US-Iran Escalation: The US launched fresh airstrikes on Iran to “swiftly punish” the IRGC after two American troops were killed in Jordan, with one still missing, as CENTCOM said the targets included coastal surveillance, air defenses, maritime capabilities and missile/drone sites. Kurdistan Under Pressure: Iran-linked attacks hit Iraqi Kurdistan again, with a drone strike wounding eight fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party near Erbil, while earlier strikes blamed on Iran killed Komala members in Sulaimaniyah. Iraq-US Pivot to Economy: Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi wrapped up a five-day Washington visit, signing 48 deals and MoUs with US firms—especially in oil and power—while also pushing banking reforms after a CBI-US Treasury accord cleared seven Iraqi banks to resume correspondent transactions. Energy Routes Beyond Hormuz: Iraq is studying a Basra–Kirkuk pipeline extending to Türkiye’s Ceyhan and possibly Syria’s Baniyas, and Baghdad also backed a Syria-Iraq deal to revive the Haditha-Banias corridor. Regional Diplomacy: Al-Zaidi arrived in Doha to offer condolences after Qatar’s Emir’s father died, underscoring Baghdad’s push for balanced ties amid the regional crisis. Local Governance: Kurdistan’s PM Masrour Barzani inaugurated a major Barzan water project worth over $105m to supply clean drinking water to tens of thousands.