Iraq

Factbox: On the IMF Loan to Iraq

By Sali Mahdy

In late September, the Iraqi parliament voted to dismiss Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari over corruption allegations. Zebari had led Iraq’s efforts to secure aid to manage its economic crisis, and most recently, successfully negotiated an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for Iraq. A day after the vote, the IMF reaffirmed its commitment to work with […]

Governance Battle Crucial in Iraq, says Retired Gen. David H. Petraeus

By Ashish Kumar Sen

This is Part 2 of a two-part interview. Retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus believes that the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, while a “generational” one, will eventually be won. The more consequential battle, he contends, is the war that will follow: for governance. In Syria, Petraeus said, while Russia’s military […]

Tal Afar: Prospect for Escalation

By Ramzy Mardini

The international media often describes the city of Mosul, the capital of Ninawa province, as the Islamic State’s (ISIS) last remaining stronghold in Iraq. However, there is another major stronghold that may soon be a flashpoint between rival factions of the anti-ISIS coalition. In late October, Iraq’s Shia militias opened a new front in the […]

What a Donald Trump Presidency Means for the Middle East

By MENASource

On November 8, Donald J. Trump was elected the forty-fifth president of the United States. In transcribed interviews, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East experts weigh in on what a Donald Trump presidency means for the Middle East.

What the Loss of Mosul Will Mean for ISIS

By Mona Alami

As Iraqi forces continue to push further into the Islamic State’s bastion in Mosul, the looming loss of this key city heralds the end of the Islamic caliphate as a pseudo state. The organization, however, may survive as an insurgency and more importantly through the continuity of its “ideological caliphate.”

It’s Time to Think About a Post-ISIS Strategy

As the military offensive in Mosul intensifies and plans are drawn up for an assault on Raqqa, the forces opposing the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) must consider the political implications of tactical engagement, specifically, who will assume control once the terrorist group is defeated? “When we talk about ISIS and the day […]