MECRA
Exclusive videos: Iranian attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in Iran
On November 14 Iran carried out drone and missile attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq. MECRA co-director Jonathan Spyer...
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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MECRA
- Sep 8
- 9 min
‘Sadr will not allow a new government to be established by the Coordination Framework at any cost'
Analysis of Iraq’s current situation, and interviews with two Iraqis close to the Sadrist movement By: MECRA Baghdad Correspondent Last...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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....
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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:...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...
MECRA
- 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...