The past and future of Iraq’s minorities Elizabeth Ferris and Abbie Taylor - September 8, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15391" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Displaced people from the minority Yazidi
The reports of war's demise have been exaggerated Tanisha Fazal - September 4, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15218" align="aligncenter" width="512"] U.S. Army personnel receive an American
The reports of war’s demise have been exaggerated Tanisha Fazal - September 4, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15218" align="aligncenter" width="512"] U.S. Army personnel receive an American
A broad approach to countering the Islamic State Christopher Paul and Colin Clarke - September 2, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15119" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi soldiers celebrate on Monday after Iraqi
Who needs Congress? Andrew Rudalevige - August 20, 2014 [caption id="attachment_14696" align="alignleft" width="908"] A U.S. Navy F/A-18 launches off
Who is to blame for Iraq's problems? Al Ali and Sinan Antoon - July 21, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13341" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] A U.S. Marine covers the face
Who is to blame for Iraq’s problems? Al Ali and Sinan Antoon - July 21, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13341" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] A U.S. Marine covers the face
Government data exaggerate the increase in terrorist attacks Vincent Bauer, Robert Pape, and Keven Ruby - July 21, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13258" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Civilians inspect the site of a
The jihadist governance dilemma Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Amichai Magen - July 18, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13181" align="aligncenter" width="620"] On June 16,demonstrators chant pro-Islamic State
Can ISIS overcome the insurgency resource curse? Ariel Ahram - July 2, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12548" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A file picture dated March 11,
Maliki has only himself to blame for Iraq's crisis Al Ali - June 26, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12376" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (front)