Iraq has reopened its airspace and resumed operations at all airports after a two‑week ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The country’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on Wednesday announcing that the directive would take immediate effect, allowing flights to resume across Iraqi territory.

According to the statement cited by Al‑Jazeera, the reopening marks the end of restrictions imposed during the recent conflict period. The decision follows the temporary closure of Iraq’s airspace and airports amid heightened regional tensions between Iran and the United States.

The move signals a return to normal air operations in Iraq after weeks of disruption caused by the conflict and may help stabilize regional air travel routes if the ceasefire continues to hold.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in Baghdad on March 31, has been released after a week in captivity. The Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah earlier stated it would release her on the condition that she immediately leave Iraq. Rubio described the release as a reflection of the Trump administration’s commitment to the safety of US citizens worldwide.

He expressed gratitude to Iraqi officials for their assistance in securing Kittleson’s release and said the United States is now working to ensure her safe departure from Iraq. The 49-year-old journalist’s abduction had prompted an Iraqi government response, with security forces pursuing suspects, leading to a vehicle crash and one arrest.

According to the report, the release followed coordination between US and Iraqi authorities, though details of the negotiation process were not disclosed.

At least seven people, including two children, were killed in multiple overnight attacks across Iraq before the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire agreement early Tuesday, according to local authorities. In the southern province of Basra, an airstrike hit a house in the city of Khor al-Zubair, killing three civilians. In Baghdad, a projectile struck a home, causing a fire that killed two people, including an eight-year-old child. In northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, a drone believed to have come from Iran hit a house, killing a couple.

The attacks occurred just hours before Washington and Tehran jointly declared a temporary ceasefire aimed at easing regional tensions. Local officials described the incidents as among the deadliest in recent weeks, underscoring the fragile security situation across Iraq.

The ceasefire announcement is viewed as a significant step toward reducing hostilities in the region, though the immediate impact on ground-level violence remains uncertain.

An airstrike has hit the headquarters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) north of Baghdad, according to a PMF source cited by Al Jazeera. The report, published on April 8, 2026, did not specify who carried out the attack or whether there were any casualties.

The PMF, a coalition of armed groups operating under the Iraqi government’s authority, has been a significant force in Iraq’s security landscape. The source report focused solely on confirming the strike, without providing further operational or political details.

No additional information was available regarding the extent of the damage or potential responses from Iraqi authorities or the PMF leadership.

A powerful missile strike hit the southern Iraqi city of Basra near the Iran border, killing at least three civilians and injuring six others, according to reports published on April 8, 2026. The missile struck the Al Zubair area of Basra, damaging a residential house, an agricultural warehouse, and a garden. Two pickup trucks were also severely damaged in the explosion.

Al Jazeera reported that the missile was fired from the direction of Kuwait. Preliminary assessments suggest it might have been a U.S. missile strike, though no official confirmation has been made. The injured victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

As of the report’s publication, none of the countries potentially involved had issued an official response regarding the incident, leaving the origin and intent of the attack unclear.

Two explosions were heard near Erbil Airport in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, where advisers from the US-led anti-jihadist coalition are stationed, according to an AFP journalist. Hours earlier, air defense systems intercepted four missiles aimed at the US Embassy in Erbil. Local authorities also reported a separate deadly drone strike in a civilian area early Tuesday, killing a couple when an Iran-origin drone crashed into their home in Dara Shakran district.

Since the Middle East conflict began on February 28, Iraq-based groups identifying as the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” largely backed by Iran, have claimed near-daily attacks on US interests. The US Embassy in Baghdad recently accused Iran-linked Iraqi militias of attempting to kill American diplomats, while the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it is working to strengthen security and prevent escalation. The Kurdistan region’s Peshmerga forces have also faced repeated attacks, including a drone assault on their headquarters on Monday night.

The Peshmerga Ministry criticized Iraq’s central authorities for failing to take firm action against these attacks, underscoring growing security tensions in the region.

Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi has warned that regional oil and gas installations could come under attack if the United States enforces its threats over the Strait of Hormuz. His statement, published by Iran’s IRNA news agency, said that if Washington attempts to forcibly open the strait, no oil or gas platform would remain intact.

Al-Hamidawi further expanded the warning to include American infrastructure in the region, declaring that US power plants are legitimate targets and that there would be no limits in such actions. He emphasized that either security will be ensured for all parties or none will have security.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, reflects heightened rhetoric amid ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and allied groups operating across the Middle East.

Iraq has opened a new overland energy route to export oil to Europe through Syria, marking a significant shift in regional energy logistics. The Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) Director General Ali Nazar said a deal has been reached to export 50,000 barrels per day of Basra Medium crude via Syria, with plans to increase the volume later. The oil will reach European markets through Syria’s Baniyas port.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, convoys of fuel trucks have already begun entering Syria through the Al-Tanf border crossing, signaling the country’s reemergence as a key transit hub. The Syrian Petroleum Company stated that the imported oil will first be stored and then transported to Baniyas for export. Communications Director Safwan Sheikh Ahmad said the first convoy includes 299 tankers and described the initiative as an important step in restoring Syria’s role in the regional energy corridor.

The development comes amid ongoing Middle East tensions, potentially reshaping trade and energy supply routes across the region.

The United States Embassy in Baghdad has issued an emergency alert warning that attacks could occur within the next 24 to 48 hours. According to the embassy statement released on Thursday, Iran-backed militia groups may be planning assaults in central Baghdad. Potential targets include US citizens, businesses, universities, diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure, hotels, airports, and other sites linked to the United States. Iraqi government institutions and civilian areas were also cited as being at risk.

The statement noted that such militias have previously attempted to kidnap American citizens, referencing an incident two days earlier in which a US journalist was abducted in Baghdad. In light of the deteriorating security situation, the embassy urged all American citizens to leave Iraq immediately.

The alert underscores heightened security concerns in Baghdad as tensions involving Iran-backed groups continue to pose threats to US-linked entities and local institutions.

A drone strike hit the Sarsang oil field in Iraq’s Kurdish region on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report. The attack occurred in Duhok province, but no casualties have been reported so far. The incident adds to a series of recent drone-related disruptions in the region’s energy infrastructure.

Iraq’s National News Agency stated that a similar drone attack had earlier targeted the Lanaz oil refinery in Erbil city. Following that strike, all operations at the refinery were suspended. The latest attack underscores ongoing security concerns surrounding vital oil facilities in northern Iraq.

Authorities have not yet provided details about the source of the drones or the extent of the damage, leaving questions about the broader impact on oil production and regional stability.

Iraq has secured a place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup after a 40-year absence, defeating Bolivia 2–1 in the intercontinental playoff final. The victory completed the list of 48 participating teams. Despite missing direct qualification from the Asian region, Iraq fought strongly in the playoff to achieve their goal. Coach Graham Arnold had earlier highlighted the players’ strong desire to reach the World Cup.

In the decisive match, Iraq took the lead in the 18th minute through Ali Almahadhi, but Bolivia equalized in the 38th minute via Moises Paniagua. Aymen Hussein restored Iraq’s lead in the 53rd minute, securing the win. This marks Iraq’s second World Cup appearance, the first being in 1986. Coach Graham Arnold also achieved a rare feat by leading a second nation, after Australia, to World Cup qualification.

The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iraq, placed in Group I, will face France, Norway, and Senegal, starting their campaign against Norway on June 16 in Foxborough.

A US female journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq, according to the United States. The journalist, identified by media outlets as Shelly Kittleson, was reportedly abducted by a suspected Iran-backed Iraqi armed group. The US State Department said it is working urgently to secure her release. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson wrote on social media platform X that an individual linked to the Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah has been detained by Iraqi authorities in connection with the kidnapping.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed that security forces arrested one suspect and seized a vehicle used in the abduction. However, the ministry did not disclose the identities of either the victim or the perpetrators. Kittleson, a freelance contributor for Al-Monitor, Foreign Policy, Politico, and the BBC, is based in Rome but frequently travels across the Middle East to report from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

Authorities in both countries continue to coordinate efforts to locate and rescue the journalist, though no timeline for her release has been provided.

Iraq reported that a rocket attack on a Baghdad air base destroyed one of its Air Force’s Antonov AN-132 military transport aircraft. The incident occurred at the Martyr Muhammad Ala Air Base, part of Baghdad Airport, around 1:55 a.m. local time. The Iraqi Defense Ministry condemned the strike as a “criminal and cowardly act” aimed at undermining the country’s military institutions and defense capabilities. No casualties were reported.

According to the ministry, the rocket was launched from the outskirts of Baghdad using a 122-millimeter projectile. Security agencies have begun investigating the damage and tracing the source of the attack. BBC Persian’s Middle East correspondent Nafisa Kohanavard noted that this was the first time any part of the Iraqi Air Force at Baghdad Airport had been targeted. It remains unclear whether the strike was deliberate or accidental.

Earlier, media outlets linked to Iran-backed groups had reported rocket attacks on the nearby Nasr Base, also known as Victoria, which has frequently been targeted since the start of the ongoing conflict.

Iraq’s Ministry of Defense reported that rockets struck the Mohammed Alaa Air Base, located near Baghdad International Airport, on Monday morning. The attack destroyed one aircraft but caused no casualties. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and investigating the source of the rockets.

Earlier, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Baghdad reported hearing loud explosions, which were later identified as rocket fire targeting the U.S. ‘Victory Base’ about 20 kilometers west of the capital. The air defense system failed to intercept the rockets, which hit an Iraqi special forces A32B transport aircraft, setting it ablaze.

The incident adds to ongoing security concerns in Iraq, where military facilities near Baghdad continue to face periodic rocket and drone attacks, prompting renewed scrutiny of regional defense readiness.

A rocket attack struck the United States' former 'Victory Base' military facility located about 20 kilometers west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 30, 2026. Loud explosions were heard across the capital, and reports confirmed that the rockets hit an Iraqi special forces A32B transport aircraft, setting it on fire. The air defense system failed to intercept the rockets. According to Al Jazeera, this marks the first attack on the Victory Base, which no longer hosts any US troops.

The incident carries symbolic significance, as the base was once considered one of Iraq’s most secure and protected areas during the height of the US military presence. The attack highlights a shift in the security landscape, with even previously fortified sites now vulnerable to strikes. Throughout the night, US aircraft were seen flying over Baghdad.

In a separate incident, a drone attack targeted the US embassy in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous region. Air defense systems successfully intercepted the drones, preventing damage.