Iraqi Prime Minister Insists Kurdish Referendum Be Annulled

Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 27, 2017 The Kurds' leader, Massoud Barzani, had offered to suspend the results of the recent independence vote, but Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is playing hardball. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

U.S. Admits Probable Role in Civilian Deaths in Mosul

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Mar 29, 2017 American commanders have said that their military may bear some responsibility for Thursday’s errant airstrike, but the Iraqi prime minister disagrees. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

War Within War: Iraq’s Prime Minister Says ‘We Don’t Want to Fight Turkey, but We’re Ready’

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 6, 2016 Iraq was alarmed by the announcement by Turk military authorities that they are sending some 30 armored vehicles, tanks and artillery to the Turkish-Iraqi border. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Nearly 500 More U.S. Troops Sent to Iraq for Mosul Attack in Advance of Election Day

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 10, 2016 If Islamic State loses Mosul before Americans go to the polls Nov. 8, it will undermine a key talking point of the Republican right: that Obama is weak on terrorism. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The U.S. and Russia Are Wrangling Over the Iraqi Sphere of Influence (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Oct 27, 2015 Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi is alleged to be under “enormous pressure” from Shiite militiamen and hard-liners to seek Russian airstrikes on Islamic State (Daesh) targets. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )