The prime minister is increasing his direct control over security forces in Iraq's most sensitive disputed areas – straining tensions and gaining key leverage over Kurdistan.
Local governments are fighting an uphill battle against a burgeoning black-market weapons trade, amidst fears that Syrian violence is stoking sectarian conflict in Iraq.
Christians, Yezidis and other minority groups say the KRG-Baghdad fight over oil contracts ignores their pleas for assistance, self-determination.
After negotiations between the Iraqi government and kidnappers – held at a luxury hotel in Basra – four oil workers were freed from more than a month of captivity.
Seven bombs in total were found at the Bai Hassan oil field in Kirkuk province, including two that caused damage but didn't curtain production or exports.
Kidnappers disguised as police have abducted four employees of a Greek pipeline construction firm at a fake checkpoint near Rumaila oil field.
Iraq’s oil transparency and electricity watchdog has two tough goals: transparency for the domestic oil sector and accountability for the most maligned ministry.
Investigators have uncovered a $5 million-per-month smuggling operation that has trafficked Oil Ministry fuel into the Kurdistan region.
Bombs in Turkish territory target the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, temporarily taking it offline.
Amidst growing government hostility towards foreign security companies, the Oil Ministry has ordered oil field subcontractors to get protection from the Oil Police rather than private firms.
