Iraq
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Background
AI-generatedIraq is a country in the Middle East situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known for its ancient Mesopotamian heritage and significant oil reserves.
Geography
Iraq is located in the Middle East, bordered by Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria and Jordan to the west, and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the south, with a small coastline on the Persian Gulf. The country encompasses the historic Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Its capital and largest city is Baghdad.
Government
Iraq is a federal parliamentary republic with a multi-party political system established after 2003. Executive authority is shared between a largely ceremonial president and a prime minister who serves as head of government, while a Council of Representatives holds legislative power. The political structure reflects a power-sharing arrangement among the country's Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish communities, and the Kurdistan Region in the north retains a degree of autonomy.
Economy
Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which provide the majority of government revenue and foreign exchange earnings. Other sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services, remain comparatively underdeveloped due to decades of conflict and underinvestment. The country continues to face challenges such as infrastructure rebuilding, corruption, and diversifying its economy away from hydrocarbons.
Current relevance
In mid-2026, Iraq is in the news due to regional military tensions involving Iran-linked militias operating on its territory, with reports of US and allied strikes targeting these groups amid a broader confrontation with Iran. Iraq's position between rival regional powers, including the United States, Iran, and Gulf Arab states, continues to make its territory a flashpoint for proxy conflicts and security incidents.
Background context generated by AI from public knowledge and recent Apprise coverage. Facts may lag current events — see the stories below for the latest.
In the news
1:05Trump scoffs at Iran's demand for war reparations and other Mideast developments
President Donald Trump is scoffing at Iran's demands that the U.S. pay for devastation caused by five months of war
54sUS thwarts an Iranian missile attack and launches strikes with Saudi Arabia against militias in Iraq
The U.S. military says it successfully intercepted an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabia’s forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days
How Iraq connects
Entities appearing in the same stories over the last 90 days. Thicker lines mean more shared coverage — click any node to explore it.