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…
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…
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…
Written by
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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Arivan
Three Divisions or Three Corps? Damascus and SDF Give Conflicting Accounts
While SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has been publicly optimistic about recent meetings with Damascus regarding the SDF’s integration into the Syrian army, even suggesting a “preliminary agreement” has been reached,…
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Arivan
Tribal Alliances, Party Machines and Big Money Fuel Anbar’s Fiercest Election Battle
Anbar province is heading into one of the most heated and complex electoral battles in post-2003 Iraq, as tribal blocs, party organizations and external backing converge to reshape the balance…
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Arivan
Syria–SDF Talks Intensify But Core Disputes Over Governance and Military Integration Block Breakthrough
A senior official from the SDF-backed northeast Syria administration has told The National Context that the SDF and Syrian government have so far only agreed to “engage in dialogue as…
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Arivan
Damascus and the SDF sketch terms for integration as talks intensify
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi says Damascus and the SDF have reached a “preliminary understanding” on how to fold the Kurdish-led force into Syrian state structures: existing SDF…
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Arivan
Iraqi Parliamentary Election: Kurdistan Region Seat Projections for Major Political Forces
The election campaign has been underway for over a week now, with political lists and candidates pursuing their electoral fortunes to establish their true standing. Based on multiple polls, parties’…
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Arivan
Verbal Agreements, No Roadmap: SDF and Damascus Circle the March 10 Deal
The SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has denied in an interview with pro-SDF Rohahi TV that any localised breakthrough has been reached in Deir Ezzor to hand over key assets to…
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