On surprise Iraq visit, Biden urging end to political crisis
By JOSH LEDERMAN Vice President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Thursday to implore the country’s leaders to resolve a crippling political crisis that has hindered efforts…
Baghdad
US to send 200 more troops, Apache helicopters, to Iraq
By LOLITA C. BALDOR The U.S. has agreed to deploy more than 200 additional troops to Iraq and to send eight Apache helicopters for the first time into the fight…
Kerry backs Iraqi leader, no planned increase in US troops
By BRADLEY KLAPPER and SUSANNAH GEORGE U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry backed Iraq’s prime minister on Friday in his efforts to resolve a mounting political crisis, underlining the importance…
Iraqi officials: US captured top IS chemical arms engineer
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SUSANNAH GEORGE U.S. special forces captured the head of the Islamic State group’s unit trying to develop chemical weapons in a raid last month in northern…
Despite US-led campaign, Islamic State rakes in oil earnings
By HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA The Islamic State rakes in up to $50 million a month from selling crude from oilfields under its control in Iraq and Syria, part…
New Joint Chiefs chairman looks over war zone in Iraq
By LOLITA C. BALDOR The new top U.S. military officer said Tuesday he sees no prospect right now for Russia to expand its airstrike campaign into Iraq, speaking after briefings…
IS top command dominated by ex-officers in Saddam’s army
By HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA While attending the Iraqi army’s artillery school nearly 20 years ago, Ali Omran remembers one major well. An Islamic hard-liner, he once chided Omran…
US to send 400-plus more troops to train Iraqis
By JIM KUHNHENN and NEDRA PICKLER The Obama administration is about to announce the U.S. will send more troops to Iraq to boost the training of local forces, officials said…