The bill is considered to be an attempt to block the growing US pressure on Arab countries to “normalize” relations with Israel under its so-called Abraham Accords

Turkey, a NATO member, began its land and air invasion inside northern Iraq on April 17. It is targeting the forces of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Syrian YPG militia

Today we look at the rising economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the political crisis in Iraq amid delays in the election of the president, and more

Muqtada al-Sadr, who won the maximum number of seats in the October elections, is determined to go against the general practice of a consensus government and wants to form a government based on political majority, claiming that it will establish accountability

Reports in Middle East Eye as well as some US media outlets claimed that Israel has been operating anti-Iranian bases in Iraqi Kurdistan and was responsible for the attack on Iran’s drone facility in Tabriz a few weeks back

Muqtada al-Sadr, whose party emerged as the largest party in last year’s parliamentary elections in Iraq, initially condemned the attack but later issued a statement asking for investigation into Iranian claims of Israeli bases in the country

The fifth elections since the 2003 US-led invasion of the country saw the lowest voter turnout (41%), amid growing discontent with the political system due to widespread corruption, inefficiency and government apathy

The elections are taking place one year ahead of schedule following popular protests that broke out in October 2019 against the failure of successive governments to address the rising economic and political problems in the country

The Iraqi Communist Party, which was part of the leading alliance in the last elections in 2018, announced in July that it will not participate in the upcoming national elections in October due to the lack of a conducive political atmosphere

Protesters in the city of Nasiriyah were reportedly attacked by followers of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leading to multiple deaths and injuries

The decision comes a day after Mahdi’s successor and prime minister designate Mohammad Tawfiq Allawi resigned, creating a vacuum in the political leadership

The protests took place after well-known Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for gender segregation at the anti-government protests