Under threat? Iran's quiet infiltration over Iraqi Christian communities Christians who have called northern Iraq their homeland since the first century are recovering from ISIS’ carnage only to face an emerging threat that they fear could be just as challenging: the growing influence from Iran. That influence comes in an array of shapes and forms, and even an infiltration within the Christian community itself. Most flagrantly, it includes the direct arming and funding of a prominent militia of Iraqi Christians. The real intentions of the militia, known as the Babylon Brigade, worry those Christians who remain in or want to return to their ancient homeland, known as the Ninevah Plains. Rayan al-Kildani, leader of the "Babylon Brigade," at his Baghdad headquarters.   (Fox News) “We had ISIS, and now we are struggling with this increasing Iranian rule, the changing demographics,” lamented Dr. Salem Hana, a 33-year-old Iraqi Christian dentist. “The Nineve...

Strong earthquake hits Iraq-Iran border area, six killed in Iran 11/12/2017 9:11:10 PM Social media reports suggest the earthquake was felt across the Middle East BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) NOV. 12, 2017  - A strong earthquake hit large parts of northern Iraq and the capital Baghdad on Sunday, and also caused damage in villages across the border in Iran where state TV said at least six people had been killed.      The quake rocked the Iraq-Iran border, south-southwest of Iraqi town Halabjah There were no immediate reports of casualties in Iraq after the quake, whose epicenter was in Penjwin, in Sulaimaniyah province which is in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region very close to the Iranian border, according to an Iraqi meteorology official. But eight villages were damaged in Iran and at least six people were killed and many others injured in the border town of Qasr-e Shirin in Iran, Iranian state TV said. The US Geol...