Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units have conducted numerous arrests of alleged ‘Bathists’ in recent days that raise questions about the legitimacy of the arrests and the political reasons behind them. As intra-Shiite conflict simmers in Iraq, arrests and questions about them threaten to derail attempts to restore calm after some of …

Iran took a step toward joining in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at a summit in Uzbekistan this week. Iran is getting closer to joining China and Russia in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Reuters reported Thursday that at a summit in Uzbekistan this week, Iran signed a memorandum of obligations to …

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip may be coordinating with Hezbollah, which could complicate Israel-Lebanon gas talks. The Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip have laid the foundation stone for a sea passage that connects the enclave to the outside world, during a popular event held in the Gaza seaport …