At every tumultuous turn, Iraq's independence has seemingly been ignored by its two closest allies, who happen to be bitter enemies

Francis had hoped to travel to Iraq this year to minister to faithful who have endured years of attacks and persecution by the Islamic State group

French president urges Tehran to avoid 'military escalation that could aggravate instability in the region' following death of Soleimani

US secretary of state pushes back against reports that the intel underpinning the American strike against the Iranian military commander was 'thin'

Baghdad summons US Ambassador Tueller to condemn American strikes that killed a top Iranian general, an Iraqi commander and other local fighters

Pompeo shares video on Twitter, purportedly of Iraqis celebrating Iranian Quds Force commander's death, 'thankful that General Soleimani is no more'

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was sworn enemy of US, and acted as 'the central nervous system' of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force in Iraq

Hezbollah leader says it is group's responsibility to take 'revenge for martyred fighters'; Damascus also blasts 'cowardly US aggression' in killing of top Iranian general

'Heads will roll,' says one expert regarding political repercussions of Soleimani's killing in Iraq, which has become battlefield between Washington and Tehran

As the Iran-backed Hashed al-Shaabi force exerts its will on Baghdad government and controls events on the ground, country risks further isolation from US and the rest of the world