Iraq has stated that it will not tolerate any form of threat against Iran from within its territory. The assurance came from Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani, according to a written statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The statement followed a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and the Iraqi leader amid Iran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s post on social media platform X, the Iraqi prime minister expressed respect for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the call. He also reaffirmed that his government would not permit any hostile activities against Iran to be launched from Iraqi soil or along its borders.

The statement underscores Iraq’s attempt to balance its regional relations while maintaining stability amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Two drones were shot down near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, according to an Iraqi official quoted by AFP. The incident occurred just hours after another drone attack targeted the same facility. Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or significant damage from the latest incident.

A separate security source in Baghdad also verified the event. The airport complex includes a military base that houses a U.S. diplomatic facility and previously hosted troops from the U.S.-led coalition. The recurrence of drone attacks near such a sensitive site has drawn attention to the fragile security conditions in the area.

The incidents come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, raising renewed concerns about regional stability and the safety of diplomatic and military installations in Iraq.

A drone attack targeted a hotel used to house US troops in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, near the Iranian border. The armed group Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility, saying it deliberately struck the hotel where American soldiers were staying. Iraqi news agency Naya News shared a video on Telegram showing a building in Erbil engulfed in flames, describing it as a strike on an ‘occupying force base.’ No immediate details on casualties or damage were available.

On the same day, Iran claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks on US forces stationed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its naval forces carried out a ‘complex attack’ combining drones and missiles against American troops in Dubai. The IRGC also claimed to have launched a drone strike on the US base at Arifjan in Kuwait.

The incidents mark a series of coordinated strikes across the region, though the full extent of the damage and potential escalation remain unclear.

Several explosions occurred at the United States’ Victoria military base near Baghdad International Airport, according to reports published early Monday. Verified video footage reviewed by Al Jazeera showed thick plumes of smoke rising from inside the base following the blasts.

Iraqi media, citing security sources, reported that two drones targeted the base. One drone reportedly struck inside the facility, while the other was intercepted and brought down. The full extent of the damage and any casualties have not yet been confirmed.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, and further details remain unavailable at this stage, according to Al Jazeera.

Hundreds of Iraqis attempted to storm the US Embassy located in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Saturday following reports of the death of Iran’s supreme leader. According to a source quoted by AFP, the attempt had so far failed, but protesters continued trying to enter the heavily fortified area. Demonstrators carried flags of Iran-aligned armed groups and threw stones at security forces, who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Local Iraqi media also reported protests erupting in southern provinces. Several Iran-backed armed groups announced they would not remain neutral and vowed to defend the Islamic Republic. Kataib Hezbollah declared plans to attack US bases after two of its members were killed in an airstrike in southern Iraq. Additionally, explosions were reported near Erbil Airport, where US forces are stationed.

The situation reflects heightened regional tension following the reported death of Iran’s top leader and retaliatory threats from Iran-aligned militias across Iraq.

Iraq has declared three days of national mourning following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The announcement was made by government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi, according to the Iraqi News Agency. He expressed condolences to the Iranian people and the wider Islamic community, describing the incident as a moment of deep sorrow and grief.

Al-Awadi stated that Khamenei was killed through an act of open aggression that violated humanitarian and moral principles. He added that the killing represented a clear breach of international law. The Iraqi government’s declaration of mourning underscores the close political and religious ties between Iraq and Iran, as well as Baghdad’s condemnation of the attack.

The report also referenced related developments, including claims that 30 senior Iranian officials were killed in the same attack and international reactions labeling the incident a serious violation of international law.

Iraq’s Ministry of Transport announced the temporary suspension of flights at Baghdad International Airport, citing an emergency technical fault rather than any security threat. The decision was made after the issue was detected, prompting immediate precautionary measures and the start of repair work.

Following the closure, speculation spread on social media, leading authorities to clarify that the suspension was entirely technical. Ministry spokesperson Metham Al-Safi told the state news agency that maintenance and testing were underway and that the airport would reopen within a few hours once the final checks were completed.

Al-Safi dismissed claims of internal or foreign security risks as baseless and urged media outlets to verify information through official sources.

Leaders of Iraq’s Coordination Framework (CF), the largest Shia political bloc, remain committed to nominating former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership despite a warning from US President Donald Trump that Washington would cut off aid if he returned to power. Trump and the US administration view al-Maliki as aligned with Iran’s influence network in Iraq and fear his reinstatement would undermine efforts to curb Tehran’s reach. The CF reiterated that choosing a prime minister is an Iraqi constitutional matter free from foreign interference.

The CF’s internal divisions have deepened, with some factions, including the Badr Organization and the Islamic Supreme Council, backing al-Maliki, while others such as Ammar al-Hakim and Haider al-Abadi caution against economic repercussions from defying the US. Kurdish and Sunni parties also remain split, delaying the presidential election required before a new government can form. The CF is attempting to mediate between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to break the deadlock.

The standoff coincides with a looming US decision on renewing legal protections for Iraq’s oil revenues held in New York. A refusal to renew could freeze Iraqi assets, threatening the country’s economy and adding pressure on Baghdad’s political negotiations.

Iraq’s Shia political alliance, the Coordination Framework, reaffirmed on Saturday its support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to lead the next government. The announcement came as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would cease cooperation with Iraq if al-Maliki returned to power. The coalition, which holds a parliamentary majority, nominated al-Maliki following the recent elections.

In a statement, the Coordination Framework emphasized that the selection of Iraq’s prime minister is a constitutional matter that should proceed without foreign interference. It added that the alliance seeks balanced relations with international partners based on mutual respect. Al-Maliki previously served as Iraq’s first elected prime minister after the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

Trump’s warning was described as one of the strongest examples of US efforts to curb the influence of Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The country continues to navigate a delicate balance between its two key allies, Washington and Tehran.

Iraq’s dominant Shia coalition, known as the Coordination Framework, has endorsed former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for the country’s next prime minister. The announcement was made in a statement on Saturday, according to AFP reports from Baghdad. The coalition, which maintains close ties with Iran, said the decision was unanimous and that al-Maliki was chosen as the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc due to its majority position.

The statement highlighted al-Maliki’s extensive political experience, administrative skills, and leadership capacity. Aged 75, al-Maliki previously served two consecutive terms as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 to 2014, following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ended Saddam Hussein’s rule. Under Iraq’s political convention, the prime minister is typically selected from the Shia community, while the parliamentary speaker and president come from the Sunni and Kurdish communities respectively.

Following last November’s general election, the Coordination Framework was formed by al-Maliki’s party and other Shia groups. With a new parliamentary speaker already chosen, the next session will elect a president, who is expected to appoint al-Maliki to replace current prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The United States has started transferring thousands of ISIS detainees from northeast Syria to Iraq, according to a statement released Wednesday by the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The process began with the relocation of 150 detainees from a detention facility in Syria’s Hasakah province to Iraq. CENTCOM indicated that up to 7,000 ISIS (Daesh) prisoners could eventually be moved under this initiative.

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the United States is working closely with Iraq and other regional partners, praising their role in ensuring the defeat of Daesh. The statement emphasized coordination and cooperation among allied forces in managing the detainee transfer and maintaining regional security.

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack added that Washington’s current priority in Syria is to promote national unity and stability, clarifying that the United States does not support separatism in the region.

The United States has withdrawn its forces from the strategically important Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, transferring full control to the Iraqi army. Iraq’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Saturday that the withdrawal of foreign troops stationed at the base has been completed and Iraqi forces have formally assumed responsibility. An Iraqi army colonel also verified the departure, noting that a small number of US troops remain due to logistical issues, though no further details were disclosed for security reasons.

The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to gradually reduce the presence of the US-led coalition in Iraq. The deal outlines a phased drawdown and aims to strengthen future bilateral security cooperation between the two countries. Ain al-Asad had long served as a key military hub for US and allied forces and was frequently targeted by Iran-backed groups during periods of regional tension.

The exact start date of the withdrawal process remains unclear, though earlier plans projected completion by the end of 2026.

Iraq’s iconic Tigris River, once the lifeline of Mesopotamian civilization, is now drying up due to severe pollution, upstream dam construction, and climate change. Stretching nearly 2,000 kilometers, the river’s flow has drastically declined, endangering the livelihoods of about 18 million people who rely on it for irrigation, drinking water, and power generation. Environmental groups warn that without urgent intervention, the river could face near extinction.

Experts attribute the crisis to multiple factors: untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff have severely degraded water quality, while Turkey and Iran’s dams have reduced water flow into Iraq by over 30%. Local activists, such as Humat Dijlah’s founder Salman Khairallah, emphasize that the river’s decline is both an ecological and spiritual loss. In response, Baghdad and Ankara signed a recent “oil-for-water” deal to fund water management and pollution control projects.

If current trends persist, Iraq could face its worst drought in a century by 2035, with water demand far exceeding supply, posing grave risks to regional stability and heritage preservation.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s alliance is leading in the country’s parliamentary election, according to the election commission. Preliminary results show the bloc securing about 1.317 million votes, placing it ahead of rivals. The vote, held on Tuesday, recorded a turnout of 56.11 percent. Sudani, seeking a second term, hopes to consolidate his position through this election. However, many young Iraqis remain disillusioned, viewing the process as dominated by established parties dividing the nation’s oil wealth. With no single party able to form a government alone in Iraq’s 329-seat legislature, coalition negotiations are expected to be complex and prolonged, potentially delaying the formation of a new government for months.

Iraq’s most prominent Shia religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has voiced grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a statement, he said, “In nearly two years of relentless killing and destruction, hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded. Cities and residential areas have been devastated.”

Al-Sistani warned that famine in Gaza has reached critical levels, stating, “No age group or social class is being spared from the effects of hunger and deprivation.” He emphasized that the brutality of Israeli occupation forces in displacing Palestinians is not new, but part of a continued pattern of aggression.

He also underscored the importance of international involvement in ending the crisis. “It is the moral and religious duty of the global community, particularly Arab and Muslim nations, to ensure that this humanitarian disaster does not continue,” the cleric said.