A roadside bomb killed an Iraqi brigadier general and a soldier near Kirkuk. Two others wounded. The troops were searching an Islamic State hideout.
Iraq's military.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has arrived in Riyadh for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, according to his media office.
A delta wing UAV, presumed to be a Shahed 136, crossed from Iran into the airspace of Iraq's Kurdistan Region.
@hey_itsmyturn
Several explosions have been heard today in Erbil, Iraq, according to Fars News Agency.
The cause of the explosions is unknown as of now.
NOW: Iranian forces are currently conducting drone attacks on Kurdistan Freedom parties’ headquarters in Erbil, Iraq.
This is the first Iranian attacks on KRI parties since the US withdrawal of troops from Iraq on September 30, 2026.
NOW: Iranian forces are currently conducting drone attacks on Kurdistan Freedom parties’ headquarters in Erbil, Iraq.
This is the first Iranian attacks on KRI parties since the US withdrawal of troops from Iraq on September 30, 2026.
Contributed by: @BeamTracker_
Iraq's Communications Minister has banned the navigation app Waze over its Israeli ownership, keeping the restriction in place despite public criticism inside the country.
Kann news.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem, speaking at the opening of the group's Hassan Nasrallah Heritage Center, said Israel will not be able to remain in southern Lebanon and that his group will not offer anything in exchange for a withdrawal. He also congratulated Iraqis on what he called driving the American occupier out of Iraq.
Report: The U.S. has authorized Israel to operate without previous restrictions in Iraqi airspace, reportedly allowing Israeli strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
Israel Hayom.
Here’s the welcome given to the first Iranian flight at Najaf Airport in Iraq, following the suspension and subsequent resumption of flights between Iran and Iraq.
-Tasnim News Agency
A commission of inquiry has been ordered by Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi after the U.S. flag was desecrated at pro-Iranian celebrations marking the American withdrawal.
In 2018, Israeli strategist Dan Schueftan was asked what the best case scenario for Iran would look like.
Schueftan argued that regime change was necessary first and foremost for the Iranian people, describing Iranian society as one of the...
In 2018, Israeli strategist Dan Schueftan was asked what the best case scenario for Iran would look like.
Schueftan argued that regime change was necessary first and foremost for the Iranian people, describing Iranian society as one of the Middle East’s greatest long term hopes.
HOST: “What will be the best case scenario in terms of Iran? Like regime change, and then like a government that is friendly to Israel?”
DAN SCHUEFTAN: “Look, the regime change in Iran is necessary primarily for the Iranian people. The Iranian people, in the long run, are the greatest hope in the Middle East next to Israel, because this is a very able people.
“The Iranian society is very impressive. You have very strong pluralistic elements in Iranian society, even under the present regime. Even this regime did not manage to obliterate these elements in Iran, so that it is very promising.
“And one day, when this regime is gone, Iran will be, I think, a major instrument for stabilizing the Middle East, for modernizing the Middle East, for getting countries in this region to be successful in their attempt to deal with the challenges of the 21st century.
“I have only good expectations from the Iranian society. The only thing that is wrong within Iran is the regime.”
HOST: “Just to be clear, the regime change has to come from within the country, not from outside?”
SCHUEFTAN: “No, no, no. The whole idea of regime change from the outside is ridiculous. We stupidly tried it in Lebanon in ’82. The Americans stupidly tried it in Iraq in 2003.
“The whole idea of changing regime from the outside doesn’t work.
“But when you make economic realities difficult, the first response will be the regime is strengthened, because they say, ‘They’re all against us, and let us unite.’
“But over time, when they have many, many other reasons, the economic reason is just the trigger. There are many other reasons.
“The Iranians don’t want to live under a disgusting, barbaric regime. Iran is nothing less than a barbaric regime, with a people that deserves better and can produce much, much better than this barbarism.
“So this can help. I mean, look: economic pressure brought the Soviet Union down, in the final analysis. Not the niceties of Europe, but the economic pressure that came from the Reagan administration, to a large extent. It was a cumulative effect.”
Scenes of Iraqi planes flying over cities on the occasion of Iraqi Sovereignty Day
Iraq
Iraqi Sovereignty Day
Iraqi government spokesman: A new shipment of cash dollars has arrived under a U.S. understanding.
Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces are preparing a "Martyrs' Victory March" to mark what it calls the expulsion of American occupation forces from Iraq.
Iraq
Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi: a roadmap is in place to deal with weapons outside state control, with a deadline of June 30, 2027. War and peace are decided only by the constitutional authorities, and no military action will go against that.
This comes a day after Baghdad and Washington announced the full U.S. withdrawal after 12 years. Pro-Iranian militias are celebrating and in no rush to disarm.
Trump:
Today, I’m pleased to announce that the last American forces are leaving Iraq.
Trump on Iraq:
Iraq's PM Ali al-Zaidi was running for election. He wasn't given even a chance. I endorsed him, and he ended up winning a landslide.
Celebrations were held in Baghdad with senior Iraqi officials attending, after U.S.-led coalition forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq. The American military presence had lasted more than 20 years, beginning with the 2003 invasion.
US Forces have officially ended Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq, following the departure of all US equipment and personnel from Erbil Air Base.
The deployment began in 2014 to counter ISIS presence in the Middle East.
Source: CENTCOM
United States Central Command
Erbil Air Base
Iraq
Middle East
Operation Inherent Resolve
The United States and its coalition partners have formally ended Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, with the departure of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base completing the mission that defeated ISIS.
Responsibility for Iraq's remaining security challenges now rests with the Iraqi government, though Washington will keep providing targeted training and intelligence support.
Department of War.
Najaf International Airport will be the starting point for Iraqi Airways flights to and from Iran, expected to resume in October. The airline secured a special exemption to restart the route, according to Iraq's Transport Ministry.
American troops will be out of their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, ending a military presence that spanned more than two decades and cost 4,500 American lives. Iran and its allies in the country are treating the pullout as a victory. Reuters.
