To confront ISIS, get arms and emergency help to Iraq’s Kurds

MENASource
Jun 30, 2025

Balancing acts and breaking points: Iraq’s US-Iran dilemma

By
C. Anthony Pfaff

The future of US–Iraq relations is neither as dim as it may first appear, nor as promising as one might hope.

Geopolitics & Energy Security
Iran

To confront ISIS, get arms and emergency help to Iraq’s Kurds

MENASource
Jun 4, 2025

Why Iraq should build bridges with its ‘new’ neighbor, Syria

By
Shermine Serbest

Iraq’s position on the Syria transition is split between two camps: the official government, and that of the powerful non-state actors.

Iraq
Middle East

To confront ISIS, get arms and emergency help to Iraq’s Kurds

MENASource
Apr 17, 2025

Trump must clarify his Iraq policy. Washington’s Middle East investment hangs in the balance.

By
Sarkawt Shamsulddin

Contradictory signals from the US president on Iraq’s Iran-connected Popular Mobilization Forces risks derailing hard-won progress.

Iraq
Middle East

Programs

The Iraq Initiative provides transatlantic and regional policy makers with unique perspectives and analysis on the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing Iraq as the country tries to build an inclusive political system, attract economic investment, and encourage a vibrant civil society.

EXPLORE THE Iraq INitiative

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Kirsten Fontenrose


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs
Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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Abbas Kadhim


Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Iraq
Middle East


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David Mack


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Iraq Initiative

Middle East
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Masoud Mostajabi


Former Deputy Director, Iraq Initiative

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Energy & Environment
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C. Anthony Pfaff


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Andrew L. Peek


Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

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Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Ahmed Tabaqchali


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
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Thomas S. Warrick


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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Content

New Atlanticist

Aug 12, 2014

To confront ISIS, get arms and emergency help to Iraq’s Kurds

By Bina Hussein and David Koranyi

US Has Declined to Arm Kurdish Forces, But That Now Must Change Iraq’s national army effectively has collapsed before the advance of the brutal guerrillas of the Islamic State, leaving only one effective fighting force – the Kurdish peshmerga – to confront them. As the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has seized much […]

Iraq

In the News

Aug 12, 2014

Burrows: The Strongmen Cometh

By Mathew Burrows

Strategic Foresight Initiative director Mathew Burrows writes for US News & World Report on the return of authoritarianism to governments across the Middle East:

Iraq North Africa

In the News

Aug 12, 2014

Saab: Rolling Back ISIS

By Bilal Y. Saab

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab joins Background Briefing with Ian Masters to discuss how the United States can combat ISIS in Iraq:

Iraq

In the News

Aug 12, 2014

Larémont on the Situation in Iraq

By Ricardo Rene Laremont

Africa Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ricardo René Larémont joins China Radio International to discuss the situation in Iraq:

Iraq

In the News

Aug 12, 2014

Itani on Long-Term US Involvement in Iraq

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani joins the Diane Rehm Show to discuss US involvement in Iraq:  Listen to the full interview.

Iraq

In the News

Aug 11, 2014

Mardini on a New Nominee to Succeed Maliki

By Ramzy Mardini

The Los Angeles Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on Nouri al-Maliki’s reaction to the nomination of a new politician to succeed him as Iraqi prime minister:

Iraq

In the News

Aug 11, 2014

Mardini on New Candidate for Iraqi Prime Minister

By Ramzy Mardini

The Associated Press quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on the selection of a new politician by Iraq’s president to form the country’s next government:

Iraq

MENASource

Aug 11, 2014

An Emergency in Iraq, an Underwhelming US Response

By Faysal Itani

Although President Obama has cited humanitarian concerns for the fate of the endangered Yazidi minority, these air strikes were more likely precipitated by the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham’s (ISIS) recent significant military gains in Northern Iraq.

Iraq

MENASource

Aug 8, 2014

Uncertainties in the Wake of US Intervention in Iraq

By Ramzy Mardini

Last night, President Barack Obama addressed the American public on his decision to authorize two missions: one focused on providing humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of stranded Iraqi civilians from religious minorities fleeing from militants, and the other, to initiate US air strikes should militants advance against the Kurdish city of Irbil, where US […]

Iraq

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2014

Missing in Action (Still): A Broader Iraq Strategy

By Faysal Itani

Although President Obama cited humanitarian concerns for the fate of the endangered Yezidi minority, these air strikes were more likely precipitated by ISIS’s recent significant military gains in Northern Iraq. Kurdish forces, whom the US had expected to hold their ground against and indeed roll back ISIS, have struggled and ceded significant territory. There is […]

Iraq Middle East
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Experts

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Marie Forestier 

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic French

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Scott D. Berrier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Linda Lourie

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Artificial Intelligence Australia

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Staff

Nibras Basitkey

Associate Director, empowerME

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society
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