Cultural heritage oblivion: A narrative analysis of Nimrud and ISIS' destruction of cultural sites

At the height of its power, the Islamic State (ISIS) destroyed and defaced cultural heritage sites across Iraq in a vicious campaign targeting pre-Islamic relics, highlighting the importance of preserving the past and protecting against the erasure of history.

Gabriel Olinto

Opinion

Airstrikes in Doha and the new regional reality

Israel's recent strikes against Hamas officials in Doha have raised alarm bells in Qatar and across the region, with Tel Aviv's commitment to targeting its foes, regardless of national borders and the sovereignty of ostensible Western allies, posing critical questions about the feasibility of the Gulf states' current strategic alignment.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

Is the US military withdrawing from Iraq? It is not, and it should not

Amid talk of the US military's planned withdrawal from Iraq, with American personnel scheduled to leave federal Iraqi territory by September 2025 and to depart from the Kurdistan Region by September 2026, a residual troop presence would offer a guarantor of the country's security and stability amid ongoing regional turmoil.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

Iraq's democracy at a crossroads: The systematic exclusion of political opponents

A wave of disqualifications by Iraq's electoral body in the run up to November's parliamentary elections threatens to undermine democracy in the country, with political exclusions and crackdowns on opposition figures threatening increased disillusionment with conventional politics among the Iraqi populace.

Alfadhel Ahmad

Opinion

Battle of Lalezar: Cousins' feud takes toll on Kurdistan's culture capital

Once tranquil Sulaimani streets recently became the frontlines of a bitter feud between cousins Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi, with the violent confrontation proving worrisome for a city hailed as a bastion of free expression and civil liberties

Dilan Sirwan

Opinion

Doctor Ban and Iraq's judiciary: A crisis of confidence

The death of Dr. Ban Ziyad Tariq in Basra  has turned into a major public debate, raising doubts about the independence of Iraq’s judiciary. While the Supreme Judicial Council expressed regret over rumors surrounding the case, many Iraqis believe the doctor was killed, not that she took her own life.

Ahmed Saadawi

Opinion

Shaping perceptions, building nationhood: Kurdistan's public diplomacy

In an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, public diplomacy offers a key avenue for Kurds to shape public opinion abroad to bolster international support for the Kurdish cause, with such mechanisms allowing budding states and non-state actors to punch above their weight on the global stage.

Soran Naqishbandy

Opinion

Israel and Iran: A war that refuses to end

Far from being stilled by their large-scale clash in mid-June, Iran-Israel tensions remain conspicuous and foreboding, with the risks of a further military confrontation raising questions about the future of the Iranian government and Israel's strategic calculus in the region.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

When transitional justice becomes an electoral weapon: An assault on Iraqi democracy

Originally conceived as a tool of historical justice and national reconciliation, Iraq's Accountability and Justice Commission has devolved into an instrument of political exclusion, being wielded by those in power to maintain a stranglehold on the Iraqi political sphere.

Muhi al-Ansary

Opinion

Erbil fuel station tragedy: A warning sign of what economic strain can ignite

The tragedy at the fuel station should serve as a warning, not only to prevent further violence but to address the root causes that make such flashpoints possible

Mohammedali Yaseen Taha

Opinion