Iraq

• Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday approved a new government headed by businessman Ali al-Zaidi, ending months of deadlock in Baghdad. • The prime minister’s media office said parliament granted confidence to Zaidi’s cabinet, while the INA state news agency reported an absolute majority backed 14 ministerial nominations. • Zaidi, described as Iraq’s youngest prime minister at 40, was chosen on April 27 after growing pressure to restore a stable administration.

• The CommBank Socceroos learned their group stage opponents for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ during this morning's official draw at the At-Turaif venue. • Australia will compete in a group featuring Tajikistan, Iraq, and Singapore, setting up challenging matches in the tournament hosted by Saudi Arabia. • This draw positions the Socceroos in a competitive pool, with implications for advancement to knockout stages based on group performance.

After Guardian reports about danger to V2X employees, sources say state department raised concerns with defense contractorSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US government has called on the defense contractor V2X to evacuate its employees from Kuwait and Iraq, warning the company that they could be targeted by Iran-backed militias, four sources said.The intervention follows reporting by the Guardian that V2X employees were stationed at US military bases in Kuwait, and at Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih airbase and Erbil in Iraq. Employees claimed having inadequate protections, receiving limited communications from the company about evacuation plans and being pressured to remain in the Middle East. In Iraq, workers say they are targets of Iran-allied attacks, and one employee was killed in a night-time drone attack in March. Continue reading...

Freelancer Shelly Kittleson was reportedly held by Iran-backed militia which says she must now leave countryThe US journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad street corner last week, has been released, according to an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation.Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, said the official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. He did not share her current whereabouts but said that before her release, she had been held in Baghdad. Continue reading...

Man working for V2X died in night attack as five sources say they are being placed in harm’s wayA man employed by the US defense contractor V2X has been killed in a drone attack on Erbil airbase, amid concerns from colleagues that they are being placed in harm’s way and pressured to remain in Iraq despite security risks, five sources said.The worker, from Kenya, died in a night attack in his sleeping quarters on the base on 24 March. Another five workers were injured. They are from Kenya and India, and are among a group of about 45 workers employed by V2X who have remained on the base. One of the workers is in a critical condition with severe burns, sources said. Continue reading...

Country is torn between those who hope for end to Tehran’s influence and those loyal to Islamic republicOf all the countries being pulled into the US-Israeli war on Iran, it is Iraq – a country that still bears the emotional and physical scars of the last time the Americans tried to reshape the region by force – where the conflict has exposed some of the deepest rifts.The war is dividing those who see the attacks on Iran as a way to end Tehran’s longstanding influence over Iraqi politics from the self-declared loyalists of the Islamic republic, and cutting through state institutions, armed forces and Shia Islamist parties. Continue reading...

State department says it is working to ensure release of freelancer ‘as soon as possible’ after abduction in BaghdadAn American journalist, Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US said, as regional security deteriorates after the US-Israeli attack on Iran.Kittleson is a longtime freelancer in the region, reporting extensively from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Continue reading...

More than 200 Americans at Balad site say they have no evacuation plan as fears grow of a post-Ramadan assaultSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHundreds of US contractors are stranded on a major military base near Baghdad, Iraq, with no evacuation plan, while local Iran-backed militants are possibly making plans to attack the base, three sources said.The contractors are employed on the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base, formerly Balad Air Base, to support the Iraqi government’s F-16 fighter jet program. Continue reading...

• U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued an urgent advisory on Saturday for all American citizens to leave Iraq immediately following the second militia attack on the embassy since the Iran war began. • Iran-allied militias targeted U.S.-associated sites including diplomatic facilities, companies, and hotels; overland travel to neighboring countries recommended as flights halted. • Warning extends to U.S. consulate in Erbil, advising against visits amid numerous attacks; reflects escalating risks to U.S. personnel in Iraq.

US Central Command says crash followed unspecified incident, and second refueling tanker landed safely in IsraelThe names of two of the six US service members who died when the military refueling aircraft they were aboard crashed over Iraq last week were made public Saturday, revealing a father who had recently been promoted and a beloved son.The Ohio air national guard said that three of the service members came from its 121st air refueling wing in Columbus, while a family from Birmingham, Alabama, confirmed that pilot Alex Klinner was killed in the crash. Continue reading...

A U.S. military aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 14, 2026, killing its entire crew of six, as disclosed by U.S. Central Command, bringing total confirmed American deaths in Iran operations to 13. The incident follows a prior refueling plane crash that killed four, heightening scrutiny on operational safety during escalated regional tensions. Pentagon officials cite mechanical failure pending investigation, while congressional calls grow for briefings on mission risks. Families demand transparency as recruitment challenges intensify.

A U.S. military aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 14, 2026, killing all six crew members, as disclosed by U.S. Central Command via social media amid ongoing operations. This incident raises the confirmed U.S. death toll to 13 in the military campaign against Iran. The crash underscores operational risks in heightened regional tensions, impacting troop morale and public support. Investigations into causes and potential policy adjustments are expected soon.

A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 13, 2026, killing all six crew members and raising the total confirmed US deaths in operations against Iran to 13. US Central Command confirmed the incident was not due to hostile fire, as reported in ongoing Middle East escalations entering their 14th day. The crash underscores rising casualties for US forces amid intensified strikes by US, Israel, and Iran. Defense officials indicate further troop deployments, including 2,500 Marines, are underway to bolster regional presence.

A French soldier was killed in an attack in Iraq on March 14, 2026, amid strikes by pro-Iranian factions targeting bases with foreign troops. Iranian media reported fresh explosions in Tehran, with the conflict showing no signs of abating despite economic fears. The incident highlights expanding risks to international forces beyond US assets. NATO allies are reassessing deployments in the region.

A drone attack on March 12, 2026, in northern Iraq killed one French soldier and wounded several others from the international coalition countering ISIS, as Iran-aligned groups intensify assaults. This incident follows heightened militia activity targeting US interests during the Iran war, raising fears for coalition stability. US officials monitor the situation closely, with potential impacts on multinational operations in the region.

A US refueling aircraft supporting bombing operations against Iran crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing at least four service members with rescue efforts ongoing for two others. The Pentagon confirmed the incident as the US-Israel coalition intensifies airstrikes amid Iran's escalation. Iran's new Supreme Leader Moshtab Kamani ordered continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following attacks on at least six oil tankers and facilities. President stated the situation with Iran is 'moving along very rapidly' with 'unsurpassed' military success.

A US refueling aircraft supporting bombing missions against Iran crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing at least four service members with rescue efforts ongoing for two others. The Pentagon confirmed the incident as tensions escalate with Iran's new Supreme Leader Moshtab Kamani ordering continued blockades of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel after Iranian attacks on at least six oil tankers and facilities in Iraqi waters and Bahrain. President Trump claimed the US is winning rapidly, praising unmatched military strength, while experts warn of prolonged attrition impacting the global economy.