MIDDLE EAST CENTER FOR REPORTING AND ANALYSIS

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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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2 days ago
4 min

The US-led Coalition has now left three bases in Iraq: Qaim, Q-West and K-1

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN The US-led Coalition handed over an area of K-1 Air Base on Sunday, the third post in a week handed over to Iraqi Security Forces. This ...

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MECRA

3 days ago
8 min

New tensions in Iraq: The Coalition, the Pentagon, Kataib Hezbollah and Tehran

The US and Iran are preparing for a new round in Iraq.

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MECRA

4 days ago
2 min

Coronavirus in the Middle East DAILY updates by MECRA

Since the last edition (March 21-26) and the March 11 of the Middle East Coronavirus Daily Update (MECDU) we have seen major rises in the number of cases. Tu...

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MECRA

Mar 23
6 min

US-Iran and Iran-Israel tensions March 22 and beyond

Read our previous installment March 12-21, 2020 of the daily updates of US-Iran tensions at this link. March 22 A look at the satellite photos of Albukamal a...

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MECRA

Mar 21
9 min

Coronavirus in the Middle East: Daily updates part IV: From March 21

Coronavirus threatens the Middle East

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MECRA

Mar 17
11 min

Who is Adnan Zarfi (Zurufi), the new Iraqi PM designate: Sources, background and current events

Compiled by Seth J. Frantzman and Kareem Botane Who is Adnan al-Zarfi (Zurufi عدنان الزرفي), the man tasked with forming yet another Iraqi government on Mar...

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MECRA

Mar 13
1 min

Mapping the US retaliation for the Camp Taji attack March 11-13

March 11 7:35pm (Baghdad time): Rockets strike Camp Taji, Iraq. 8:26pm (Baghdad time) Iraqi security forces release images of the truck and 107mm rocket laun...

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MECRA

Mar 12
13 min

US-Iran and Iran-Israel tensions daily updates March 12 and beyond

Coronavirus threatens the Middle East

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MECRA

Mar 11
5 min

An attack on US-led Coalition at Camp Taji, March 11, 2020: Escalation and questions of deterrence

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A rocket attack on Camp Taji Iraq on march 11 has killed Americans and has led to tensions in Iraq. CENTCOM says "Three Coalition person...

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MECRA

Mar 10
5 min

Shamkhani's Iraq visit: Shoring up Tehran's role

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani (علی شمخانی) made a high profile trip to Iraq in M...

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MECRA

Mar 6
16 min

US-Iran and Israel-Iran tensions timeline 2020 January to March

This timeline is the second part of a timeline that goes back to 2017, see the first part here. It seeks to include details about rising US-Iran tensions and...

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MECRA

Mar 4
9 min

On the eve of another Prime Minister, Iraqis discuss their experience in protests

Interviews with KAREEM BOTANE What follows are three interviews conducted in the streets of southern Iraq during the period leading up to the failure of Moha...

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MECRA

Feb 21
3 min

Who is Abu Fadak, Abdul-Aziz al-Muhammadawi, the man who will replace Muhandis?

On February 21 reports indicated that Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a US airstrike on January 3, would finally be replaced in his position as depu...

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MECRA

Feb 16
6 min

Escalation: Nujaba's Kaabi and the February 16 rocket attack on US forces in Iraq

A rocket attack directed at a Coalition base near the US embassy on the night of February 15-16 raises concerns about recent threats to US forces in Iraq co...

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MECRA

Feb 10
4 min

Iraq's protesters: "No one cares about us but we continue our revolution"

Iraq’s protests: “No one cares about us, but we will not stop our revolution” What follows is an interview with a protester in Iraq conducted on February 9, ...

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MECRA

Feb 7
12 min

From Badr to Sadr: Iraq's crucial moment January 27 to February 7

From Badr to Sadr: Iraqi protests January 27 to February 7 By KAREEM BOTANE and MECRA STAFF The period of review from January 27 to February 7 may be a cruci...

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MECRA

Feb 1
5 min

Who is Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, Iraq's possible next Prime Minister

Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi may be Iraq's next Prime Minister. His selection by President Barham Salih comes just over two months since Prime Minister Adel Abdul ...

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MECRA

Jan 24
3 min

January 24: Photos and commentary from Iraq's "Million person protest"

Photos by KAREEM BOTANE Photos by KAREEM BOTANE text by MECRA Protesters gathered in Baghdad on January 24 for what Muqtada al-Sadr and others called a milli...

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MECRA

Jan 24
3 min

Iraq's iconic four-months of protests continue: Week 17 interviews with participants

Exclusive interview with the coordinator of logistics for the demonstrations: Discussion about the militia interventions at Tahrir square By KAREEM BOTANE Da...

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MECRA

Jan 6
8 min

An interview with a senior officer of a special unit of Hashd al Shaabi (PMU)

By KAREEM BOTANE This interview was conducted on January 3 in Baghdad, Iraq in the wake of the US srike that killed Qasim Solaimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis...

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