After more than 20 years in Iraq, the U.S. this week formally withdrew the final 2,500 forces stationed there, as U.S. tensions with Iran put Baghdad in a delicate position, given its close relationship with Iran. In Yemen, new Houthi gains along the Red Sea raise fresh concerns about Iran and Hezbollah’s role — and whether al-Qaida could exploit the shifting battlefield.
We also look at why the conflict with Iran may prove harder to end. Plus, a concert in Damascus has opened a wider debate over religion, culture and public life in post-Assad Syria. From military shifts to ideological battles, these stories offer a closer look at what’s happening in the region.
Welcome back to the MBN Friday Briefing, our roundup of the best stories on our Arabic-language Alhurra platform, also available in English. Read the Arabic version here and subscribe here. We’d love to hear from you at thebriefing@mbn-news.com.
This Week on MBN
U.S. Exits Iraq as Regional Tensions Rise
U.S. soldiers are seen during a ceremony handing over Taji military base from the U.S.-led coalition to Iraqi security forces at the base north of Baghdad, Iraq, Aug. 23, 2020. Reuters/Thaier Al-Sudani.
U.S. and allied forces have completed their military withdrawal from Iraq after more than two decades in the country. The move formally ends Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS, while Washington will continue providing Iraq with training and intelligence support. Iraq is now taking full responsibility for its security as it faces continued threats from ISIS remnants and armed groups backed by Iran.
The withdrawal comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran are escalating across the region, putting Iraq in a difficult position, given their close ties to Iran. The Iraqi government is also trying to bring Iran-aligned militias under state control, with a reported agreement to surrender strategic weapons by June 2027.
Iran and Hezbollah Helped Houthis Seize Mocha
Houthis celebrate territorial gains in this screengrab from a video released on Sept. 14, 2026. Houthi Military Media/Handout via REUTERS
Iranian and Hezbollah commanders helped the Houthis seize Mocha, a strategic port on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, reports Shaiba alham Abdelrahman. A former Houthi spokesman, who later defected, told MBN they helped plan and carry out the attack. He says they disrupted government forces’ communications, helping the Houthis take the port quickly. The capture gives the Houthis greater ability to threaten shipping through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Houthi Gains Could Give Al-Qaida Room to Grow
Houthi supporters rally to celebrate advances by Houthi forces along the Red Sea coastline, in Sanaa, Yemen, Sept.18, 2026. REUTERS/Adel Al Khader
The Houthis’ takeover of much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast could create new opportunities for al-Qaida affiliates, especially al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and al-Shabab. The two sides remain ideological enemies, reports Abubakar Siddique, but have increasingly found ways to cooperate when their interests overlap. The new territorial gains could give militants greater access to ports, smuggling routes, weapons and logistics networks across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Some experts see signs of growing cooperation, while others caution that Houthi territorial gains alone don’t mean that collaboration has increased.
Why the Iran War Won’t End
Commuters ride scooters past military drones on display at Baharestan Square in Tehran on September 28, 2026 / AFP.
The conflict with Iran is unlikely to end anytime soon, writes Ezzedine Fishere for MBN Magazine. Tehran’s approach is shaped not just by self-interest, but by a deep ideological belief that it’s fighting a “liberatio movement” against the U.S., Israel and regional dictators, says Fishere. Over the years, Iran has patiently built allies, missiles and other military capabilities across the region. Fishere notes that Tehran may see these tools as defensive, while its neighbors and the U.S. see them as a growing threat. His bottom line: Even if the fighting stops for a while or U.S. policy changes, the deeper conflict with Iran is likely to continue given their differing motivation to change the region.
Damascus Concert Sparks a Freedom Debate
Syrian singer Assala Nasri performs during her concert – held after a 15-year hiatus – at the Al-Fayhaa Sports City in Damascus on September 17, 2026. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
Syrian superstar Assala Nasri returned to Damascus after 15 years in exile, drawing a huge crowd for her first concert there since 2010.
But her comeback quickly sparked controversy, with conservative clerics calling for the concert to be canceled over their objections to music and public performances. The dispute grew into campaigns urging the government to restrict cultural events in the name of Syria’s “values and identity.” The controversy raises a bigger question: Should religious groups be able to impose their views on public life, asks Mustafa Akyol, MBN contributor. Will post-Assad Syria make room for different beliefs and lifestyles?
Quote of the Week: Mediation Efforts Continue
We are exchanging messages between the parties and we are working towards establishing common ground in order to get into a deal that would save all of us from the repercussions of the conflict.
–Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman on mediation between the U.S. and Iran, Sept. 29, 2026.
