Baghdad
Photo: Aurelio de Sandoval, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- Oct 20
Oil eases from five-month high as Iran mediation hopes offset Hormuz tanker attacks
Brent crude reached 111.99 USD early on Tuesday, 20 October, then closed at 108.79 USD on ICE after reports of mediation efforts involving Iran, Pakistan and Qatar.
- Oct 6
Oil drops as Hormuz tanker traffic rises and Kuwait pumps 2 million barrels daily
Brent crude fell below $100 per barrel on Tuesday as Gulf producers increased tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iraq prepared tenders for chartered tankers.
- Oct 3
Iraq secures US sanctions waiver allowing 40 daily Iranian flights to Najaf
The United States approved an exemption allowing Iranian carriers to operate up to 40 daily flights to Najaf International Airport, restoring pilgrimage air routes halted by aviation sanctions.
- Oct 1
Germany completes military withdrawal from Iraq as last 28 soldiers return from Erbil
The final contingent of 28 Bundeswehr personnel landed at Wunstorf Air Base on Thursday following the handover of their Erbil camp to Iraqi authorities, ending an 11-year mission.
- Sep 27
US and coalition troops complete Iraq withdrawal after 12-year anti-ISIS mission
The United States and coalition partners concluded Operation Inherent Resolve on September 30, ending foreign military presence at Erbil Air Base and handing full security control to Baghdad.
- Sep 25
Turkey agrees to transfer Bashiqa military base in northern Iraq to Baghdad
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi agreed in New York to a phased handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan base as Iraq restores federal authority in Sinjar.
- Sep 20
US coalition detonates munitions near Erbil airport ahead of planned exit from Iraq
Kurdish authorities confirmed a blast near Erbil International Airport resulted from a controlled coalition munitions disposal during a training exercise, causing no casualties or damage.
- Sep 20
Iraqi court opens trial of six French Islamic State suspects facing death penalty
A Baghdad criminal court opened proceedings on Sunday against six French nationals accused of Islamic State membership, adjourning the hearing to October 5 to allow defence lawyers to examine the case files.
- Sep 13
Saudi Arabia closes East-West pipeline following drone attacks launched from Iraq
Saudi Arabia halted flows along its 7-million-barrel-per-day East-West pipeline after drone strikes from southern Iraq hit pumping stations, prompting Baghdad to close three border crossings with Iran and dismiss a regional military commander.
- Aug 23
Iran grants special permits for Iraqi oil tankers to navigate Strait of Hormuz
State news agency Irna confirmed on 22 August 2026 that Tehran permitted selected Iraqi crude shipments across the chokepoint over the past six months, even as Iran prepares future transit fees and holds talks with Oman.
- Aug 22
Iran grants special Strait of Hormuz transit permits to Iraqi oil tankers
Tehran has granted special clearance for Iraqi oil tankers to navigate the Strait of Hormuz following three days of diplomatic talks in Baghdad, easing transport constraints on Iraqi crude exports.
- Aug 21
US inflation accelerates in August as diesel tops $6 and rate hike expectations rise
August consumer price figures and diesel prices exceeding $6 per gallon have solidified expectations for a Federal Reserve rate increase next week, while businesses across the food and retail supply chains report mounting transport costs.
- Aug 18
Canada and US trade dispute escalates after $20 billion tariff clash and auto sector demands
Canadian officials insist any future bilateral trade pact must protect domestic automotive manufacturing and cultural policies following reciprocal $20 billion tariff actions.
- Aug 16
North Korea fires 10 ballistic missiles after Trump proposes meeting Kim
Pyongyang launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Kim Jong Un later this year and ordered joint military drills scaled back.
- Aug 11
Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey after Israeli warning of Iranian missile threat
President Donald Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a smaller military jet via a catering truck on July 8 after Israel warned of an Iranian missile threat during the NATO summit in Ankara, while the CIA reportedly doubted the intelligence.
- Aug 2
US embassies urge Americans to consider leaving Middle East as Trump threatens 'very hard' strikes on Iran
Security alerts posted by US missions in nine capitals on Saturday warn of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions, as Washington considers new massive bombings against Iran.
- Aug 1
US embassies across Middle East tell Americans to prepare to leave as Iran conflict widens to Egypt
Diplomatic missions in Amman, Jerusalem, Muscat, Baghdad and Beirut issued coordinated alerts on Saturday after a drone strike hit a Greek gas carrier and a US floating gas depot at an Egyptian port.
- Jul 31
US readies weekend strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure as Tehran warns of 'decisive response'
Trump authorizes large-scale attacks on Iranian energy sites, while Iran's foreign minister cautions against 'adventurous' moves and a tanker is hit near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Jul 31
US strikes Iran again as conflict widens to Iraq and Egypt; Hamas disarmament talks reported
US Central Command launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iran on Thursday night after Iranian missile attacks on American forces in Jordan and Kuwait, while joint US-Saudi strikes killed 20 militia fighters in Iraq and a suspected drone hit an LNG terminal in Egypt.
- Jul 30
US launches heavy wave of strikes on Iran after ballistic missile attack on Jordan base, ending fragile pause
The US launched a two-hour wave of airstrikes on dozens of IRGC targets across Iran overnight, responding to an Iranian ballistic missile attack on American forces in Jordan that shattered a days-long lull in hostilities.
