A senior security official of Iraq's pro-Iran Kata'ib Hezbollah said Wednesday that negotiations over regulating armed factions' weapons remained at "square one," accusing Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi of failing to respond to a proposed agreement and demanding clarification of Baghdad's positions on regional conflicts and Iraqi sovereignty.

US defense and security companies are exploring opportunities to help strengthen the Kurdistan Region’s air defenses following the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces, as a visiting American business joint delegation discusses potential projects with Kurdish and Syrian officials.

The spokesperson of the Kurdistan Region Presidency said Wednesday that there are “positive” signals from Baghdad to modify the contentious 2027 budget bill. His statement coincides with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) expressing concern over the allocated ratio of the budget for the Region.

An Iranian commander and a police officer were killed in two separate attacks on Wednesday in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province after unidentified armed men opened fire, a rights group and state media reported.

Artists and musicians from 30 countries gathered in Riha (Sanliurfa) on Wednesday for the final day of UNESCO’s three-day Music Cities Convention in southeastern Turkey.

Masked gunmen impersonating security personnel raided a Kurdish family's home in Damascus, stealing valuables and abducting a law student with disabilities, a Syrian human rights watchdog reported on Wednesday.

Iraq’s Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court scheduled the trial of detained lawmaker Muthanna al-Samarrai for Monday on corruption charges, according to a judicial document obtained by Rudaw on Wednesday.

The trial of a man accused of masterminding the worst migrant tragedy recorded in the English Channel began in Erbil on Wednesday, with representatives from the UK and France attending the hearing.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Wednesday completed his first visit to Riyadh since his inauguration to meet with Saudi Crown Prince and premier Mohammed bin Salman, following a months-long delay prompted by US-Saudi airstrikes on Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received US Consul General in Erbil Gwendolyn Green, the presidency said in a statement on Wednesday, highlighting the need to accelerate the steps to form the tenth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).