U.S.-Iran Tensions: The Soufan Center warns that even as Washington and Tehran signal willingness to de-escalate, core demands remain unchanged and clashes from the Strait of Hormuz to Yemen could still spiral into major combat. Regional Security & Oil Routes: Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline—built to bypass Hormuz—has been hit after Riyadh blamed a drone strike tied to Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, forcing shutdowns and rattling global supply. INTERPOL Counter-Terror Work: INTERPOL says an AI-powered operation, “Operation Shams II,” identified 126 suspected foreign terrorist fighters from 108,000 facial images, with Iraq among participating countries. Iraq Environment Watch: Najaf and Al-Muthanna’s desert habitats face rising pressure from drought, water shortages, hunting, and vehicle intrusion, threatening biodiversity. Iraq-Related Accountability: Syria’s security forces in Erbil report arrests of Assad-era air force officers accused of strikes on populated areas, underscoring ongoing war-crimes investigations. Local Governance: Iraq reopens restricted western airspace for civilian flights, a sign of shifting control as authorities manage security and access.