Iraq

The Taliban’s top military commander has rejected President Donald Trump‘s call for the return of the Bagram air base to US control. The commander warned of a strong reaction to any form of hostility. The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Fasihuddin Fitrat, dismissed Trump’s...

Wall Street flipped into the red Wednesday afternoon after news broke that the U.S. is pulling some embassy staff from multiple Middle Eastern countries, a move that reignited geopolitical fears. Just after 3:00 p.m. ET, several news outlets, including the Associated Press, reported that the U.S....

U.S. forces, in collaboration with Iraqi intelligence and security services, successfully killed a high-profile leader of ISIS in a precision airstrike on Thursday in western Iraq. Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, known by his alias “Abu Khadijah,” was one of the most dangerous...

At least five rockets were fired from Iraq towards a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria. This marks the first attack on U.S. forces since early February. What Happened: The rockets were launched from the town of Zummar in Iraq, targeting the U.S. military base in northeastern Syria. The...

In a series of alleged retaliatory strikes, Israel reportedly targeted Iran, Syria, and Iraq. The strikes come in response to an Iranian missile attack on Israel. What Happened: On Friday, Israel reportedly launched a missile strike on Iran, which was followed by explosions in central Iran,...

In a significant development in the energy sector, Iraq is set to reactivate a previously dormant pipeline to Turkey, which could substantially impact regional oil exports and negotiations. What Happened: Iraq is reviving a pipeline to Turkey, potentially exporting 350,000 barrels per day by month...

The United States has carried out an airstrike in Iraq, targeting a senior commander of an Iranian-aligned militant group. The strike was in response to a deadly drone attack on a U.S. base, allegedly orchestrated by the militia. What Happened: The Pentagon confirmed that the U.S. military...

In a recent revelation, Iranian entities reportedly used accounts at Lloyds Banking Group PLC (NYSE:LYG) and Banco Santander SA (NYSE:SAN) to evade U.S. sanctions. The banks are now under scrutiny for their involvement in the illicit transactions. What Happened: The Iranian entities, including the...

Oil prices witnessed a sharp 2.5% increase to over $74 per share in early New York trading on Thursday following the seizure of a tanker by Iran off the coast of Oman. The St Nikolas, previously seized by the U.S. for carrying Iranian oil, was transporting Iraqi crude to Turkey when Iran detained...

OPEC+, a consortium comprising 22 oil-producing nations, announced Sunday an unexpected production cut that will likely give a further boost to oil prices bouncing off their recent lows. What Happened: The combined cut announced by the oil consortium will be around 1.16 million...

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin paid an unannounced visit to Iraq on Tuesday as the 20-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein nears.  What Happened: Austin's visit to Baghdad was aimed at showing that the U.S. remains committed to keeping its military presence in...

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the West’s attempts to cap the price of Russian oil, on Thursday, in a phone call with the new Iraqi prime minister. What Happened: The presidential palace, in a readout of the call, said the Russian leader warned Mohammed Shia al-...

Clashes erupted in Iraq, killing about 23 protesters after an influential Shiite cleric on Monday announced that he would resign from Iraqi politics. What Happened: Hundreds of angry followers of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the government palace — a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of...

Each day, Benzinga takes a look back at a notable market-related moment that occurred on this date. What Happened? On this day in 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Where The Market Was: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 2,864.60 and the S&P 500 traded at 351.48. What Else Was Going On In The...

General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) announced Wednesday it had signed two agreements with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity worth $1.2 billion to bolster and maintain the middle-eastern country’s electric infrastructure. What Happened: The two agreements will cover the maintenance of...