Muqtada al-Sadr
Sadrist MPs resign from Iraqi parliament after failing to form majority

Muqtada al-Sadr announced the dissolution of his Saving the Homeland coalition with the Sovereign Alliance (al-Siyada) and the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP)

Iraq bill against ties with Israel Iraqi parliament introduces bill to criminalize establishment of relations with Israel

The bill is considered to be an attempt to block the growing US pressure on Arab countries to “normalize” relations with Israel under its so-called Abraham Accords

Iraq demands halt to Turkish attacks in Kurdistan region, denies cooperating with offensive

Turkey, a NATO member, began its land and air invasion inside northern Iraq on April 17. It is targeting the forces of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Syrian YPG militia

Hospitals suspend operations as economic crisis spirals in Sri Lanka and other stories

Today we look at the rising economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the political crisis in Iraq amid delays in the election of the president, and more

Iraq government formation delays Conflicting approaches delay government formation in Iraq 

Muqtada al-Sadr, who won the maximum number of seats in the October elections, is determined to go against the general practice of a consensus government and wants to form a government based on political majority, claiming that it will establish accountability

Iranian Fordow nuclear site Day after Erbil strike, Iran claims to have foiled Israeli sabotage at its Fordow nuclear facility 

Reports in Middle East Eye as well as some US media outlets claimed that Israel has been operating anti-Iranian bases in Iraqi Kurdistan and was responsible for the attack on Iran’s drone facility in Tabriz a few weeks back

Iran attacks in Erbil, Iraq Iran fires missiles in Erbil in Iraq, claims Israeli bases were targets

Muqtada al-Sadr, whose party emerged as the largest party in last year’s parliamentary elections in Iraq, initially condemned the attack but later issued a statement asking for investigation into Iranian claims of Israeli bases in the country

Iraq elections Muqtada al-Sadr-led alliance set to emerge as single largest force in Iraqi parliament

The fifth elections since the 2003 US-led invasion of the country saw the lowest voter turnout (41%), amid growing discontent with the political system due to widespread corruption, inefficiency and government apathy

Iraqi elections Parliamentary elections will not address major concerns raised by popular protests in Iraq 

The elections are taking place one year ahead of schedule following popular protests that broke out in October 2019 against the failure of successive governments to address the rising economic and political problems in the country

Iraqi communist party Why are Iraq’s communists boycotting the upcoming parliamentary elections

The Iraqi Communist Party, which was part of the leading alliance in the last elections in 2018, announced in July that it will not participate in the upcoming national elections in October due to the lack of a conducive political atmosphere

Anti-govt protests Iraq Violent attacks against anti-government protesters in Iraq leave seven dead

Protesters in the city of Nasiriyah were reportedly attacked by followers of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leading to multiple deaths and injuries

Iraq faces constitutional crisis with Mahdi ready to step down as caretaker prime minister

The decision comes a day after Mahdi’s successor and prime minister designate Mohammad Tawfiq Allawi resigned, creating a vacuum in the political leadership