The Latest Breaking News from Najaf

Najaf (Iraq) (AFP) - A noisy backhoe digs up earth to uncover yet another mass grave in Iraq, human remains are exhumed and the forensics experts get to work on their grim task. 

Drought is threatening the Iraqi tradition of growing amber rice, the aromatic basis of rich lamb and other dishes, and a key element in a struggling economy. The long-grained variety of rice takes its name from its distinctive scent, which is similar to that of amber resin.

Al-Abassiya (Iraq) (AFP) - Drought is threatening the Iraqi tradition of growing amber rice, the aromatic basis of rich lamb and other dishes, and a key element in a struggling economy.

Iraq on Sunday was yet again covered in a thick sheet of orange as it suffered the latest in a series of dust storms that have become increasingly common. Flights were grounded due to poor visibility at airports serving the capital Baghdad and the city of Najaf, with the phenomenon…

Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq on Sunday was yet again covered in a thick sheet of orange as it suffered the latest in a series of dust storms that have become increasingly common.

Baghdad international airport resumed flights on Wednesday after suspending operations earlier in the day due to bad weather, the state news agency INA cited Iraq's Civil Aviation authority as saying. Iraq was hit by the third heavy dust storm in two weeks, temporarily grounding flights as the weather phenomenon grows…

Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq was hit Wednesday by its third heavy dust storm in two weeks, temporarily grounding flights at Baghdad and Najaf airports, as the weather phenomenon grows increasingly frequent.

An amnesty issued by Iraqi President Barham Salih to the son of the al-Najaf province governor after he was convicted of drug dealing has turned into a political scandal in the country. The president had issued the amnesty at the recommendation of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, but the affair has…

While Iraq’s Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shiite parties, holds meetings to announce a new political initiative, Iran’s Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani warned head of the Sadrist Movement Moqtada Al Sadr against the resurgence of ISIS amid Iraqi divisions. Qaani had met with Sadr on Tuesday in the central…

Kuwait Airways is resuming commercial flights to Iraq’s Najaf city starting from Saturday, Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA reported. The Gulf state’s flag carrier suspended its flights to Iraq last month after several rockets landed in Iraq’s Baghdad International Airport compound, damaging at least one disused civilian airplane. Six rockets…

Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani launched on Monday an initiative aimed at bridging the divide between head of Iraq's Sadrist movement, Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the Shiite Coordination Framework. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani, parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and Sadr…