Iraq

Syria-Iran Relations Plummet Amid Threats Over Hezbollah Infrastructure in Lebanon

Following Assad's fall, Syria has distanced itself from Iran, adopting neutrality and targeting Hezbollah's infrastructure in Lebanon. Iran responded with missile threats against…

Iran Claims Qatar Holds Three Iranian Pilots Captured During Military Mission

Iran claims three of its pilots are held captive by Qatar after their planes were hit during a military mission, while also warning of regional conflict if Syria attacks Hezbollah…

US Must Confront Turkey’s Role as Safe Haven for Hamas and Iranian Operatives

Turkey has become a safe haven for Hamas, Iranian, and Russian operatives, enabling a sophisticated assassination attempt on Donald Trump. This reflects years of Turkish tolerance…

Iran Faces Economic Collapse and Political Turmoil Amid 2026 Heatwave and US Sanctions

Iran faces a severe economic and political crisis in summer 2026, with halted oil exports, hyperinflation, and widespread shortages. The regime responds with harsh repression and…

Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani Alliance Forms New Sunni Bloc Challenging Iran and Signaling Israel

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have formed a new Sunni alliance to counter Iran's influence in the Middle East, combining economic, military, and nuclear strengths. Experts do…

Iran Threatens to Strike Over 100 Strategic Sites in Syria If Damascus Acts Against Hezbollah

Iran threatens to attack over 100 strategic sites in Syria, including the presidential palace, if Damascus moves against Hezbollah. The warning was relayed via Turkey to several r…

Friday Favorite: Crispy Iraqi Jewish Chicken Patties Recipe

Iraqi Jewish chicken patties, known as 'Aruk,' are a popular Friday dish made from ground chicken, herbs, and spices, fried until golden and served hot with salads and pita. The r…

Former IDF Commando Behind Saddam Assassination Plot Now Develops AI Security App for Israeli Cities

Doron Kampl, former IDF commando who led the 1992 assassination plan against Saddam Hussein, now leads Bond, a digital security firm offering an AI-powered personal security app…

Iraqi PM Demands Pro-Iranian Militias Surrender Weapons by September 30 or Face Military Action

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has set a September 30 deadline for pro-Iranian militias to surrender their weapons or face military action. The government plans to deploy force…

Iraqi Pilot Defects to Israel with MiG-21 in Secret 1966 Mossad Operation

In 1966, Iraqi pilot Munir Redfa defected to Israel with a MiG-21 jet in a secret Mossad and Israeli Air Force operation. The pilot was covertly brought to Israel, trained, and us…

US State Department Prepares Middle East Embassies for Prolonged Limited Operations Amid Iran Conflict

The US State Department is preparing its Middle East embassies to operate with minimal staff amid ongoing conflict with Iran, signaling a prolonged period of limited diplomatic ac…

Colombia’s Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights Sparks Diplomatic Crisis with Arab States

Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on August 10, 2026, has sparked a diplomatic crisis with several Arab countries, including Syria and Gulf stat…

Syrian Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad and Associates to Death Amid Ongoing Manhunt

A Damascus court sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother, and other officials to death for war crimes, marking Syria's first major legal reckoning with the…

Iran’s New Missile Swarm Strategy Drains US Defense Stockpiles and Kills American Soldiers in Jordan

Iran has developed a missile and drone swarm strategy that overwhelms US defenses, causing significant American casualties in Jordan and depleting US missile stockpiles. This tact…

Former Mossad Official Downplays Threat of Syria’s Site 99, Highlights Israeli Intelligence Successes

A former Mossad official stated that the main nuclear threat from Syria’s Site 99 was eliminated in 2007 and praised Israeli and U.S. intelligence successes against Iran’s nuclear…

Iran’s Quds Force Commander Secretly Visits Baghdad Amid Iraqi Militia Disarmament Talks

Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani secretly visited Baghdad to discuss militia disarmament and Iraq’s oil export plans through the Strait of Hormuz amid divided militia resp…

US, Israel, Syria, and IAEA Agree to Neutralize Secret Syrian Nuclear Site

The US, Israel, Syria, and the IAEA have agreed to dismantle a secret Syrian nuclear site, with the IAEA set to remove nuclear material soon. Israel had threatened military action…

Israel and US Launch Extensive Campaign to Cripple Hezbollah’s Financial Network

Israel and the U.S. have launched a coordinated campaign targeting Hezbollah’s financial network in Lebanon, including airstrikes on banks and sanctions on money exchangers. These…

Israel and US Launch Extensive Campaign to Cripple Hezbollah's Financial Network

Israel and the U.S. have intensified efforts over two years to dismantle Hezbollah's financial network by targeting banks, money changers, and funding routes in Lebanon. These act…

Ran Hai Moves to Arab Village to Master Arabic Through Immersion

Ran Hai moved to the Arab village of Ma'ar in northern Israel to learn Arabic through immersion among Druze, Christian, and Muslim residents. Despite initial suspicion from locals…

Sunni States Form New Middle East Alliance but Avoid Israel Despite Its Iran Capabilities

Sunni states including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are forming a new security alliance against Iran but exclude Israel despite its proven military capability. Israel acted…

Raviv Drucker Defends Mossad Chief Roman Gofman Over Iran Regime Change Failure

Raviv Drucker defended Mossad Chief Roman Gofman after two senior officials were dismissed over a failed Iranian regime change plan, stating the dismissals prove the operation's f…

Israel and US Target Hezbollah’s Financial Networks to Weaken Its Power

Saudi Arabia Faces Houthi Attack Days After Defense Pact with Pakistan and Turkey

Two days after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey formed a defense pact, Saudi Arabia's Aramco facility in Jizan was attacked by Houthi rebels from Yemen, testing the new alliance…

Syrian Forces Arrest ISIS Cell Near Golan Heights Amid Arms Smuggling Crackdown

Syrian forces arrested nine ISIS militants near the Golan Heights involved in weapons smuggling and bomb-making. This follows a recent interception of a large arms shipment to Hez…

Syrian Security Forces Capture ISIS Cell Near Israel-Syria Border in Quneitra

Syrian security forces arrested a nine-member ISIS cell near the Israel-Syria border in Quneitra, disrupting plans to collect and transfer weapons. This follows a recent seizure o…

Iran Rules Out Direct Talks With US, Sets Six Conditions to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared no direct talks with the US, demanding six conditions before reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman are finalizing new marit…

Top Militia Leader Akram al-Kaabi Flees Syria Amid Regional Crackdown

Akram al-Kaabi, leader of the Iranian-backed Shiite militia Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, fled Syria secretly amid intensified regional crackdowns and intelligence pressure. His escape to Ir…

Iranian Drone Attack Plot Foiled in Iraq Before Execution

Iraqi authorities stopped an Iranian-backed cell from launching drone attacks beyond Iraq, seizing drones and weapons linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The arrest highlights…

Saudi Arabia Shifts Strategy with New Alliances in Middle East Security Landscape

Saudi Arabia is pursuing strategic independence through a new military alliance with Turkey and Pakistan, a civilian nuclear deal with the US, and open diplomacy with Iran and Chi…

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Sign Mecca Defense Pact Amid Skepticism Over Its Strength

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact in Mecca on August 7, 2026, aimed at countering Iran and its proxies. While the agreement pledges collective milita…

New Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Security Pact Challenges Israel's Regional Influence

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have formed a new security alliance that challenges Israel's regional influence and complicates normalization efforts. The pact aims to counter…

Iranian Official Says Strait of Hormuz Will Remain Closed Unless US Changes Behavior

Iranian security official Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr states the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless the US stops threatening Iran, ends regional conflicts, lifts sanctions, and…

New Middle East Defense Alliance Forms Amid Rising Iranian Threats and Regional Tensions

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have formed a new defense alliance in response to Iranian threats and regional instability, signing the pact in Mecca after a year of talks. The…

Iran Receives Hundreds of Advanced Shoulder-Fired Missiles from Russia and China

Iran has received hundreds of advanced shoulder-fired missiles from Russia and China, distributing them across strategic locations and to allied militias in Iraq. This arms buildu…

Saudi Arabia Prepares for Coordinated Attacks by Iraqi Militias and Yemen's Houthis

Saudi Arabia is preparing for coordinated attacks by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis, based on intelligence from multiple countries.

Iran Mocks Trump Over Mixed Signals Amid Threats of Imminent Attacks

Iranian Parliament Speaker mocked President Trump’s contradictory threats and negotiation signals amid warnings of imminent attacks by Iranian-backed militias. Saudi-led coalition…

Israel Rejects Turkey's Demand to Halt Operations in Syria, Citing Security Needs

Turkey demanded Israel stop its military actions in Syria, accusing it of threatening Syrian sovereignty. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the demand, accusing Turk…

Syria Sees Rise in Dental Tourism Amid Post-War Recovery and Changing Clientele

Syria is reviving its dental tourism industry with affordable treatments attracting returning Syrians and Jewish visitors amid post-war recovery. The patient base has shifted from…

US Removes Air Defense Systems From Iraqi Kurdish Capital Despite Kurdish Objections

The US has pulled air defense systems from Erbil in northern Iraq as part of its troop withdrawal, angering Kurdish leaders who warned of increased Iranian threats. The Kurdish re…

Iraq Raises Military Alert Amid Rising Tensions Between US, Saudi Arabia, and Iran-Backed Militias

Iraq has raised its military alert after US and Saudi strikes on Iranian-backed militias, with Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi struggling to limit Iran's influence. Iraqi forces are p…

Peace Council Plans Moroccan Military Base Near Israel in Gaza Strip

The Peace Council plans to establish a Moroccan military outpost for 150 soldiers near Israel in Gaza as part of a larger base for 5,000 troops. The base will be within Israeli-co…

Iraqi Kebab Recipe Revives Childhood Memories at Tel Aviv's Shuk HaTikva

Chef Shkedi Samekh shares the authentic Iraqi kebab recipe he learned from Najji at Tel Aviv's Shuk HaTikva, preserving childhood memories and cultural heritage through traditiona…

Pulitzer-Winning Journalist Reveals Saddam Hussein’s Insights to Warn on US-Iran Relations

Steve Coll’s new book uses Saddam Hussein’s secret recordings to reveal his strategic mindset and misjudgments, offering lessons for US-Iran relations today. The work warns agains…

Pro-Iranian Militia Reports Attack on Bahrain Confirmed by Iranian Channels

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq reported an attack on Bahrain, which was also acknowledged by Iranian media.

US Removes Sanctions on Iranian-Linked Iraqi Airlines Amid Strait of Hormuz Negotiations

The US lifted sanctions on Iraqi airlines linked to Iran as Tehran and Oman near an agreement on Strait of Hormuz shipping routes. Israel’s Netanyahu stressed Israel’s security is…

US Removes Three Entities From Iran Sanctions List Including Iraqi Airline and Boeing Jets

The US Treasury removed three Fly Baghdad-related entities and two Boeing 737 planes from its Iran sanctions list, while the airline's CEO remains sanctioned for ties to Iran's Qu…

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi Seeks Distance From Iran and Terror Amid Economic Reforms

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, praised by President Trump, is working to boost Iraq's economy and reduce Iranian influence amid security challenges from militias and regional…