Latest Iraq government News

Murder and terrorism charges brought against Iranian officer in 2022 killing of American in Iraq

Dec. 20, 2024 13:29 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — An Iranian officer blamed for the 2022 killing of an American in Iraq has been charged in New York with federal murder and terrorism crimes, authorities announced on Friday. Federal authorities in New York City said Mohammad Reza Nouri, a captain in Iran’s...

Key players in Syria's long-running civil war, reignited by a shock rebel offensive

Dec. 03, 2024 02:29 AM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s long civil war has reclaimed global attention after insurgents seized most of its largest city and dozens of nearby towns and villages. The stunning advance on Aleppo by rebel forces came as several key players in the conflict have been distracted or...

Iraq's population grew to 45.4 million according to the first survey in decades

Nov. 25, 2024 06:06 AM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) — Preliminary results from an Iraqi national census, the first in nearly 40 years, show that the population has grown to 45.4 million, the prime minister said on Monday. The nationwide population census, carried out earlier this month, is a step aimed at modernizing...

Iraq launches its first national census in nearly four decades

Nov. 20, 2024 05:35 AM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq began its first nationwide population census in decades Wednesday, a step aimed at modernizing data collection and planning in a country long impacted by conflict and political divisions. The act of counting the population is also contentious. The census is...

Iraq's Parliament elects a new speaker to end a nearly yearlong vacuum

Oct. 31, 2024 15:24 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — After a nearly yearlong vacuum, Iraq’s Parliament elected a new speaker Thursday, selecting a prominent Sunni lawmaker who has a close relationship with Iran. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who served a previous stint as speaker from 2006 to 2009, was elected by a vote of...

Dominant Kurdish parties maintain their sway in the election for the parliament in the Iraqi region

Oct. 30, 2024 20:41 PM EDT

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Election results from the vote for the regional parliament in Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region show the two dominant Kurdish parties have maintained their hold while an opposition party has made inroads, officials said Wednesday. According to the...

Iraqi forces kill Islamic State group commander and 8 other officials

Oct. 22, 2024 20:29 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s prime minister announced Tuesday that the Islamic State militant group’s leader in Iraq was killed in a military operation along with eight of the group’s other senior leaders.‎ U.S. officials said two American service members were injured in the joint raid overnight...

Iraq's Kurdish region goes to the polls with a flagging economy and political infighting top of mind

Oct. 20, 2024 17:02 PM EDT

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Residents of Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region went to the polls in long-awaited parliamentary elections Sunday under the shadow of ongoing rivalries, economic instability and unresolved disputes with Baghdad. The primary competitors are the two...

Iraq moves to revoke Saudi broadcaster's license after report angered militia supporters

Oct. 19, 2024 15:34 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s commission governing media announced Saturday that it would take steps to revoke the license of a Saudi television station to operate in the country. That came hours after dozens of supporters of Iraqi militias stormed and looted the office of the...

Clashes break out at protests over arrested activists in southern Iraq

Oct. 18, 2024 17:33 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Hundreds of protesters gathered Friday in the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah demanding the release of activists arrested over earlier demonstrations, with clashes breaking out between protesters and security forces. The city in the southern province of Dhi Qar has...