Iran holds tremendous sway inside Iraq despite the presence of US troops, setting up a tug-of-war for the incoming Trump administration.

Three ISIS fighters have been killed in Iraq’s vast western province of Anbar, said the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a militia organisation of scores of armed groups, many backed by Iran and supportive of its regime.

Iraq will not be negatively affected by the weakening of Iran's influence in the Middle East, Iraq's deputy parliament speaker said, with Baghdad looking to chart its own diplomatic path in the region and limit the power of armed groups.

Iran has never forgiven the US President for assassinating their top general and has made previous threats to avenge his death.

I am horrified that President Trump has pardoned 1,600 insurrectionists, including many who were put in jail for violent crimes they committed after I testified in court how they’d assaulted me

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to pressure Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices, a move that could eventually lead to a new oil price war

"The terrorists get a vote, and they're voting to keep fighting," former Trump counterterrorism envoy Nathan Sales told Newsweek.

How earnest is Donald Trump? Does the president dream of stealing new territory for America? How maniacally imperialist will this administration be? As with anything Trump says, it’s difficult to know.

"Death, death to Saddam!" chanted Imam Husham Al-Husainy through a megaphone at a pro-war rally broadcast by C-SPAN in Washington D.C. in October 2002, countering a nearby anti-war rally as the crowd echoed his remarks. "Saddam must go."

Could it curb rampant fraud, waste, and abuse within military contracting? Will the Pentagon finally pass a financial audit after seven consecutive failed attempts? Might the war in Ukraine finally sputter to an end,

Trump’s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency is John Ratcliffe, who formerly served as Director of National Intelligence in Trump’s first term. His confirmation hearing took place last week, during which he repeatedly said he would not hire or fire employees based on their political views.

Diana Elias, a Lincoln resident who fled Iraq 15 years ago, was one 5,000 service members who provided support at Trump's inauguration.