Mina Al-Oraibi

Mina Al-Oraibi is a columnist at Foreign Policy and the editor in chief of the National.

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Articles by Mina Al-Oraibi
Supporters of incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani wave national flags in front of a screen displaying his portrait as they celebrate following the announcement of preliminary election results in Baghdad on November 12.
Supporters of incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani wave national flags in front of a screen displaying his portrait as they celebrate following the announcement of preliminary election results in Baghdad on November 12.

Iraq’s Elections Promise More Politicking Than Change

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks to the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City.
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks to the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City.

Qatar Strike Creates Rift but Not Rupture in Gulf-Israel Ties

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
Missiles appear in the night sky over Doha on June 23.
Missiles appear in the night sky over Doha on June 23.

Cooler Heads Prevail in the Gulf—for Now

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
A man holds his fist in the air and shouts along with a crowd of other men holding placards.
A man holds his fist in the air and shouts along with a crowd of other men holding placards.

8 Simmering Threats You Shouldn’t Ignore in 2025

Roundup
Emma Ashford, Nick Aspinwall, Elisabeth Braw, John R. Deni, Markus Garlauskas, Mina Al-Oraibi, Natia Seskuria, Sushant Singh
Women attend a demonstration in support of a proposed parliamentary amendment to the Personal Status Law in Baghdad on Sept. 15.
Women attend a demonstration in support of a proposed parliamentary amendment to the Personal Status Law in Baghdad on Sept. 15.

Iraq Is Threatening to Roll Back Women’s Rights

Analysis
Mina Al-Oraibi
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L) meets with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy (2nd R) on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington on July 10.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L) meets with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy (2nd R) on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington on July 10.

Britain Needs a New Middle East Policy

Analysis
Mina Al-Oraibi
Iraqi children walk along a damaged road on their way back from school in Mosul, Iraq
Iraqi children walk along a damaged road on their way back from school in Mosul, Iraq

Iraq Must Not Squander Another Opportunity to Rebuild

Insider
Mina Al-Oraibi
Supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr flash the victory sign during protests inside the parliament building in Baghdad on July 30.
Supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr flash the victory sign during protests inside the parliament building in Baghdad on July 30.

Iraqi Politics Needs a Root-and-Branch Overhaul

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
reconstruction builders work to revive Mosul's Old City
reconstruction builders work to revive Mosul's Old City

Five Years After Liberation, There Is New Hope Among Mosul’s Ruins

Dispatch
Mina Al-Oraibi
A long line of cars stretches down a city street from a gas station.
A long line of cars stretches down a city street from a gas station.

Iraq’s Oil Dysfunction

Analysis
Mina Al-Oraibi
Supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr celebrate in Baghdad.
Supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr celebrate in Baghdad.

The Biggest Loser of Iraq’s Election Could Be Iran

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
Taliban special force fighters stand guard next to a plane.
Taliban special force fighters stand guard next to a plane.

America Isn’t Exceptional Anymore

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
Iraqi prime minister speaks in Berlin.
Iraqi prime minister speaks in Berlin.

Will Biden and Kadhimi Produce Platitudes on Iraq?

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
A man carries a girl on his shoulder as she holds a flag of the Syrian opposition during a protest in the village of Atme in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on March 15.
A man carries a girl on his shoulder as she holds a flag of the Syrian opposition during a protest in the village of Atme in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on March 15.

‘Responsibility to Protect’ Is One More Casualty of the Syrian War

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
Iraqis lit candles in memory of demonstrators who lost their lives as they mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests at Tahrir Square in Baghdad on Oct. 1, 2020.
Iraqis lit candles in memory of demonstrators who lost their lives as they mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests at Tahrir Square in Baghdad on Oct. 1, 2020.

Iraq’s Disappearance From Biden’s Agenda Is a Big Mistake

Argument
Mina Al-Oraibi
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