Iraq heads to the polls amid rifts within its Shia leadership and shifting regional power. PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani faces pressure from Iran, the US, and the Gulf as the powerful Sadrist movement boycotts the election. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem explains. | Al Jazeera English

Tensions between Iran and Israel are heating up again — and this time, the stakes are even higher. Reports from global intelligence sources and Western media claim that Iran is ramping up its missile production to an unprecedented level — preparing the capacity to launch up to **2,000 missiles in a single attack**. Meanwhile, China is rumored to be supplying Tehran with cutting-edge stealth jets, HQ-9 air defense systems, and long-range radar to strengthen Iran’s military power against Israel an