MECRA
Exclusive videos: Iranian attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in Iran
On November 14 Iran carried out drone and missile attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq. MECRA co-director Jonathan Spyer...
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MECRA RESEARCH BLOG
The MECRA research blog is composed of short articles and may include outside contributions. The views expressed in these blogs and articles are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis editorial stance.
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MECRA
Sep 8, 20229 min read
‘Sadr will not allow a new government to be established by the Coordination Framework at any cost'
Analysis of Iraq’s current situation, and interviews with two Iraqis close to the Sadrist movement Last week, Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada...
MECRA
Apr 4, 20224 min read
Chinese investments in Iraq involve cooperation with Iran-backed Militias
A number of articles in recent months have focused on the issue of large scale Chinese investments in Iraq. According to a February 2nd...
MECRA
Jan 23, 202213 min read
A closer look at BBC Persian's full interview with Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali
Translation by: MECRA. Introduction Qais al-Khazali, 47, is the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq organization - one of the Iraqi Shia...
MECRA
Dec 22, 20214 min read
Shia Militia protests in Baghdad: Report from within the current Demonstrations
The testimonies below were obtained by MECRA’s Iraq correspondent in interviews in December 2021 with militants of the Ktaeb Hizballah...
MECRA
Oct 13, 20219 min read
Iraqi Voices on US withdrawal from Iraq – including interview with Shia MIlitia Spokesman
The three interviews below, conducted by MECRA, represent three different Iraqi responses to the prospect of US withdrawal from the...
MECRA
May 29, 20216 min read
Demonstrators speak of suppression, killing, kidnapping and arrests in Baghdad
Large demonstrations took place on Tahrir Square, Baghdad, on Tuesday, 25/5. At least one demonstrator was shot dead and many more...
MECRA
Mar 29, 20217 min read
Christians in the Ninawa Plain fear the presence of Pro-Iran Militias
By MECRA researcher in IRAQ Place: Baghdad Date: March 23, 2021 Since the expulsion of ISIS from the Ninawa Plains of Iraq in 2017, local...
MECRA
Mar 9, 202121 min read
Iran tensions in the Middle East March 2021
IranThe daily updates are compiled by Seth J. Frantzman, Executive Director of MECRA. For the previous installment which covers December...
MECRA
Feb 25, 20211 min read
Impact of rockets on Coalition facilities at Erbil International Airport
During a trip to eastern Syria and the Erbil International Airport on February 20 our expert photographed the area impacted by rockets...
MECRA
Feb 15, 20215 min read
Rockets target Erbil
Rockets have targeted Erbil on the evening of February 15, 2021. The rockets hit several areas in a radius of five kilometers from one...
MECRA
Feb 11, 20216 min read
Dispute between Baghdad and KRI over Oil Revenues Continues
By: MECRA Correspondent in Iraq Date: February 9, 2021 Place: Baghdad A key issue facing relations between the Iraqi government and the...
MECRA
Feb 4, 20216 min read
Spotlight on the Iraqi Economy
“Iraq can't open the door to Gulf or other Arab countries for help because it's under Iran's control” Date: January-February, 2021 Place:...
MECRA
Jan 16, 20215 min read
Severe, wide-reaching Israeli airstrikes against Iranian militias in Syria bear a message for Iran
By OMAR ABU LAYLA Summary: Israeli airstrikes on January 13 struck hard at Iranian militias outposts and Assad’s forces in Deir Ezzor....
MECRA
Dec 22, 20206 min read
Testimony from local people on Shia militia activity in Anbar and Mosul areas
Date: December.2020. Place: Baghdad Noori, close to Hashd Al-Aayabat (Shrines militia, associated with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani) and...
MECRA
Dec 12, 20207 min read
Iraqi proxy militias threaten Saudi investment in Iraq
Time: 08:30 pm (Local time, Baghdad) Place: Baghdad, Iraq IRAQI-SAUDI agreement On November 8, 2020, the Iraqi-Saudi Committee met in...
MECRA
Dec 5, 202017 min read
US-Iran and Israel-Iran tensions December 2020 to March 2021
For the previous installment of our daily Iran-US tensions blog, click here. For the next installment click here. December 1 Brodsky: Al...
MECRA
Nov 22, 20206 min read
An inside look at the Rab' Allah movement in Iraq
In the following report by MECRA in Iraq spoke to people across the country about the group Rab' Allah (spelled "Rabaallah"). We have...
MECRA
Nov 20, 20205 min read
Rab’ Allah: A New Shia Militia Group in Iraq Threatens Americans
By HOGR TARKHANI Designating several Shia militia groups by the State Department as a terrorist group and killing Qasem Soleimani and...
MECRA
Nov 9, 202011 min read
Residents can't return to Sinjar if there is no strong government capable of protecting civilians
A recent agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the region of Sinjar in northwestern Iraq has profound...
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