Security

As Iraq tries to rein in paramilitary groups, oil sector threats remain

Several armed groups say they will put their weapons under state control, but the most aggressive Iran-backed fighters remain outside the process.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (center front) attends a ceremony on June 14, 2026, to mark the 12th anniversary of the creation of the Popular Mobilization Forces. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Mar 17, 2017

Intra-Kurdish tensions high amidst provocations and protests

Security forces affiliated with Kurdistan's ruling KDP party have deployed near several PKK-heavy areas, raising the prospect of more violent confrontations.

Mar 10, 2017

Kirkuk oil crisis subsides as PUK faction withdraws

"Black Force" special police left key energy sites in Kirkuk, but the political tensions that produced the dramatic showdown remain unresolved.

Mar 7, 2017

Wellheads burn at Hamrin field after deadly IS attack

Four Hashid soldiers were killed in an attack late Monday, when IS insurgents set multiple wellheads on fire.

Mar 7, 2017

PUK faction seizes more Kirkuk energy infrastructure

"Black Force" special police took over the North Gas Company headquarters Sunday, and continue to occupy the IT-1 station, as tensions over Kirkuk energy resources escalate.

Mar 3, 2017

Kurdish rivalries combust in deadly Sinjar battle

Proxy forces backed by Kurdistan's ruling KDP party and the PKK fought a four-hour battle Friday, foreshadowing a new phase of volatility for territory liberated from IS.

Mar 2, 2017

UPDATE: Armed political faction interrupts Kirkuk exports

The "Black Force" special police unit of the PUK party briefly took over Kirkuk's IT-1 facility - a sign of deteriorating intra-Kurdish political rivalries.

Feb 28, 2017

Inside the black heart of IS’s oil sector

On the Mosul outskirts, the IS group's Iraqi oil refining hub – recently seized by Iraqi forces – shows how the militants used savvy management to fuel their killing machine.

Feb 27, 2017

One dead in Bai Hassan oil field bombing

Two IED attacks have hit northern Iraqi oil fields in the past week.

Feb 25, 2017

Iraqi forces breach western Mosul

Backed by U.S. special operations advisors and coalition air power, Iraqi forces enter a new phase of intense urban combat.

Feb 23, 2017

Oil Police expose potential Basra refinery threat

At a checkpoint outside one of Iraq's largest refineries, canine units catch suspected IS operatives driving a tanker truck.