Iraq’s Prime Minister Leads in Elections but May Struggle to Form a Government

Mohammed al-Sudani pitches himself as someone who can keep Iranian influence in check, but his vote share may not be big enough to ensure a clear political victory.

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As Iraqis Vote for a Parliament, U.S. Presses to Rid Country of Iran’s Influence

After a U.S. occupation, years of sectarian violence and a jihadist insurgency, Iraq has become an improbable haven of calm in the Middle East.

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Iraqis Are Voting for a New Parliament. Here’s What to Know.

Iraq is caught in the conflict between Washington and Tehran, with the Trump administration insisting that the next government disarm powerful Iran-backed militias.

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What to Know About Kataib Hezbollah, the Iraqi Militia That Held Tsurkov Captive

Kataib Hezbollah, a hard-line Iraqi militia linked to Iran, held Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of Israel and Russia, hostage for more than two years.

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In the Trump Era, Cheney’s Brand of Conservatism Became Obsolete

Dick Cheney was once the face of hard-line conservatism. Then hard-line conservatism changed.

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What to Know About Kataib Hezbollah, the Iraqi Militia That Held Tsurkov Captive

Kataib Hezbollah, a hard-line Iraqi militia linked to Iran, held Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of Israel and Russia, hostage for more than two years.

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A Woman Tells of Torture and 2½ Years of Captivity by an Iraqi Militia

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of Israel and Russia, recounts a harrowing story of cruelty, survival, U.S. diplomatic pressure and, finally, release from the grip of a group backed by Iran.

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Elizabeth Tsurkov, Princeton Student, Is Released From Iraq, Trump Says

Iraq’s prime minister also said the group, Kataib Hezbollah, had freed Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli graduate student taken hostage in Iraq in 2023, in a deal with the United States.

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Iran Extends Government Shutdowns Amid Soaring Heat and Power Cuts

Amid suffocating temperatures, the Iranian authorities are closing public offices and cutting water and electricity as the country struggles with an energy crisis.

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Army Special Operations Warns Retired Members of Terror Threat

The alert, issued to retired service members who served in Iraq or Syria and live in Florida, did not specify what kind of threat or which terrorist group was involved.

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