# Iraq

Opinion: Croke Park war plane stunt betrayed the history of the GAA

The fly-past of two US war planes was no doubt great entertainment for many, but it also trivialises the brutal machinery of war.

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Sep 2nd 2014, 1:00 PM

Amnesty: IS have carried out "acts of inhumanity on an unimaginable scale"

The human rights group says IS fighters have carried out “systematic ethnic cleansing” in northern Iraq.

7.9k

Sep 2nd 2014, 7:14 AM

# cooperating cousins

Irish and UK authorities to launch new terrorist flight watchlist

Irish and UK intelligence sharing is “at an all time high.”

18.9k

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Sep 1st 2014, 10:45 PM

# besieged

Breakthrough against IS: Iraqi troops reach town of Amerli, ending 2-month siege

It’s the biggest offensive success for the Iraqi government since IS militants overran large areas of the country in June.

7.8k

Aug 31st 2014, 7:40 PM

'We will go home one day': Yazidis determined to return to their temples and normal lives

“We were pushed out of Sinjar, but even if (the jihadists) come here, I would rather die for this temple than leave Iraq.”

3.8k

Aug 30th 2014, 10:15 AM

# War on Terror

UK increases terror threat level from "substantial" to "severe"

There is no evidence however to suggest that an attack is imminent.

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Aug 29th 2014, 10:44 PM

Islamic State releases another beheading video

The video shows a Kurdish man being killed and follows the release of a number of videos which militants claim show the mass killing of Syrian soldiers.

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Aug 29th 2014, 10:44 PM

Opinion: Dramatic change is needed in American foreign policy – the people have no appetite for war

The US must no longer be impulsively ready to employ its military around the world either for its own or for others’ ends.

Aug 28th 2014, 1:15 PM

Obama okays spy planes over Syria... but no airstikes yet

The US has long resisted taking action against IS inside Syria, but it’s believed the militants’ murder of journalist James Foley may have altered the President’s approach.

5.1k

Aug 26th 2014, 8:42 AM

# Love

James Foley wrote a letter to his family while in captivity and it's beautiful

“Dreams of family and friends take me away and happiness fills my heart.”

26.3k

Aug 25th 2014, 8:34 AM

Opinion: The killing and imprisonment of journalists should concern us all

Worrying press arrests in Ferguson and the grisly murder of James Foley underlines it is in all of our interests to ensure journalists can report without fear.

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Aug 24th 2014, 8:30 AM

Opinion: The murder of James Foley will backfire spectacularly on Isis

Western powers were growing increasingly weary of military engagements in the Middle East – but this provocation will ensure a sustained, focused campaign to eliminate Isis.

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Aug 23rd 2014, 7:00 PM

Urgent action needed to avoid "massacre" in Iraq

The UN says that the town of Amerli is seriously at risk.

6.8k

Aug 23rd 2014, 1:44 PM

# Breaking the Cycle

To pay or not to pay? James Foley's death underscores an agonising dilemma

It is estimated that terrorists net about $120m between 2004 and 2012 in ransoms.

9.5k

Aug 23rd 2014, 8:15 AM

Islamic State will "have to be defeated" says America's top general

The militants have an “apocalyptic, end of days vision”, it has been said.

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Aug 22nd 2014, 5:54 PM

Reports: 70 killed as Shiite militiamen open fire at Sunni mosque

It’s reported that a suicide bomber blew up explosives inside the building, and that the gunmen then fired on the fleeing worshippers.

5.4k

Aug 22nd 2014, 4:25 PM

Read the chilling email IS militants sent to James Foley's parents

The email says the militant group will “not stop until we quench our thirst for your blood”.

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Aug 22nd 2014, 8:00 AM

Opinion: 'I ate leaves and grass to stay alive' – Iraqi families pushed from their homes by ISIS

Religious minorities who have been forcefully displaced by Islamic State extremists face an uncertain future.

Aug 22nd 2014, 8:00 AM

ISIS militants holding James Foley captive asked for a ransom of $100m

Foley’s family were in e-mail contact with those holding him.

15.2k

Aug 21st 2014, 4:37 PM

James Foley's family asks kidnappers to spare hostages after video of alleged beheading

Diane Foley says the family has “never been prouder of our son Jim”.

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Aug 20th 2014, 9:23 AM

Iraqi troops launch major operation against IS fighters over Saddam's hometown

Meanwhile, Washington insists it is not ‘on the same page’ as Syria in their fight against Islamic State militants.

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Aug 19th 2014, 11:02 AM

Pope Francis has endorsed the use of force to stop Islamic militants in Iraq

The Pope has said that minorities need to be protected but wants the UN to be involved.

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Aug 18th 2014, 9:57 PM

# isis

Kurdish troops take towns from Islamic State, advance on key dam

The Kurds are backed by American air strikes.

7.7k

Aug 17th 2014, 1:41 PM

Dozens of Yazidi villagers 'massacred' in Iraq

It is believed dozens of men from the Yazidi faith were massacred in the village of Kocho.

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Aug 16th 2014, 7:39 PM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 It’s the start of the weekend – and here’s everything you need to know as you start your day.

10.2k

Aug 16th 2014, 9:00 AM

# TAKING ACTION

Some EU countries will be arming Kurdish fighters in Iraq - but Ireland won't be one of them

The decision follows a rare summer meeting of EU foreign ministers, including Charlie Flanagan, in Brussels today.

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Aug 15th 2014, 5:35 PM

# Nuri al-Maliki

Iraqi PM throws in the towel on his bid to stay in power

Nuri al-Maliki was facing huge pressure to step down.

4.8k

Aug 15th 2014, 9:11 AM

# Trapped

US troops in Iraq find plight of refugees 'better than feared'

The Pentagon said an evacuation is now far less likely.

6.1k

Aug 14th 2014, 8:10 AM

# escalation

What to do? The EU is to hold an extraordinary meeting on Iraq

Charlie Flanagan says the EU needs a “strong and unified response to the terror in Northern Iraq”.

5.6k

Aug 13th 2014, 8:56 PM

Evening Wrap

The 5 at 5 5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock…

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Aug 13th 2014, 4:52 PM

# potential genocide

Ireland will take in a small number of families fleeing the violence in Iraq

As much as €500,000 in emergency funding will also be provided to organisations working in the area.

7.1k

Aug 13th 2014, 12:24 PM

# time to get out

20,000 Iraqis face 'mass atrocity and potential genocide within days or hours'

The US is assessing how to evacuate up to 30,000 civilians off a mountain that is besieged by extremists.

6.5k

Aug 13th 2014, 7:25 AM

Explainer: Why thousands of Yazidi people are trapped on an Iraq mountain

We look at what’s happening in Northern Iraq as the Islamic State (formerly ISIS) continues its attacks, causing thousands to flee.

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Aug 12th 2014, 8:20 AM

Who else, besides Americans, are flying military jets in Iraq? They might not be Iraqis...

Russians or Iranians might have piloted planes that targeted Islamic State militants last week.

20.6k

Aug 11th 2014, 3:30 PM

# kurdistan

Irish oil and gas firm evacuates Iraq staff

Petroceltic said the move is “precautionary”.

8.0k

Aug 11th 2014, 12:20 PM

# Nuri al-Maliki

US considers rescue mission for trapped Yazidi refugees in Iraq

It comes as the country’s prime minister said he would sue the president in a desperate bid to cling to his job.

6.7k

Aug 11th 2014, 6:33 AM

Opinion: The Syrian Civil War has moved out of the limelight – and towards its endgame

Moderate rebels are being squeezed simultaneously by IS and Assad regime forces.

Aug 10th 2014, 12:00 PM