IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iraq is getting caught in the crossfire of the Iran war as the only country facing strikes from both sides, and that threatens to drag the nation that has so far avoided two years of regional turmoil into a full-blown crisis.

As the war nears two full weeks, Iraq’s situation is growing more desperate. Disruptions to Gulf shipping and strikes on oil fields and infrastructure have all but halted exports, jeopardizing a state that relies on such trade for the bulk of its revenue.

If the shutdown continues, Baghdad could be unable to meet its oversized public‑sector payroll as soon as next month, risking widespread unrest, two Iraqi Kurdish officials said.

The federal government has appealed to northern Kurdish leaders to resume exports via a pipeline to Turkey, but talks remain deadlocked over longstanding domestic issues. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive political matters.

In the meantime, a parallel conflict to the wider war has escalated between Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups and the U.S. Near-daily drone strikes have targeted American interests across the country, while the U.S. has struck back against militia bases to defend its troops.

Since the war began Feb. 28 following a major U.S. and Israeli strike in Iran, drone and missile attacks have targeted American interests in Iraq, including military bases in the Baghdad and Irbil airports, and U.S. diplomatic facilities. Iran and its allied Iraqi militias also have struck oil fields and energy infrastructure to escalate the economic toll.

Unlike other Middle Eastern states touched by the war, Iraq hosts both entrenched Iran-aligned forces and significant U.S. interests. Its economy depends overwhelmingly on oil, so disruptions to production or exports through the Strait of Hormuz could sharply cut government revenue just as a fraught political transition grips Baghdad.

The longer the conflict lasts, the greater the risk that economic shocks, political paralysis and friction with Iran‑backed militias will combine to unravel Iraq’s hard‑won relative stability.

Proxy battles

Leaders in Baghdad and Irbil continue to urge caution and insist the war must not be fought on their soil, but the conflict’s trajectory is increasingly slipping beyond their control. The U.S. has communicated assurances to Iraqi leaders that the country won’t be dragged into the regional war, according to the two Kurdish officials who spoke to AP.

In the war’s opening days, drone and rocket strikes by Iran and allied groups began targeting U.S. bases, diplomatic missions and oil facilities. In Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, near‑daily drone attacks have targeted not only U.S. military and allied interests but also commercial sites and even hotels.

Iran-backed groups have also struck Kurdish groups based in northern Iraq after reports that Washington planned to arm some of them to press against Tehran. Some Iranian Kurdish leaders have signaled their willingness to mount cross-border operations into Iran if supported by the U.S..

Iraq is operating under a caretaker government after the U.S. opposed the nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al‑Maliki. Caretaker premier Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani, with even more limited powers, lacks the influence to rein in powerful militia groups.

The U.S. has struck back, striking militia sites across the country, including in Jurf al-Sakhr, south of Baghdad, northern Iraq and in al-Qaim, along the Iraq-Syria border.

As in past upheavals, Iraqis have learned to adapt to daily violence that intrudes on everyday life.

At an Irbil cafe, patrons heard the whine of incoming drones, then a muffled explosion, before a plume of smoke rose on the horizon where it was shot down. A waiter urged calm, saying the strikes were aimed at the U.S. Consulate or airport and posed no direct threat to customers.

Major fiscal shocks

The gravest threat to Iraq’s stability is disrupted oil production, which could cripple government revenues. The Kurdish officials said Baghdad warned them that public-sector payrolls could be disrupted as soon as next month.

To alleviate the pressure, Baghdad has asked for exports of at least 250,000 barrels per day of crude from fields in Kirkuk via the pipeline to Ceyhan in Turkey that runs across Kurdish territory. Talks have stalled, however, after Kurdish negotiators conditioned the move on lifting an existing U.S. dollar embargo and restoring economic benefits tied to trade.

Iraq’s government ordered production curtailed from oil fields in southern Iraq, where the majority of its 4.8 million barrels per day is produced, after the war all but stopped traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and militias attacked facilities. Sales from oil account for over 90% of state revenues.

Iraq has one of the world’s largest public‑sector workforces and pensioner rolls, and past payment delays have sparked mass protests.

Production has been halted at oil fields hit by strikes. In the Kurdish region, Canada’s ShaMaran Petroleum and U.S. private firm HKN have suspended output at the Sarsang and Atrush blocks.

“If oil exports are disrupted, the immediate impact would likely be a decline in the value of the Iraqi dinar. This would quickly trigger inflation, and within a short time the prices of basic goods could rise sharply,” said Farhad Soleimanpour, an Iraqi Kurdish political analyst.

“For the Kurdistan region, the situation could be even more difficult because it does not have its own central bank or significant financial reserves. Iraq may be able to withstand the shock for several months, but the Kurdistan Region would likely face immediate financial pressure,” he added.

The war has also battered power supplies.

The Khor Mor gas field in the autonomous Kurdish region is offline, cutting electricity generation by nearly two‑thirds. Where the region once provided 24‑hour power, households now receive just four to six hours a day, said Omed Ahmad, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Electricity.

Political weaknesses

Since the November 2025 election, Iraq has been without a government after the U.S. opposed the return of al‑Maliki, the former prime minister. The war complicates the fraught transition, forcing a caretaker administration with severely limited powers to manage the fallout.

But that caretaker status also lets Iraqi leaders deflect responsibility by claiming they lack the authority to act, said Iraq analyst Tamer Badawi. “No one wants to take this big responsibility at the moment,” he said.

That would mean taking charge and reining in multiple armed groups, from Iran‑backed militias targeting U.S. interests to Kurdish‑Iranian opposition factions, whose actions deepen fault lines that could spark civil unrest.

Even if some oil is exported via the pipeline, there is no way to assure the infrastructure will not come under attack by militia groups, officials have warned.

Iraq has defied the odds so far, largely avoiding the regional upheaval from the war in Gaza that began in 2023. Political and religious leaders have remained committed to keeping the country out of wider conflict and preserving its stability.

“Iraq faces pressure to maintain neutrality while different political groups inside the country have opposing positions regarding the conflict,” Soleimanpour said. “Some factions support closer relations with Iran, while others prefer stronger cooperation with the United States and Western countries. This internal division increases political tension.”

This simple mistake could permanently damage your clothes.

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Hanging your washing outside is among life’s straightforward joys when warmer weather arrives. It’s economical, faster than drying indoors and provides your garments, bedding and towels with that delightfully fresh outdoor scent.

However, there’s a frequent mistake that numerous people make whilst undertaking this task. Fashion specialists at Superdry caution this error could potentially ruin your cherished items, reports the Mirror.

The retailer has put together useful guidance on correct clothing care to help garments endure longer, whilst highlighting unexpected methods that may be inflicting harm.

Concerning clothes drying, one crucial approach is to ‘utilise the strength of nature’ by moving items outdoors – although you may wish to abandon the conventional pegs and place your drying rack outside instead.

The experts stated: “This helps extend the lifespan of your clothing by minimising wear and tear caused by heat exposure.

“Sunlight offers natural antimicrobial properties and acts as a gentle whitening agent for fabrics. Take caution when using clothes pegs, as they can leave unsightly and potentially permanent pressure marks on delicate fabrics.”

“To protect delicate items, avoid using clothes pegs altogether, and be careful not to leave items outside in the wind, as they could be blown away.

“Additionally, you can enhance the whitening effect further by lightly spritzing clothes with white vinegar before hanging them outdoors, helping the sun to keep your whites looking fresh.

“However, some fabrics will become stiff if dried in this way, especially those made from natural fibres like cotton.

“To avoid this, trying partly drying outside and finish off with a few minutes in the tumble dryer.”

You can also carefully reshape garments to eliminate creases before hanging them outside or positioning them on the clothes horse – and you’ll reduce the amount of ironing needed, which is always beneficial.

This advice was reinforced by the laundry specialists at Vileda, who have gone one step further and outlined precisely how to hang particular items of clothing so that they don’t become damaged on the washing line.

• Trousers: The best way to hang trousers is to fold them over the clothesline at the waistband. This helps to reduce creasing.
• Jumpers: Avoid hanging jumpers by the shoulders, as this can cause stretching and misshaping. Instead, fold your jumper lengthwise and drape both sides evenly over the line.
• Dresses: You can fold the dress in half lengthwise and hang it over the line like a pair of trousers.
• Sweaters: Treat sweaters the same way as jumpers, folding them in half lengthwise and draping them over the line.

Tudor was hired in part for his positive short-term record at previous clubs, including at Italian giants Juventus – but the Croat’s appointment has not yet brought a change of fortune.

Spurs have lost their past six matches in all competitions and they have not won in the Premier League since 28 December.

Tottenham owner Enic said this week that it does not plan to take a decision on Tudor’s immediate future out of the hands of the club’s executive team.

“It is about all of us,” Tudor said.

“In the last period, a lot of things were said about what is [wrong with] the club, the problems, [that] no one can do [anything] like we were victims.

“I said this morning to the players totally opposite things. We are the team and we are the staff. It’s all about us.”

On Wednesday, defender Micky Van de Ven described Spurs calamitous start in Madrid as a “doomsday scenario”.

That start resulted in young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky being substituted off just 17 minutes into his Champions League debut for the club – a decision for which Tudor was criticised.

Asked if Kinsky will feature for Spurs again this season, Tudor said: “He will play for sure. He came back the day after and was very good and positive in training. Nothing else. This is probably the first and last time that this happened in my life, and the life of a lot of people.

“It is the same message that I had before. You can go out and be the victim. Everyone was sending messages of help and ‘I am with you’ and this is nice also.

“He will for sure in his career make other mistakes, but I think he has the strength and quality in front of him to have a very good career.”

More to follow.

The image is similar to another image from Epstein’s “birthday book” made public last year

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A photo showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein together has been released by the Department of Justice. The image is reportedly the first confirmed photograph showing all three men together, the Express reports, released as part of the newest tranche of Epstein files.

The trio are seen sitting around a wooden table on an outdoor deck, drinking from mugs decorated with the US flag during what looks like a meeting in Martha’s Vineyard. Although the photo has no timestamp, it is similar to another image from Epstein’s “birthday book” made public last year.

That book also showed Mandelson, again wearing a bathrobe, alongside Epstein suggesting it may have been taken around the same period. Inside the book, the former UK ambassador to the US is said to have written a note to Epstein calling him his “best pal”.

The release of these documents has added new detail to the connections both Mandelson and Andrew had with the convicted sex offender. However, Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The Epstein files add more detail about the former Duke of York’s dealings with Epstein, including claims that Andrew’s team sought his help in responding to sexual‑assault allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. This was despite Andrew having said he cut ties with Epstein more than four years earlier.

Emails from 2010 to 2018 also appear to show that Andrew was exploring a potential business partnership with Epstein during his time serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

Being named or pictured in the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing.

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Serbia, a NATO partner and candidate for EU membership, has bought Chinese missiles for its air force.

The Balkan state is now the first European power armed with Chinese CM-400AKG missiles, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday.

“We have a significant number of those missiles, and we will have even more,” he said during a live appearance on state broadcaster RTS TV.

He made the announcement after images of the missiles mounted on Serbian warplanes were leaked online, according to Sky’s US partner network NBC News.

Mr Vucic said the country’s air force had adapted its Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to carry the air-to-surface missiles.

He declined to say how much Serbia paid, only it had received a “slight discount”.

Despite being a traditional ally of Russia, Serbia is a candidate for EU membership and participates in a partnership scheme with NATO.

Its purchase of the missiles is already causing friction with EU and NATO neighbours.

Croatia – which fought Serbia in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s – called the missiles a threat to regional stability, an attempt to alter the military balance, and a sign of a growing arms race in the Balkans.

Read more from Sky News:
Husband of Labour MP arrested on suspicion of spying for China
Call to make NATO ‘more European’ at alliance summit

Manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), the supersonic CM-400AKG has a range of up to 248 miles (400km) and can carry either a 150kg blast warhead or a 200kg penetrator warhead.

Its first combat use came during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, when it was used by Pakistan.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the prospects for Moldova did not look good. But four years have now passed and, despite a relentless Russian campaign to destabilise the country, Moldova has survived and made significant progress.

It has, for example, progressed on its path to EU membership. Moldova transitioned from applicant to candidate status several months after the outbreak of the war and formally opened accession negotiations two years later. The government is now carrying out reforms to align with EU standards.

Such progress was not a foregone conclusion given the many challenges Moldova has faced as a result of the war in Ukraine. The country was an early destination for Ukrainian refugees, which put significant pressure on already stretched public services and resources.

With a decades-old foothold in Transnistria, a breakaway region in eastern Moldova, Russia also seemed to have a springboard for conflict escalation in Ukraine’s rear. This foothold gave Moscow a possible destination to push westwards along the Black Sea coast, too.

Russian false-flag operations in April 2022 seemingly provided further evidence that Moscow planned to destabilise Moldova. And one year later, the so-called soccer plot underscored Moscow’s intention to continue its efforts against Moldova. This was a Russian-planned and sponsored attempt to infiltrate Moldova with saboteurs from Russia, Montenegro, Belarus and Serbia.

Perhaps the most serious challenge for Moldova came in January 2025, when Ukraine stopped the transit of Russian gas through its territory. Transnistria, which had for decades been kept completely dependent by Moscow on Russian gas supplies, was plunged into an immediate crisis.

The authorities there cut off central heating and hot water to all residential buildings. They also ordered the closure of industrial enterprises not involved in making critical food products. The impending humanitarian disaster and ensuing information war between Russia, Moldova, Transnistria and the EU over who was to blame posed a serious threat to stability in Moldova yet again.

In addition, two Moldovan elections in recent years presented the Kremlin with an opportunity for interference. Yet, despite Russian meddling, Moldova’s incumbent pro-Europe president, Maia Sandu, secured a second term in 2024. Her party then won another absolute majority in parliamentary elections the following year.

So, how has a small country wedged between Ukraine and Romania with a decades-old conflict of its own managed to withstand Russian pressure?

Countering Russian destabilisation

Early in the war, the most serious danger for Moldova was an escalation of the conflict in Transnistria. While this may have served Moscow’s interests, politicians in Moldova and Transnistria were keen to preserve stability in their relations.

On the Transnistrian side, this was mainly driven by economic interests. The region has been part of the deep and comprehensive free trade area between Moldova and the EU since 2016, and 80% of all exports from Transnistria now go to EU countries.

Economic stability also helps ensure the continuation of the ruling Transnistrian regime. Business and political interests there are often one and the same, embodied in the all-dominant Sheriff conglomerate.

Sheriff dominates Transnistria’s economy, operating a network of supermarkets, gas stations, construction companies, hotels, radio and TV stations and a mobile phone network. It also controls the Obnovlenie political party that runs the government in the regional capital, Tiraspol.

At the same time, stability reduces the risk of a humanitarian crisis and a refugee wave that could destabilise Moldova. Maintaining the relatively substantial levels of confidence that has been built between the two sides was therefore high on the agenda of politicians in Chișinău and Tiraspol.

The ability of Moldovan and Transnistrian politicians (helped by EU assistance) to avoid a major escalation of the energy crisis in 2025, as well as keeping relations generally stable and predictable over the past four years despite Russian disruption efforts, bodes well for the future.

The Moldovan state budget continues to earmark resources for joint projects involving communities on both banks of the Nistru River, which separates Moldova and Transnistria. This included €1.5 million (£1.3 million) for 30 projects in 2025, bringing the total investment to over €11 million across more than 600 projects since 2011.

However, while Moldova has weathered storms over recent years effectively, there are still threats to its stability. For example, challenges to the reintegration of Transnistria into Moldova remain. After more than three decades of separation, there are significant social, political, economic and legal hurdles to overcome.

On the one hand, the fact that chief negotiators from both sides met again face-to-face in late February after a 15-month hiatus indicates their commitment to making progress and resolving their differences peacefully and through dialogue. But, on the other hand, there are some signs that trust between the two sides remains fragile.

On the eve of the meeting, Sandu signed a decree revoking the Moldovan citizenship of nine people who serve in the governmental structures of Transnistria. Two of them had also fought against Moldova during the brief civil war in 1992 that created Transnistria. The timing of the decree was condemned by the Transnistrian side as putting undue pressure on Tiraspol.

As Sandu acknowledged recently on the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, her country’s survival is due to the heroism of Ukrainians in defending their country and thereby keeping Russia away from Moldova. But beyond simple survival, Moldova seems to have emerged stronger from the challenges it has faced.

At a time when the narrative of inevitable Russian victory against Ukraine is beginning to crumble, it is important to remember the limits of the Kremlin’s power. Russia’s neighbours, through their own efforts and with support from their European partners, are not the helpless pawns that Moscow wishes them to be.

This Middle Eastern dish is scented, a little sweet and very pretty. In the original, the orange zest, cooked in sugar syrup, ends up a lot sweeter. I’ve toned it down, partly for ease, partly for health reasons. It’s still a gorgeous dish.

It can be made grander with saffron butter. Soak a pinch of saffron strands in 1½ tbsp boiling water for 20 minutes, melt some butter and add the saffron water. Pour this on before serving.

If you can get on top of making pilafs, you can do them with lots of different ingredients. I often make them with what I have – the remains of a roast leg of lamb, toasted almonds and dried sour cherries, for example – so I’m always stocked up with long-grain rice and dried fruit and nuts.

Some pilaf recipes suggest soaking the rice in water, but if you’re making this last minute, just wash it in a sieve.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI – prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

The supermarket aisles are really packing a punch these days.

First, the fashion over at M&S took over our everyday wardrobes. Now, George Home at ASDA has entered the chat in a big way.

It’s a maximalist dreamscape that shoppers are accusing of being so good that they’re breaking up with Oliver Bonas.

Don’t believe me? Here’s a list of some of the best bits to buy before they’re gone.

Asked whether the prime minister was disappointed by the US move to ease sanctions on Russian oil already in transit, his official spokesman said: “Ultimately, it’s obviously a decision for the US, but our position is clear. All partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest.

A woman has shared her shock after adopting a chihuahua – but after spending a few weeks with her new pet, she soon came to realise something wasn’t quite right

A woman got the shock of her life after bringing home what she believed was a tiny chihuahua, only to realise she had adopted something completely different. Madison Austin explained how she adopted a puppy during the pandemic after researching “small apartment-friendly dogs“, knowing the pup would be growing up in New York.

After spending hours looking into different breeds, she came across Henry online and quickly got in touch with the seller. She said: “They advertised him as a four-pound male chihuahua. But from the moment we got him, we thought, ‘Hmm… his paws definitely look big.’”

Just weeks after welcoming him into her home, Madison realised the puppy was getting bigger and bigger each day.

She added: “We still thought he was at least part chihuahua.

“I remember talking to my husband about whether or not his ears were eventually going to stand up.”

But Henry soon went through a rapid growth spurt and quickly grew past what would be considered a “large chihuahua”.

She said: “He started gaining two or three pounds a week, and then it went up to five pounds a week. Within two months, our vet had to say, ‘Sorry to break it to you, but this dog is definitely not a chihuahua!’

“We had bought an expensive electronic pee pad, thinking we were going to train him on that. That didn’t work very well! And then, of course, we ended up spending a whole lot more money on dog food than we planned.”

Thankfully, the couple eventually moved house and later welcomed two children.

Now, Henry tips the scales at around 95 pounds – and his breed has been revealed to be a Labrador retriever.

Madison added: “We thought we wanted a small pup because of our lifestyle, but we are so happy he ended up being so big.

“We have so much fun with him and he’s got a heart of gold. He was definitely meant to be ours.

“Sometimes we don’t even know what we need in our lives until it finds us. I have no doubt Henry was meant to be ours, and I can’t imagine life without him in our family.”

Commenting on her Instagram page, where she shares updates about Henry, one user joked: “Girl, I mean this in the nicest way, but have you ever seen a chihuahua?”

Another added: “Little Henry wasn’t even little. What were you thinking?”

A third user wrote: “Ma’am, I have bad news. I don’t think that’s a Labrador either… mix, sure, but pure? No.”

One more user added: “Seems like someone could’ve handed you a raccoon and you would’ve thought it was a chihuahua. That dog didn’t ever look like one.”

A final user commented: “Little Henry looks like every Lab-pit mix I’ve ever met.”