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Israel-Iraq relations

Illustrative: A shepherd walks by as smoke rises into the sky from an air base following attacks in Harir, Iraq, March 12, 2026. (AP/Leo Correa)
May 10, 2026, 12:37 am
Israel said to have built secret base in Iraqi desert to support Iran air campaign
According to Wall Street Journal, Israeli troops launched airstrikes against Iraqi forces who nearly discovered the airbase in early March; at the time, Iraq blamed US for the strikes
By ToI Staff
People riding on a moped wave Iraqi and Iranian flags as they celebrate in front of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad on June 24, 2025, following a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)
June 25, 2025, 3:02 pm
Iraq arrests pro-Iran commentator who claimed radar struck by drone aided Israel
Abbas al-Ardawi detained for ‘incitement intended to insult and defame the security institution’ after now-deleted post saying French radar ‘served’ Israel against Iran
By AFP and ToI Staff
Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian academic who was kidnapped in Iraq in March 2023, speaks in a clip aired November 13, 2023, by Iraq's Al Rabiaa satellite TV network. (Screenshot: X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
March 10, 2025, 3:16 pm
US reportedly warns Iraq of consequences if it doesn’t ensure kidnapped Israeli freed
Trump envoy Adam Boehler tells Iraqi PM there will be political, economic repercussions if academic Elizabeth Tsurkov remains captive, Qatari paper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports
By Lazar Berman
Elizabeth Tsurkov in an undated photo (Social media; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
January 23, 2025, 5:39 pm
Iraqi FM says Israeli researcher held hostage is alive, efforts ongoing to free her
Russian-Israeli academic Elizabeth Tsurkov is believed to be held by Iran-backed militia Kataeb Hezbollah since 2023 abduction; hostage envoys met with her family this month
By ToI Staff
Elizabeth Tsurkov in an undated photo (Social media; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
January 10, 2025, 2:33 am
Israel seeks to rally global support for release of researcher held captive in Iraq
Government envoys meet family of Elizabeth Tsurkov and representatives from five countries, in effort to free Princeton doctoral student believed to be held by Iran-backed group
By AP and ToI Staff
Members of an Iraqi Shiite militant group attend the funeral of a fighter with the Kataeb Hezbollah terror militia who was killed in a US airstrike, in Baghdad, Iraq, January 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
November 1, 2024, 9:52 am
Iraq trying to reel in Iran-backed groups to prevent confrontation with Israel
Tehran said to have denied Baghdad’s requests to have pro-Iran militias in Iraq discontinue strikes on Israel and US forces in region
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Illustrative: A weightlifter lifts on an Olympic style platform (Darwin Brandis; iStock by Getty Images)
September 16, 2023, 3:10 am
Iraqi weightlifter criticized in Baghdad for competing with an Israeli
Country’s weightlifting federation defends athlete, while stressing its ‘rejection of all normalization with the Zionist state’
By AFP
An undated photo of Elizabeth Tsurkov (from elizabeth-tsurkov.net)
July 5, 2023, 10:15 pm
Israeli researcher abducted in Iraq by radical Shiite militia
Elizabeth Tsurkov entered Iraq on her Russian passport in March, Prime Minister’s Office announces; says it holds Iraq ‘responsible for her fate and safety’
By Gianluca Pacchiani, Tal Schneider and Lazar Berman
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi talks during a meeting with US President Joe Biden, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
July 16, 2022, 5:47 pm
Iraqi PM says he is ready for regional dialogue, but refuses to comment on Israel
‘Iraq contributed to the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, and several sessions held were successful and fruitful,’ al-Kadhimi says prior to Jeddah summit with Biden
By Qassim Abdul-Zahra
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi meets with Basra provincial Council members in Basra, Iraq, September 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
July 16, 2022, 3:23 am
US and Israel want to unite Middle East against Iran, but Iraq could pose a problem
The country that is central to American plans for the region has just formally outlawed normalization with Israel — and made it punishable by death
By Ron Kampeas
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gather in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on May 26, 2022, to celebrate the passing of a bill that criminalizes normalization of ties with Israel. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP)
May 28, 2022, 8:27 am
Foreign Ministry slams Iraqi law banning ties with Israel: ‘Wrong side of history’
Israel says normalization agreements with Arab states are future of stability, prosperity in Middle East; calls on Iraqi people not to support ‘extremist position’
By ToI Staff
Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold a poster with his photo and wave an Iraqi flag as they celebrate the passing of a law criminalizing the normalization of ties with Israel, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
May 27, 2022, 7:26 am
US slams Iraqi law banning ties with Israel: ‘Promotes environment of antisemitism’
State Department says legislation jeopardizes freedom of expression, contrasts with progress being made by Baghdad’s neighbors who joined Abraham Accords
By Jacob Magid and AP
A general view shows a damaged mansion following an overnight attack in Erbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region, on March 13, 2022 (SAFIN HAMED / AFP)
March 28, 2022, 7:01 pm
Iran bombed Iraq’s Kurdish region over natural gas plan involving Israel – report
Iraqi official says businessman’s villa pounded in missile attack earlier this month was site of meetings with Israeli officials on a pipeline to supply Turkey, Europe
By ToI Staff
Iraqis attend a conference of peace and reclamation organized by US think tank Center for Peace Communications in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's Kurdistan autonomous region, on September 24, 2021. (Safin Hamed/AFP)
September 30, 2021, 12:53 pm
After death threats, Iraqis who attended pro-Israel normalization summit recant
Speaker says he didn’t mean to call for peace with Israel, others say they were misled about conference’s content; pro-Iran militia says normalizers are ‘legitimate targets’
By Aaron Boxerman
Iraqis attend a conference of peace and reclamation organized by US think tank Center for Peace Communications in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's Kurdistan autonomous region, on September 24, 2021. (Safin Hamed/AFP)
September 27, 2021, 9:42 am
Baghdad is not about to make peace, but Israel can back Iraqis’ right to dissent
Furious official reaction to normalization conference was predictable, as Abraham Accords have yet to attract new members after Trump-Netanyahu era
By Lazar Berman
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