Frontline Season 40 Episode 4 Iraq's Assassins/COVID in Yemen

In Frontline season 40 episode 4 titled "Iraq's Assassins/COVID in Yemen," viewers are taken on a journey to the Middle East where two separate stories are explored.

The first story investigates the thousands of unsolved murders in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003. Journalist Ramita Navai uncovers evidence that suggests these atrocities were not just random acts of violence, but rather orchestrated by a shadowy group known as the PMF - Popular Mobilization Forces - who have ties to Iran and operate with impunity.

Navai speaks with survivors and families of victims who recount their traumatic experiences at the hands of these death squads, which include kidnappings, torture and executions. She also interviews members of the PMF who provide a rare insight into the group's tactics and motivations. The investigation raises important questions about accountability and justice in a country still plagued by violence and instability.

The second story focuses on the devastating impact of COVID-19 in Yemen, a country already grappling with a humanitarian crisis due to a years-long conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels.

Journalist Safa Al Ahmad travels to the city of Aden to document the chaos and suffering caused by the pandemic. Hospitals are overwhelmed, supplies are scarce, and families are forced to watch their loved ones die without proper care.

Al Ahmad also speaks with locals who are skeptical of the official COVID-19 statistics released by the government, citing a lack of testing and an underfunded health system. The pandemic has only worsened the already dire situation in Yemen, leaving the country on the brink of collapse.

The episode provides a compelling and sobering look at the interconnected issues of violence, politics and public health in two of the most troubled nations in the Middle East.