Iraqi News Agency

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) is Iraq's national news agency and a public-service broadcaster headquartered in Baghdad. Established in March 1959 during the government of Abdul Karim Qasim, it became one of the earliest national news agencies in the Arab world. It is generally described as the second-oldest Arab news agency, after Egypt's Middle East News Agency, which was founded in 1955. INA's central role is the collection and distribution of Iraqi political, governmental, economic, social and general news. Its reporting has historically been distributed through bulletins and, later, digital channels, with Arabic as its principal language and English used for international communication. The agency's official website provides a contemporary online outlet for its reporting and helps extend its reach beyond traditional news-agency clients. The agency expanded substantially during the twentieth century. At one stage it employed approximately 320 editorial, technical and administrative personnel and maintained 48 offices and correspondent locations in Arab and foreign countries. Its international network was sharply reduced after United Nations sanctions were imposed on Iraq in August 1990; the number of offices and correspondents reportedly fell to 15. In April 1999, INA launched Arabic- and English-language websites, marking an important transition from wire-service distribution toward direct digital publication. International agencies including Agence France-Presse, Deutsche Presse-Agentur and EFE subscribed to INA material during this period. During the Iran–Iraq War and the government of Saddam Hussein, INA operated within a tightly controlled media environment. Correspondents faced severe restrictions on movement and access, while the agency relied heavily on official statements, communiqués and limited interviews. Contemporary descriptions characterize INA as the government's principal official news source and as an instrument for presenting events in ways consistent with the political leadership's interpretation. Its output included not only reports on government activity but also commentary and background material that communicated official policy positions. This history places INA within the broader pattern of state-directed media in Ba'athist Iraq. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, INA was closed for several years and Iraq's media landscape became more pluralistic, with other news organizations and agencies emerging, including the National Iraqi News Agency. INA was later revived and, from 2017, reintroduced as Iraq's state-run news agency. The revived agency operates in a media environment that includes public, private and partisan outlets, while retaining its role as an official channel for Iraqi state news. INA also participated in the creation of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) and serves as Iraq's official representative in that regional organization. Its institutional identity has included the abbreviation INA since the early years of its operation. Between 1959 and 1963, discussions with Reuters addressed the use of that abbreviation, which had also been associated with an Arab News Agency owned by Reuters; the designation was ultimately used by the Iraqi agency. Today, INA's brand is associated primarily with official Iraqi news, Arabic-language national coverage, English-language international communication and state news distribution.

The Iraqi News Agency was established in March 1959 during the rule of Abdul Karim Qasim. Its creation gave Iraq a dedicated national institution for gathering and distributing news and placed the country among the early Arab adopters of a formal wire-service model. The agency is commonly identified as the second-oldest news agency in the Arab world, following Egypt's Middle East News Agency. INA developed into a significant national and international news operation. At its peak, it reportedly employed about 320 editorial, technical and administrative staff and maintained 48 offices and correspondent posts in Arab and foreign countries. The agency supplied news bulletins to domestic and international media and became a source used by major foreign agencies, including AFP, dpa and EFE. In April 1999, it launched Arabic and English websites, extending its reach into digital publishing. The agency's institutional history is closely tied to Iraq's political system. During the Iran–Iraq War and Saddam Hussein's rule, reporters worked under strict restrictions. Access to events and sources was limited, and the agency depended heavily on official communiqués and statements. INA functioned as the government's principal official source and presented news in a manner aligned with state policy. Its output could include interpretive commentary and background material that conveyed the regime's view of political and military developments. In this period, INA operated not only as a news distributor but also as an instrument of state communication and propaganda. The agency's international capacity contracted significantly after sanctions were imposed on Iraq in August 1990. Its network reportedly declined from 48 offices and correspondent locations to 15. The reduction reflected the broader impact of sanctions and Iraq's international isolation on media operations and foreign connectivity. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, INA was closed for several years. Other Iraqi news agencies and outlets emerged during the post-2003 media transition, including the National Iraqi News Agency. INA was subsequently revived and, from 2017, re-established as Iraq's state-run news agency. Its renewed operation restored an official national agency to Iraq's media system while the country continued to host a wider range of public, private and politically affiliated news organizations. INA also played a role in establishing the Federation of Arab News Agencies and remains Iraq's official representative in that federation. The agency's abbreviation has a distinct institutional history: the initials INA were also associated with an Arab News Agency owned by Reuters, and discussions between Reuters and the Iraqi agency took place from 1959 to 1963 before the abbreviation became identified with the Iraqi News Agency. In its current form, INA combines traditional official news distribution with online Arabic and English publishing from Baghdad.

1. 2017INA revived as Iraq's state news agency

   The agency was revived and reintroduced as Iraq's state-run news agency.

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2. 2003Agency closed after the fall of Saddam Hussein

   INA was closed for several years following the fall of Saddam Hussein and the resulting transformation of Iraq's media system.

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3. 1999Arabic and English websites launched

   INA introduced websites in Arabic and English in April 1999.

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4. 1990International network reduced after sanctions

   Following the imposition of sanctions in August 1990, INA's reported network declined from 48 offices and correspondent locations to 15.

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5. 1963INA abbreviation becomes associated with the Iraqi agency

   Discussions involving Reuters and the Iraqi agency concerning the INA abbreviation concluded during the 1959–1963 period, after which the abbreviation was used for the Iraqi News Agency.

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6. 1959Iraqi News Agency established

   INA was founded in March 1959 during the government of Abdul Karim Qasim.

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Iraq's official national news agency and state news distributor, with a public-service role and a strong emphasis on government, political and national-affairs reporting.

• Arabic news serviceNews agency service1959

  INA's principal service is Arabic-language reporting on Iraqi government activity, politics, national affairs and general news. It has historically been distributed through agency bulletins and is now also published through the agency's online channels.

• English news serviceInternational news service1999

  The English-language service communicates Iraqi news to foreign audiences and international media. It was formalized online with the launch of an English website in 1999 and supports INA's role as Iraq's outward-facing official news source.

• INA online news platformDigital publishing1999

  The agency's website provides a direct digital publication channel for INA reporting. It complements traditional news-agency distribution and allows readers and media organizations to access official Iraqi news online.

• 2017Revival as the state-run Iraqi news agencyStrategy

  INA had been closed for several years after the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein, while other Iraqi news organizations developed in the post-2003 media environment.

  What changed. The agency was revived and reintroduced as Iraq's state-run news agency.

  Aftermath. The revival restored INA as an official national news institution alongside Iraq's broader and more diverse post-2003 media sector.

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• 1999Launch of Arabic and English websitesProduct launch

  The agency sought to extend its established news-distribution role into online publishing and improve access for both domestic and international audiences.

  What changed. INA launched websites in Arabic and English in April 1999.

  Aftermath. The launch gave INA a direct digital publishing presence and supported its international communications role.

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• 2017Iraqi News Agency revived as the state news agency

  After being closed for several years following the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein, INA was revived and presented as Iraq's state-run news agency.

  Leadership change
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• 1999INA launches Arabic- and English-language websites

  The agency introduced online editions in Arabic and English, expanding its distribution beyond conventional news bulletins and supporting international access to its reporting.

  Product launch
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1. Iraqi News Agency
2. Iraqi News Agency official website