Sunni

Sadr’s parliament ‘protest’ serves the pro-Iran groups he claims to oppose

Sadr is paving the way for pro-Iranian parties to increase their seats in the Council of Representatives.

Saudi Arabia, Iran tension-easing talks resume in Iraq after suspension

Iran and Saudi Arabia support rival sides in several conflict zones across the Middle East region, including Yemen where the Houthi rebels are backed by Tehran, and Riyadh leads a military coalition supporting the government.

Sadr the Saviour or Sadr the Scourge?

The positive rebranding of Muqtada al Sadr by international media and experts serves to entrench the broken post-2003 Iraqi political order, not fix it.

Escalating violence in Iraq leaves no winners

Besides the question of Iran’s culpability in the assassination attempt on the Iraqi Prime Minister, Iraq still faces grave problems that violence and instability can exacerbate.

Drone attack on Iraqi PM reveals menacing reach of Shia militias

The militant groups want a seat at the table, and are willing to apply whatever pressure it takes to ensure that they do.

Silence in the face of Shia militia atrocities will ensure Daesh returns

The impunity enjoyed by the militias and continued collective punishment against Sunnis can only lead to civil war.

How Daesh is leveraging geopolitics to paint the Taliban into a corner

While organised, armed opposition to Taliban rule in Afghanistan has largely ceased, the one exception is the local affiliate of the so-called Islamic State.

The US’ return of looted Iraqi antiquities is just an empty gesture

The US-led invasion created the destruction that paved the way for Iraq’s looting. Without political stability, the future of Iraq — and the artefacts — remain endangered.

Twin bombings cause several fatalities in Afghan capital

At least seven people killed and six others wounded when separate bombs hit two minivans in a mostly Shia neighbourhood in Kabul, Afghanistan's interior ministry says.

Saudi Arabia says Yemen rebel drone intercepted after Abha airport attack

The attack comes a day after several drones attacked the Abha international airport in Saudi Arabia's southwest, prompting Washington to call for an end to Houthi aggression.

Hariri's proposal to end cabinet logjam brings hope for a new government

France has been quick to back former PM Saad al Hariri's proposal of an "independent" Shia candidate being given the finance portfolio to end a deadlock between two main Shia parties over ministers.

S Arabia stages "largest mass execution of Shias" in its history - analyst

Amnesty International said most of those executed were convicted "after sham trials" that relied on confessions extracted through torture.