[Published here November 28, 2018]
Iraq’s broken electricity sector is planning a long-awaited overhaul to both meet US pressure to halt Iranian power imports and head off summertime protests over chronic cuts.
US
Iraq gets US sanctions break to keep the lights on | AFP
[Written with my colleague Ammar Karim and published here on November 8, 2018]
Iraq has won an exemption allowing it to buy Iranian electricity despite US sanctions, as the country plagued by chronic power shortages walks a tightrope between rivals Washington and Tehran.
With US measures imposed Monday taking aim at Iran’s banking and energy industries, there were concerns Iraq — which heavily relies on its eastern neighbour for electricity and consumer goods — would be caught in the crossfire.
From fighting regime to anti-IS, Syria rebel traces US policy shifts | AFP
[Published here on August 5, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – From special forces officer to brigade-hopping rebel, Abu Jaafar has seen Syria’s uprising from all angles. But after years of setbacks, culminating in cuts to US support, he feels disillusioned.
Syria talks bear little as tensions boil over US-led strike | AFP
[Published here on May 19, 2017]
A new round of Syria peace talks closed Friday with little visible progress towards ending the country’s conflict, as tensions boiled between the warring sides over a US-led bombing raid.
