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Small Tel Aviv Meeting on ‘Minorities’ Triggers Syrian Debate
On October 27 in Tel Aviv, Israeli journalist Eddy Cohen hosted a “Minorities Conference” of roughly 30 participants. Speakers attacked Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and urged separate statelets for Syrian…
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Arivan
Baghdad’s Sunni battlegrounds, explained
Baghdad’s Sunni political scene is entering a fierce contest ahead of the legislative elections slated for November 11, as parties vie for the largest possible share of the capital’s more…
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Arivan
Iraq’s GPS Blackouts Hint at Pre-Emptive Security Moves Amid Regional Tensions
Widespread signal interference in Baghdad hints at deeper security and regional dynamics.
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Arivan
KRG Oil Exports to Hit 250,000 Barrels Daily in November, Sold as Kirkuk Crude at Ceyhan
The KRG’s oil exports are set to rise by 86% in November compared to October, with Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO scheduled to load 250,000 barrels per day at the…
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Arivan
PKK Announces Withdrawal of Fighters Inside Turkey, Signals Next Phase in Peace Process
The PKK says it has withdrawn all of its fighters inside Turkey as part of the ongoing peace process with the Turkish state. At the press conference where the announcement…
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Arivan
Tribes, Alliances, and Margins: Inside Kirkuk’s Tight Parliamentary Race
Kirkuk will send thirteen lawmakers to Baghdad next month—twelve through Iraq’s modified Sainte-Laguë proportional system and one Christian quota seat elected on a separate roll. With two weeks remaining, the…
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Arivan
What US Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil Mean for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
The US Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil—Russia’s largest and third-largest oil exporters—citing “Moscow’s serious non-compliance with the peace process to end the war in Ukraine.” The EU followed…
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Arivan
Who Are the Main Challengers for Iraq’s Nine Minority Quota Seats in the November 2025 Elections?
Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections, slated for November 11, 2025, will allocate nine out of 329 seats to minority communities. Five seats are reserved for Christians, and one seat each for…
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Arivan
Trump’s Special Envoy Appointment Signals Shift to “Backstage” Deals in Iraq
U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Mark Savaya as his special envoy to Iraq, signaling a renewed American focus on the country, particularly on sensitive files such as countering Iranian…
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Arivan
A Year After Kurdistan’s Regional Elections, Government Formation Remains Stalled
The Kurdistan Region’s two main parties, the KDP and PUK, remain deadlocked over cabinet formation as a full year passes since the October 2024 elections. This makes the Kurdistan Region…
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