Hamza Mustafa

Hamza Mustafa
Arab World Peshmerga fighters are positioned beneath a portrait of Masoud Barzani in Kirkuk (file photo – EPA)

Barzani Denounces ‘Suspicious Deals’ over Kirkuk Governorship

Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani on Friday rejected a recent political agreement in Iraq’s northern Kirkuk province that led to the appointment of a new governor,…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces stand guard during a pro-Iran rally in Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026 (AFP)

Baghdad Says Faction Attacks are ‘Individual Attempts’

The Iraqi government moved on Friday to contain the fallout from an escalating regional war, after the US issued sharp warnings of possible attacks on its…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World Iraqis inspect smoke rising from an oil storage facility on the outskirts of Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, following a suspected drone strike on April 1, 2026. (AFP) 

US Warning on Iraq's Militias Deepens Tensions with Baghdad

Relations between Baghdad and Washington have entered a more tense phase after the US embassy issued sharp security warnings and questioned Iraq’s ability to…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World Relatives of a soldier killed in an airstrike on Habbaniyah base carry the Iraqi flag during his funeral (AFP)

Iraq Pushes to Centralize War Powers Under State Control

Iraqi security sources reported a breakthrough in investigations into rocket and drone attacks on diplomatic and security sites, as political and legal…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits the intelligence HQ in Baghdad on Sunday after Saturday's attack. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)

Attack on Iraqi Intelligence HQ Ends Opportunities for Dialogue between Govt, Armed Factions

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani slammed on Sunday the attack by a “cowardly” armed faction against an intelligence headquarters in Baghdad. His…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World An Iraqi armored vehicle near the US Embassy in Baghdad (AFP)

Attacks in Baghdad Breach Fragile Militia Truce

A wave of coordinated attacks struck Baghdad in a sharp escalation of Iraq’s security tensions, pointing to a shift in armed factions’ tactics and signaling…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World The US Embassy headquarters in Baghdad's fortified "Green Zone" is pictured on March 18, 2026. (AFP)

After Pressure, Iraqi Factions Stop Attacks on US Embassy

Political parties in Iraq have carried out intense efforts over the past two days to contain the escalation in the country in wake of increased attacks on the…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Arab World The US Embassy compound in Iraq inside the Green Zone in Baghdad (AFP) 

Talks in Baghdad Aim to Halt Attacks on US Embassy

A series of meetings held over the past two days inside Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone have produced a preliminary framework aimed at halting attacks on the US…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)