Latest Iraq government News

Turkey's top diplomat visits Iraq and seeks support against Kurdish militant group

Mar. 14, 2024 18:01 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Turkey’s top diplomat was in Baghdad for high-level meetings on Thursday, ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's expected visit next month and a potential Turkish offensive against a Kurdish militant group that maintains bases in Iraq. The talks between Turkish...

Iraq has captured 2 wanted Islamic State group members from abroad and brought them home

Feb. 24, 2024 14:07 PM EST

ERBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iraq's authorities have captured two members of the Islamic State group in an operation outside the country and brought them home, where they confessed to committing crimes during the rule of the extremist organization, the intelligence department said Saturday. ...

Iraq announces reopening of a key oil refinery a decade after it was stormed by the Islamic State

Feb. 23, 2024 12:15 PM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s prime minister announced Friday the reopening of the Beiji refinery, the country’s largest, which had been shut down for a decade after being damaged in the battle against the Islamic State extremist group. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a...

Iraq says US troop drawdown talks will go on 'as long as nothing disturbs the peace of the talks'

Feb. 11, 2024 21:22 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iraq and the U.S.-led military coalition resumed meetings Sunday on how to draw down troops who have been deployed there for years combating the Islamic State. The first long-awaited meeting took place Jan. 27, but had since been put on pause after Iran-backed...

A look at the Iraqi government's relationship with armed groups that are clashing with US forces

Feb. 08, 2024 22:53 PM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — A U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed a commander of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group this week highlighted the ambiguous status of the country's Iran-allied armed factions. Some operate simultaneously as a part of the official security forces and outside of state...

US drone strike in Baghdad kills high-ranking militia leader linked to attacks on American troops

Feb. 07, 2024 21:57 PM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) — A U.S. drone strike blew up a car in the Iraqi capital Wednesday night, killing a high-ranking commander of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah militia who is responsible for “directly planning and participating in attacks” on American troops in the region, the U.S. military said...

Yemen's Houthi rebels target 2 ships in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles

Feb. 06, 2024 23:11 PM EST

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Two ships traveling in Middle East waters were targeted by Yemen Houthi rebel ballistic missile fire early Tuesday, authorities said, in the latest assaults in the Iranian-backed fighters' campaign of targeting vessels over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. ...

Military veteran who killed Iraqi civilian is ordered jailed on Capitol riot charges

Jan. 30, 2024 18:00 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — A military veteran who shot and killed a handcuffed civilian in Iraq nearly 20 years ago was ordered jailed Tuesday on charges that he used a metal baton to assault police officers during a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Chief Judge James...

Biden says he's decided on response to killing of 3 US troops, plans to attend dignified transfer

Jan. 30, 2024 17:33 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday indicated he had decided how to respond after the killing of three American service members Sunday in a drone attack in Jordan that his administration has pinned on Iran-backed militia groups, saying he does not want to expand the war in the Middle...

Iraq and US begin formal talks to end coalition mission formed to fight the Islamic State group

Jan. 27, 2024 12:33 PM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States and Iraq held a first session of formal talks Saturday in Baghdad aimed at winding down the mission of a U.S.-led military coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement...