Shi'ite

The city in Iraq is home to one of Shi’ite Islam’s holiest shrines and has long relied on Iranian pilgrims, who have traditionally made up the largest proportion of visitors.

Thousands killed and arrested as Iran’s protests intensify. The young generation backs Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and defies the collapsing theocracy.

The demonstrations, which began in Tehran last month, have spread to all of Iran's 31 provinces but have yet to reach the scale of the 2022-3 unrest sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.

Iraq’s top leadership is divided along sectarian lines, with the president being Kurdish and the prime minister usually a Shi’ite. The lower-level speaker of parliament's role goes to Sunnis.

BEHIND THE LINES: Despite setbacks, Iraq’s Iranian-backed militias continue to thrive politically, posing a lasting threat to Israel’s security.

Prime Minister Sudani's bloc wins Iraq's election, but forming a new government may take months due to challenges in building a majority and balancing US-Iran influence.

Iraq’s recent election saw 329 seats contested along sectarian lines. The outcome will impact the US-Iraq security arrangement and address the growing power of Iran-backed militias.

Even as Hamas is crumbling in Gaza, it may well be reborn in new forms, sustained by the Brotherhood network.

Iran opens a metro station named after the Virgin Mary, calling it a gesture of coexistence, while critics cite ongoing discrimination against minorities.

"Hezbollah and Amal, the two major Shi'ite movements in the country, are telling the Lebanese president and prime minister: forget the government's decision regarding Hezbollah's disarmament."