Ali Saray

Ali Saray
Features Mustafa al-Kadhimi (AP)

Why and How Did al-Kadhimi Return to Baghdad?

Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the former Prime Minister of Iraq, arrived in Baghdad last Tuesday aboard a private jet. He was greeted by a security detail typically…

Ali Saray (London)
Arab World Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani - AP/File

Baghdad Halts Symbolic Talks on Disbanding Armed Factions

Iraq’s plans to tackle the issue of armed factions have stalled due to a lack of communication with the administration of US President Donald Trump, an Iranian…

Ali Saray (London)
Arab World Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Iraqi FM: We Informed Tehran that Factions Issue is for Iraq to Decide

“How do we protect Baghdad from fire?" Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein repeated this question as he reflected on the challenges his country faced in 2024…

Ali Saray (London)
Arab World Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

SDF Commander to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syria Must Remain United

Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi revealed that coordination had been taking place on the ground since the second day of the…

Ali Saray (London)
Features A Saddam Hussein mural is seen in Baghdad in 1991. (Getty Images)

25 Years of Unanswered Questions in Iraq

People in Iraq often wonder dejectedly: What if Saddam Hussein were alive and ruling the country today? Many will reply with fantastical answers, but Saddam’s…

Ali Saray (London)
Features  
US helicopters accompany Secretary Antony Blinken as he heads to the US Embassy in Baghdad on December 13, 2024 (Reuters)

Baghdad After Damascus: Questions About the Day After

On November 24, 2024, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed what seemed to be its final attack on Israel. The announcement came two weeks after Syrian…

Ali Saray (London)
Features A Syrian anti government fighter poses for a picture in front of one of the water wheels, or norias, of Hama, after forces captured of the city of Hama on December 6, 2024. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)

How Will the ‘Battle for Damascus’ Resonate in Beirut and Baghdad?

The chances of the Syrian conflict turning into an open and possibly long-lasting war between competing regional powers are growing, following a sudden shift…

Ali Saray (London)
Arab World Members of the “Nujaba Movement” during a military parade in Baghdad (X)

Rare Moment of Doubt Between Iran, Iraqi Allies

As Syrian armed factions expand, Iraqi Shiite groups are steering clear of the fighting, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s…

Ali Saray (London)