Written by
Blog
U.S. Expands Erbil Airbase, Signaling Long-Term Presence Beyond Iraq Drawdown
As the U.S. evacuates diplomatic personnel from Baghdad and Erbil amid escalating Iran tensions, a quieter but more telling story has been playing out at the Harir airbase near Erbil.…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
The Barzanis Target Their Next Prize: Monopolizing the Peshmerga’s Single Sandhurst Slot
The Peshmerga has held one coveted slot at Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst since 2020, allocated from Iraq’s defense ministry’s total of six positions. Yet over the past two consecutive…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
Mapping Shiite Electoral Competition in Iraq’s 2025 Vote
With Iraq’s parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, the Shiite actors which have been the main pillar of the post-Saddam order in Iraq are competing amid the most significant…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
Minority Quota Voting Mechanism Sparks Controversy Ahead of Iraq’s 2025 Elections
Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections have allocated 9 seats out of 329 for minority groups, but the voting mechanism for these quota seats has reignited controversy among minority communities who fear…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
How the KRG and Iraqi Government Use the Same Data to Make Opposing Arguments
The renewed financial dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad, centered on oil exports, energy contracts, and the KRG’s share of the national budget,…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
The Other Side of the KRG Salary Crisis: How Intra-Shia Patronage is Bankrupting Iraq
While the Iraqi finance ministry halted salary payments to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), citing its failure to meet obligations under the national budget law, a deeper issue threatens Iraq’s…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
Unified Syrian Kurdish Delegation Formed to Negotiate Decentralization with Damascus
The Syrian Kurdish delegation formed to engage with Damascus and advocate for decentralization was established following the historic intra-Kurdish conference backed by the U.S. Held in late April, the conference…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
KDP Escalates Rhetoric Against Baghdad as KRG Salary Crisis Deepens
Following the halt of KRG salaries by Iraq’s Finance Ministry, behind-the-scenes efforts have been underway to find a temporary solution, specifically, to send May’s salary allocation as a loan. However,…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
US Said to Set August Deadline for SDF Integration as Envoy Signals Syria Policy Shift
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government have held their first technical meeting following the preliminary agreement signed in March. According to Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya, citing “special sources,” the…
Read More (3 min. read)
Written by
Arivan
How Much Was the KRG’s Oil Revenue in 2024 and What Happened to It?
The Iraqi Finance Ministry has recently cited the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) 2024 revenue as part of its justification for suspending salary transfers to the region for the remainder of…
Read More (3 min. read)