Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

This was its worst of the year so far. A severe sandstorm swept central and southern Iraq, reducing visibility, halting flights and causing respiratory problems for thousands, according to officials.

Saddam Hussein did not possess stockpiles of illicit weapons at the time of the U.S. invasion in March 2003 and had not begun any program to produce them, a CIA report concludes. In fact, the ...