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MECRA RESEARCH BLOG

The MECRA research blog is composed of short articles and may include outside contributions. The views expressed in these blogs and articles are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis editorial stance.

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Chinese investments in Iraq involve cooperation with Iran-backed Militias

Apr 4
4 min

Chinese investments in Iraq involve cooperation with Iran-backed Militias

A number of articles in recent months have focused on the issue of large scale Chinese investments in Iraq. According to a February 2nd...

A closer look at BBC Persian's full interview with Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali

Jan 23
13 min

A closer look at BBC Persian's full interview with Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali

Translation by: MECRA. Introduction Qais al-Khazali, 47, is the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq organization - one of the Iraqi Shia...

Shia Militia protests in Baghdad: Report from within the current Demonstrations

Dec 22, 2021
4 min

Shia Militia protests in Baghdad: Report from within the current Demonstrations

The testimonies below were obtained by MECRA’s Iraq correspondent in interviews in December 2021 with militants of the Ktaeb Hizballah...

Iraqi Voices on US withdrawal from Iraq – including interview with Shia MIlitia Spokesman

Oct 13, 2021
9 min

Iraqi Voices on US withdrawal from Iraq – including interview with Shia MIlitia Spokesman

The three interviews below, conducted by MECRA's Iraq correspondent, represent three different Iraqi responses to the prospect of US...

Demonstrators speak of suppression, killing, kidnapping and arrests in Baghdad

May 29, 2021
6 min

Demonstrators speak of suppression, killing, kidnapping and arrests in Baghdad

Large demonstrations took place on Tahrir Square, Baghdad, on Tuesday, 25/5. At least one demonstrator was shot dead and many more...

Christians in the Ninawa Plain fear the presence of Pro-Iran Militias

Mar 29, 2021
7 min

Christians in the Ninawa Plain fear the presence of Pro-Iran Militias

By MECRA researcher in IRAQ Place: Baghdad Date: March 23, 2021 Since the expulsion of ISIS from the Ninawa Plains of Iraq in 2017, local...

Iran tensions in the Middle East March 2021

Mar 9, 2021
21 min

Iran tensions in the Middle East March 2021

IranThe daily updates are compiled by Seth J. Frantzman, Executive Director of MECRA. For the previous installment which covers December...

Impact of rockets on Coalition facilities at Erbil International Airport

Feb 25, 2021
1 min

Impact of rockets on Coalition facilities at Erbil International Airport

During a trip to eastern Syria and the Erbil International Airport on February 20 our expert photographed the area impacted by rockets...

Rockets target Erbil

Feb 15, 2021
5 min

Rockets target Erbil

Rockets have targeted Erbil on the evening of February 15, 2021. The rockets hit several areas in a radius of five kilometers from one...

Dispute between Baghdad and KRI over Oil Revenues Continues

Feb 11, 2021
6 min

Dispute between Baghdad and KRI over Oil Revenues Continues

By: MECRA Correspondent in Iraq Date: February 9, 2021 Place: Baghdad A key issue facing relations between the Iraqi government and the...

Spotlight on the Iraqi Economy

Feb 4, 2021
6 min

Spotlight on the Iraqi Economy

“Iraq can't open the door to Gulf or other Arab countries for help because it's under Iran's control” By: MECRA Correspondent in Iraq...

Severe, wide-reaching Israeli airstrikes against Iranian militias in Syria bear a message for Iran

Jan 16, 2021
5 min

Severe, wide-reaching Israeli airstrikes against Iranian militias in Syria bear a message for Iran

By OMAR ABU LAYLA Summary: Israeli airstrikes on January 13 struck hard at Iranian militias outposts and Assad’s forces in Deir Ezzor....

Testimony from local people on Shia militia activity in Anbar and Mosul areas

Dec 22, 2020
6 min

Testimony from local people on Shia militia activity in Anbar and Mosul areas

Date: December.2020. Place: Baghdad Noori, close to Hashd Al-Aayabat (Shrines militia, associated with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani) and...

Iraqi proxy militias threaten Saudi investment in Iraq

Dec 12, 2020
7 min

Iraqi proxy militias threaten Saudi investment in Iraq

What follows is a research conducted by our Iraqi-based analyst. It was conducted in November and compiled on November 25, 200. Time:...

US-Iran and Israel-Iran tensions December 2020 to March 2021

Dec 5, 2020
17 min

US-Iran and Israel-Iran tensions December 2020 to March 2021

For the previous installment of our daily Iran-US tensions blog, click here. For the next installment click here. December 1 Brodsky: Al...

An inside look at the Rab' Allah movement in Iraq

Nov 22, 2020
6 min

An inside look at the Rab' Allah movement in Iraq

In the following report our researcher in Iraq spoke to people across the country about the group Rab' Allah (spelled "Rabaallah" in the...

Rab’ Allah: A New Shia Militia Group in Iraq Threatens Americans

Nov 20, 2020
5 min

Rab’ Allah: A New Shia Militia Group in Iraq Threatens Americans

By HOGR TARKHANI Designating several Shia militia groups by the State Department as a terrorist group and killing Qasem Soleimani and...

Residents can't return to Sinjar if there is no strong government capable of protecting civilians

Nov 9, 2020
11 min

Residents can't return to Sinjar if there is no strong government capable of protecting civilians

A recent agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the region of Sinjar in northwestern Iraq has profound...

Salah al-Din Villagers: Our lives are worse now under Shia militia control than during ISIS Era.

Oct 24, 2020
6 min

Salah al-Din Villagers: Our lives are worse now under Shia militia control than during ISIS Era.

By MECRA RESEARCHER in IRAQ The following is the combined testimony of a number of individuals resident in the vicinity of Farhatiya...

Rockets fired at Erbil, Iraq: Residents of Nineveh discuss unprecedented attack; context of Iran

Oct 5, 2020
22 min

Rockets fired at Erbil, Iraq: Residents of Nineveh discuss unprecedented attack; context of Iran

Figure 1: Rocket fire from Sheikh Amir targets Erbil By SETH J. FRANTZMAN, JONATHAN SPYER and MECRA Iraq researchers* On September 30 six...