Iraq

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia as the White House pushes for a diplomatic solution.

"If we assess a further response is warranted, we will take action, again, in a manner and time of our choosing," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "and we reserve that option."

A U.S. strike on Syria "sends a negative signal of the new administration's policies and its persistent endeavor to implement the law of force instead of the force of law," Damascus' mission to the United Nations told Newsweek.

At least 10 rockets were fired at the Ain Al Asad base in the western Anbar province on Wednesday morning.

Ten rockets hit an Iraqi airbase hosting U.S. troops in the west of the country early on Wednesday, in the latest attack on allied forces in the country.

The Republican Party built its foundation on a string of falsehoods. To protect itself, Republicans acquitted Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors.

"The world has moved on beyond Biden's core views, the U.S. is no longer the 'indispensable nation,'" former U.S. ambassador James Jeffrey told Newsweek, "intervention by the U.S. in countries' inner politics to promote American values is problematic and typically a failure."

"Congress must be fully briefed on this matter expeditiously," Kaine said after the Biden administration's first military action since taking office.

The U.S. can further honor the memories of Slim, al-Hashemi, Khashoggi and countless unknown activists by naming their murderers and holding them accountable.

The escalation is background music intended to produce the right mood of American trepidation.

The U.S. Embassy called the attack on a Baghdad market that killed more than 30 people "reprehensible."

The U.S. is no longer a beacon of peace and hope it perceives itself to be, especially with ongoing racial and income inequality, as well as rising white supremacy movements.

"It arouses dissaproval to classify as terrorists those who faced terrorism and made tremendous sacrifices and fought the fiercest battles on behalf of the world in order to defeat the most powerful dark and extremist force," the head of Popular Mobilization Forces said in a statement to Newsweek.

"We congratulate the friend of the martyrs, Popular Mobilization Committee Chairman Falih al-Fayyadh, on his inclusion with the honorable ones whom the U.S. administration considers enemies," Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces told Newsweek.

The Rusafa Investigation Court "decided to issue an arrest warrant against the outgoing President of the United States Donald Trump in accordance with the provisions of Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code," which carries the death penalty.

Iranian, Israeli and Iraqi officials offered Newsweek diverging opinions about Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and his explosive killing, but all were prepared for the possibility of conflict as a result of soaring tensions one year later.

Tehran is looking ahead to possible sanctions relief and a revived nuclear deal with President-elect Joe Biden.

"Security in the region can only be achieved through the removal of foreign anti-instability forces," Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said.

Paul Dickinson, who represented the family of nine-year-old Ali Kinani killed in the 2007 massacre, is outraged at the president's pardons of the veterans involved.

Trump warned Wednesday he would hold Tehran responsible for any Americans killed in Iraq amid a spike in attacks.

President-Elect Joe Biden will inherit a long-awaited drawdown in both countries, with American rivals waiting in the wings to fill the power vacuum.

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, is regularly targeted by Iranian-backed militias but Tehran denied responsibility for Sunday's rocket barrage.

Iran has blamed Israel for last week's killing of its top nuclear scientist, and vowed revenge against those responsible.

"The United States is always seeking Iraq's oil wells, as well as the disintegration of Iraq and the division of its nation and officials," Revolutionary Guard aerospace commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said.

"It is absolutely the right thing to do and is grounded on clear fundamental military realities, and is going to help the country," Daniel L. Davis, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and military expert, told Newsweek

Newly appointed by President Trump, Christopher Miller wrote in a memo: "Now it's time to come home."

I was on my fourth deployment in Iraq, and remember the mix of hope and trepidation—fear that mistrust and violence will overwhelm the electoral process. Fifteen years own, it's my own country I'm worried for.

Russia seeks to leverage the Iranian threats in Iraq to pressure the U.S., while pushing on the Syrian front. This strategy in a sense creates a two-front push against the U.S. in the region and forces Washington to choose.

The photo was originally snapped in 2015, but generated a lot of fanfare on social media on Tuesday.

The Iraqi military said a "Turkish aggression" conducted by an unmanned drone killed two Iraqi Border Guard commanders and their driver.