Trump’s threat to withdraw U.S. support may boost Maliki’s nationalist appeal, framing him as a symbol of resistance to external interference.
Browsing: Iraq
Iraq’s elite U.S.-funded CTS is being penetrated by Iran-backed militias, with training and equipment diverted—Washington must act swiftly.
Trump’s coercive diplomacy toward Iran, pairing force with maximalist demands, risks deadlock and escalation, not a sustainable nuclear deal.
Sadr’s 2022 withdrawal was a strategic repositioning; through social activism, his movement remains influential and poised for a comeback.
Sudani’s bloc won most seats, but Shia rivals and U.S.-Iran tensions complicate his path to a second term.
Iran-backed Afghan and Pakistani fighters are entering Iraq as “pilgrims” and integrating into PMF bases, challenging Baghdad’s sovereignty.
Washington demands sovereignty from an Iraq it dismantled and abandoned, managing a fragile system it created while refusing to acknowledge its own role.
Iraq’s elections deepened Shiite rivalries, with Sudani challenging proIranian militias,testing U.S.-Iran competition over disarmament and government formation.
Iraq faces a critical window to disarm Iran‑backed militias as Tehran weakens and Washington pressures Baghdad to rein them in.
Iraq is reinforcing its Syrian border, fearing Aleppo clashes could spread eastward, triggering displacement, militant infiltration, and Islamic State escapes.