The wars in Iraq and Syria have effectively merged into one sprawling conflict, especially in light of the massive blitz across northern and central Iraq by militant group ISIS and its affiliates.

MAP: Islamic State’s massacres in Syria and Iraq October 20, 2014 More than 10 years ago Summary By Swati Sharma ...

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday, March 13, 2018, that he is reopening airports in Iraq’s Kurdish region to international flights after federal authority was restored at the hubs.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday gave authorities in Kurdistan 72 hours to give the central government control of airports, a day after the autonomous region voted on independence.

Airports in Najaf and Sulaimaniyah were also closed for the day, the agency said. Authorities in seven of Iraq’s 18 provinces, including Baghdad, ordered government offices to shut.