By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Despite massive spending by outside groups and high-profile endorsements for his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed secured a decisive Democratic Senate primary victory and now heads into a closely watched November showdown. Abdul El-Sayed has scored one of the most closely watched political upsets of the 2026 election cycle, defeating Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary despite facing more than $60 million in outside spending , much of it from pro-Israel political groups. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and sets up a high-stakes general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed's campaign prevailed even after Stevens received late endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and influential national Democrats, including Representative James Clyburn . Those endorsements failed to reverse momentum behind El-S...
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Türkiye confirms withdrawal of troops from Iraq
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Iraqi soldiers inspect the site of a destroyed health care center in the Habbaniyah military base, which was targeted by an airstrike, Habbaniyah, Iraq, March 26, 2026. (AFP Photo)
The Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that Turkish troops stationed in Baghdad as part of theNATOIraq mission have left the country under the current circumstances.
Daily Sabah has reported that NATO ordered its staff in Iraq to evacuate last Friday, while Iraq said that it was a temporary precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the personnel. Iraq, like Türkiye, stands to be affected by the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. NATO elements in Türkiye have intercepted several missiles reportedly fired by Iran, but the spillover of the conflict was worse for Iraq. Since the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, after U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, strikes have targeted both U.S. interests and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. Baghdad has hardened its stance. On Tuesday, it granted former paramilitary groups and pro-Iran factions within the formal popular mobilization forces the "right to respond in self-defense" to attacks.
Bases hosting the Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), part of the regular army but containing some pro-Iran factions, have been targeted by airstrikes. The PMF has blamed these on the United States and Israel.
Some Iraqi pro-Iran factions, which have a presence within the PMF, have claimed daily attacks on U.S.-linked bases and interests in Iraq and across the region. On Tuesday, authorities said they would summon the U.S. charge d'affaires after a deadly strike targeting the PMF killed 15, and the Iranian ambassador over ballistic missile hits that killed six Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq controlled by Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk told a weekly press briefing in Ankara on Thursday that NATO’s Iraq mission was ordered to be evacuated by the alliance due to the latest developments in the region, and Türkiye joined the order, successfully evacuating troops. Aktürk said they also supported evacuation operations for military personnel of other NATO member countries.
The ministry also made a statement on Thursday regarding reports of the establishment of a multinational NATO headquarters. The statement said the work for establishing a corps headquarters as part of NATO’s southeastern flank regional plan in 2023 was done, and Türkiye formally relayed its intention to the alliance in 2024. The ministry said that contrary to the media reports, the headquarters was not established, though they were in contact with NATO for its foundation. The statement also said it was not related to current developments in the region, namely the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, and that the headquarters would serve for the integration of security forces for deterrence and defense missions.
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain. Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
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