Former PKK fighters could join Iran’s Kurdish insurgency, strengthening PJAK and threatening to destabilize the Iran–Iraq–Türkiye border region. Iraq and Türkiye face growing security risks, as renewed Kurdish militancy could undermine Ankara’s peace process, Iraqi sovereignty, and regional energy infrastructure. Washington faces a strategic dilemma, as supporting Kurdish militants against Iran could alienate NATO ally...

A U.S. ground invasion of Iran could become a military catastrophe, with difficult terrain, entrenched defenses, and the risk of prolonged guerrilla warfare. An invasion could send oil prices toward $200 per barrel, worsening inflation and imposing enormous economic and military costs. Diplomacy offers a less destructive alternative. The ghosts of Baghdad and Kabul should...

On 30 September 2026, Ali Al-Zaidi, Iraq’s prime minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, marked Sovereignty Day and the conclusion of the mission of the international coalition forces to combat the Islamic State in Iraq. 1 October 2026 is “the day after” and is an opportunity for Washington to redefine the relationship rather than...