By Mustafa al Kadhimi for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Iraq Business News. Many Iraqi politicians do not hide their concerns and skepticism regarding moves made by Sunni political and tribal groups — whether in the region or Washington — to ensure […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet approved a draft law on Tuesday to create a new National Guard. Reuters reports that Sunni political and tribal leaders have billed the move as a way to handle their own security in the fight against the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL). The National Guard would consist of locally […]
By Shukur Khilkhal for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Is Samarra the key to reducing sectarian tension in Iraq? The Sunni-Shiite sectarian tensions in the city of Samarra are back on the front burner. Sunni politicians, clerics and a number of […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In Iraq, Sunni tribes have been recruiting more fighters to join the battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The government has started to supply the tribesmen with more weapons […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's armed forces are marking their 94th anniversary. But sadly there's little to celebrate. The army is facing unprecedented challenges - an enemy that has seized large parts of the country, internal corruption […]
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Despite all the negative developments concerning extremist groups in the Middle East, they have had a positive impact on religious communities. Shiite and Sunni institutions in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to denounce […]
By Mushreq Abbas for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Who represents Iraq’s Sunnis? Iraqis have not answered this incredibly sensitive question. The danger of being unable to clearly answer this question is directly related to the war on the Islamic State (IS), as well […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has reportedly accused his predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki (pictured), of intervening in the daily duties of the PM’s office. Sources close to the Iraqi PM told BasNews: “Abadi told US officials that in recent weeks Maliki has involved himself in a few cases, causing political tension. This has […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Many who escaped fighting between army and ISIL say they are also targets of Shia armed groups who are destroying homes. Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports now from Kirkuk.
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Shiite community has much more religious coherence than its Sunni counterpart. This raises several questions for Sunni authorities, including the ones raised by prominent Iraqi Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Qabisi in response to Ali […]
By John Lee. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have reportedly driven Islamic State (IS) fighters from the strategic border town of Rabia on Tuesday. According to a report from Reuters, the victory was achieved with help from Kurds from the Syrian side of the frontier, a new sign of cross-border cooperation. Members of the influential Sunni Shammar […]
By Omar al-Jaffal for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Khodair al-Morshedi, the official spokesman for the Iraqi Baath Party and the secretary-general of the Islamic National Front of Iraq, comprising various armed factions, described the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State […]
