The return would deepen Iran’s sway in Iraq and erode the post-2003 state institutions built by the US and its allies Nuri al-Maliki, the former Iraqi prime minister long seen as aligned with Tehran, is edging toward a political comeback, raising alarm in Washington just as the US heads into …

Key Takeaways Syria: The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to extend their ceasefire in northeastern Syria for 15 days on January 24. The continued ceasefire will help ensure that the government offensive does not inflict lasting harm on US counter-Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham …

The US-backed, Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capitulated to the Syrian government in a ceasefire agreement on January 18.[1] The government compelled the SDF to agree after a combination of government operations and tribal uprisings caused the SDF to withdraw from nearly half of its territory and most of the …