Proxy battles: Iraq, Iran, and the turmoil in the Middle East. By Hamza Hadad. Summary The war in Gaza has deepened the Middle East’s fault lines. Iran and its proxies and the US and Israel have engaged in a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks across the region, with the Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Syria and Iran’s direct retaliation against Israel threatening to
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Two decades ago, the United States assisted the Iraqi people in overthrowing the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein and laying the foundations for a democratic system. It enabled Iraqis to taste freedom for the "first time, eliminating the oppression and the misuse of resources that had caused problems not only for my country but also for the region more broadly. Since the
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To move beyond the years-long focus on Iran and the Islamic State, both leaders must commit to actions that set the table for a mutually beneficial relationship and convince skeptical domestic constituencies. When Mohammed Shia al-Sudani makes his first visit to Washington as Iraq’s prime minister on April 15, the stakes will be high for him and President Biden alike. Sudani
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Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani's White House visit will discuss US forces in Iraq, sanctions, and bilateral relations. Amid pro-Iranian pressures, the visit seeks to balance diplomatic and economic interests with the US, highlighting the complex US-Iraq dynamics and regional geopolitical implications. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Sudani will lead a prominent delegation to
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Over the past 15 years, China has executed a strategy in Iraq that has been incredibly effective. Although the two countries recently commemorated their 65th anniversary of friendship, arguably this relationship really began in earnest in 2007 when the two countries’ presidents met and China agreed to cancel Iraq’s debt. China’s debt relief served as a prelude to its eventual e
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