Israel reportedly established a secret military base in Iraq’s desert to support air operations against Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Saturday. The base was allegedly built before the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive on Iran on February 28. The report stated that Washington was aware of the facility, which served as a logistics hub for Israeli special forces and air units, including search and rescue teams for downed pilots.

The report added that in early March, a local shepherd alerted authorities after spotting suspicious helicopter movements in the remote area. Iraqi troops sent to investigate were attacked by Israeli aircraft, forcing them to retreat. This prevented the exposure of Israel’s covert activities on Iraqi soil. Later in March, Iraq filed a complaint with the United Nations, accusing foreign forces of involvement and blaming the United States. However, the Wall Street Journal cited a source saying the U.S. had no role in the attack.

The revelations, sourced from Press TV, highlight ongoing regional tensions and covert military operations involving Iraq, Israel, and Iran.

After a 14-year hiatus, Iraq has resumed crude oil exports through Syria via the Al-Yarubiyah border crossing. A convoy of 70 oil tankers entered Syrian territory en route to the Baniyas refinery on the Mediterranean coast, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. Syrian border official Feras Rustam described the reopening as a strategic step to strengthen economic ties between Iraq and Syria.

Rustam added that the decision is expected to make trade and energy supply more efficient and foster long-term partnership between the two nations. The move comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the ongoing Israel-United States conflict with Iran, prompting Iraq to seek alternative export routes.

The Al-Yarubiyah crossing, known as Rabia on the Iraqi side, was closed in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war and later seized by ISIS in 2014. It was reopened after Kurdish forces regained control of the area, restoring a key link between the two countries.

Iraq’s President Nizar Amedi has appointed Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a new government, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Iraq. Al-Zaidi was selected by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia parties holding a parliamentary majority, following a meeting in Baghdad. His nomination ends months of political stalemate that had drawn intervention from United States President Donald Trump, who opposed the initial candidate, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Both al-Maliki and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani withdrew their candidacies to facilitate consensus.

Al-Zaidi, chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, emerged as a compromise figure supported for his economic expertise and business connections, despite lacking prior political experience. In his first statement, he pledged to make Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally,” emphasizing unity during what he described as a sensitive period. Under Iraq’s constitution, he now has 30 days to present a cabinet to parliament and secure a vote of confidence.

The incoming government faces major challenges, including managing the fallout from the US-Israeli war against Iran, disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, and persistent issues of corruption, armed groups, and governance reform.

The United States has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Hashim Finian Rahim al-Saraji, the secretary-general of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq. The U.S. Department of State made the announcement under its Rewards for Justice program, stating that the group is responsible for killing Iraqi civilians and attacking U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel in Iraq and Syria.

According to the State Department, individuals providing credible information may be eligible for the reward. Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada is described as an Iraqi militia supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and ideologically aligned with it.

The announcement comes at a time when the United States is increasing pressure on Iraq to take stronger action against Iran-backed militias operating within its borders.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has suspended the transfer of cash dollars to Iraq and temporarily halted security cooperation with the Iraqi military. According to The Wall Street Journal, the move aims to pressure the Iraqi government to dismantle powerful Iran-backed militia groups operating within the country.

The report states that the US Treasury Department recently blocked a cargo plane carrying about 500 million dollars in cash destined for Iraq. The funds originated from Iraqi oil sales and were held in an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. US officials cited concerns over the influence and activities of the militias as the reason for withholding the money. Neither the Trump administration nor the Treasury Department has issued an official comment on the matter.

The suspension marks a significant escalation in US efforts to curb Iranian influence in Iraq, reflecting ongoing tensions in the region.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has announced that the country will resume oil exports from all its fields within the next few days. Ministry spokesperson Saheb Bazoun confirmed the development in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency, stating that Iraq is in contact with major companies and tankers to finalize export agreements. He emphasized that all oil fields are ready for operation and that the ministry’s doors remain open to all companies.

Bazoun added that accelerating the export process will help bring economic stability, increase state revenue, and strengthen domestic oil production. He also noted that the move will support local demand for liquid and dry gas, ensuring continued operation of power plants.

Separately, Iraq’s Ministry of Transport reported that a large oil tanker has arrived at Basra port. This marks the first Iraqi shipment since the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, from which two million barrels of oil are expected to be loaded.

Iraq has resumed crude oil exports from its southern region after more than a month of suspension caused by disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Middle East Eye. On Friday, loading began on a Maltese-flagged tanker named Agios Fanourios 1 near Iraq’s southern oil terminal, with around two million barrels of Basra crude expected to be loaded.

Shipping and trade data indicate that the tanker entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, following an earlier attempt by several tankers to pass during a U.S.-Iran ceasefire. The vessel is reportedly bound for Vietnam’s Nghi Son refinery, where it will deliver the crude oil cargo.

Officials said another tanker is expected to arrive at Iraq’s southern export terminal within the next two days, signaling a gradual normalization of oil export operations after the recent disruption.

A drone attack on an Iranian Kurdish group in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region on Tuesday killed one woman, according to a Komala party official quoted by AFP. The strike hit the group’s Sordash camp, about 40 kilometers west of Sulaymaniyah. Three Iranian Kurdish refugees were injured, one of whom later died from her wounds. The attack occurred shortly after a temporary ceasefire took effect in the Iran–US–Israel conflict last week.

Komala commander Mohammad Hakimi blamed Iran and its allied militias for the strike. He said the assault targeted exiled Iranian Kurdish groups that have long operated from bases in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. Another opposition group, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), reported a separate drone attack on its camp near Erbil’s Koysanjak district, though no casualties were reported.

The region’s counter-terrorism service said two explosive drones launched from Iran toward Erbil province were shot down by a warplane, but did not specify which country operated the aircraft.

Nizar Amedi, the candidate nominated by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has been elected as Iraq’s new president. The election took place on Saturday during the second round of parliamentary voting, where Amedi secured a decisive victory with 227 votes. His closest rival, independent candidate Muthanna Amin Nader, received only 15 votes.

According to the report, Amedi becomes Iraq’s sixth head of state since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The parliamentary vote marks a significant political development in Iraq, reflecting the continued influence of Kurdish parties within the country’s power structure.

The result concludes the presidential selection process and sets the stage for Amedi to assume office as the nation’s new leader, following the formal procedures outlined by Iraq’s political system.

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.