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Iraq's Shiite holy shrines: the spiritual centers that also shape the country's security landscape

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SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region of Iraq —By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Beyond their religious significance, Iraq's five major Shiite shrines operate under distinct security arrangements involving state forces, shrine-affiliated units, and local protection structures.  Iraq's five major Shiite holy shrines are not only centers of pilgrimage but also key elements of the country's unique security architecture. Iraq's Shiite holy shrines—known as Atabat —are among the most important religious sites in the Islamic world, attracting millions of pilgrims each year from Iraq and abroad. While these sacred sites are best known for their spiritual significance, they also occupy a unique place within Iraq's security architecture, with different shrines protected by a combination of state institutions, shrine-affiliated formations, and local security departments. The Five Major Shiite Shrines in Iraq Iraq is home to five principal Shiite shrines, each associa...
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Drone strikes hit British Castrol Oils in Erbil

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  The strikes caused a major blaze at the scene, which engulfed stored oil and other highly inflammable materials. Kurdish Policy Analysis , ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Warehouses of UK-based Castrol Oils were hit by three drone attacks in Erbil on Wednesday, as the Kurdistan Region continues to come under attack amid the broader Middle East conflict.   The warehouses, described as “a licensed company operating within the country,” were first struck at 7:20 AM, followed by a second strike during firefighting efforts and a third hours later, Sardar Group, Castrol’s affiliate in the Kurdistan Region, said in a statement .   A fourth drone was shot down in the air before reaching its target, according to Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw.   The strikes caused a major blaze at the scene, which engulfed stored oil and other highly inflammable materials, rendering the efforts to extinguish the fire more challenging.   Authorities directed security and civil defense ...
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Iraqi Kurds Face Existential Crossroads Amid Regional US-Iran Tensions

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     Rising pressure from Washington and Tehran forces Erbil to navigate an unprecedented geopolitical dilemma that could determine the future of Kurdish autonomy. Sulaimanyah, Iraq, March 31, Kurdish Policy Analysis — Over the past three decades, the Kurdish region of northern Iraq has weathered civil war, foreign invasions, and insurgencies, steadily building a semi-autonomous political system. Today, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) stands at a historic crossroads as escalating regional tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran threaten its hard-won autonomy. From the Kurdish civil war in the 1990s to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, and more recently the fight against the Islamic State, Kurdish forces have historically maintained clear strategic alignments. Peshmerga fighters partnered with international coalitions, gaining both recognition and support from major powers. Even the 2017 independence referendum, which triggered a diplomatic crisis wit...
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Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

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  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...
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Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

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  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...
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Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

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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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