Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump
Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East
Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS
Musings On Iraq review Iraq After America, Strongmen, Sectarians, Resistance
Musings On Iraq review The ISIS Reader, Milestone Texts of the Islamic State Movement
Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict
Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate
Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War
Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate
Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq
2014
Sep 8 Haidar al-Abadi became PM
(Musings On Iraq Premier Haider Abadi’s New Iraq Government)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Premier Abadi’s Cabinet Sworn In Amongst Political Disputes)
Sep 9 Peshmerga found 14 Yazidi bodies in a mass grave in Ninewa Killed by IS
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State’s Destruction Of Iraq’s Yazidi Community)
Sep 9 5 tribes joined ISF in Garma Anbar to fight insurgency
Sep 9 Peshmerga moved into Lake Hamrin in Diyala to try to cut IS supply lines
Sep 9 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq accused of kidnapping Kurdish businesswoman and cousin of Dep PM
Shaways
Sep 10 US authorized $25 mil in immediate military aid to Iraq
Sep 10 Obama announced a new coalition to fight IS and strategy to degrade and eventually defeat
it
(Musings On Iraq review Airpower in the War Against ISIS)
Sep 10 Report KRG said Baghdad owed it $8 bil in budget payments since Jan 2014 Demanded
Baghdad restart payments in Sep Abadi govt said it didn’t have money
Sep 10 ISF Hashd and tribes started 2nd op to free Dhuluiya Salahaddin from IS
Sep 11 Report KRG mad that Turkey didn’t provide any military aid when IS attacked in Aug
Sep 13 8th campaign launched to try to clear Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr dist of IS Anbar Ops Command
launched op to free Rawa along Syrian border Op in Baladrooz Diyala stalled Kurds said they cleared 5 villages in Makhmour Ninewa
Sep 13 Report US trying to cut off IS oil smuggling Turkey hasn’t helped IS could be making $1-$2
mil/day from oil Oil fields in Iraq producing 25,000-40,000 bar/day
Sep 13 IS held parade in central Hawija Kirkuk
Sep 13 PM Abadi ordered ISF to stop shelling populated cities Didn’t stop
(Musings On Iraq Can PM Abadi Appeal to Iraq’s Sunnis?)
(Musings On Iraq Government Shelling Of Civilian Areas In Iraq Continues Despite Premier Abadi’s Pledge Not To)
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Sep 14 IS released video Message to America’s Allies showing beheading of UK hostage David
Haines
Sep 14 Report PM Abadi said he would stop 7 Hashd units from working in Baghdad Said couldn’t
control 2 of them
Sep 14 Human Rights Watch Govt using indiscriminate bombings that have hit civilians Sep 1 ISF
hit school in Tikrit that killed 31 and wounded 41 civilians Sep 13 PM Abadi ordered end to shelling cities
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Sep 14 Satellite imagery showed Asaib Ahl Al-Haq burned homes in Salaam Salahaddin 2 wks after
it was freed from IS Asaib Ahl Al-Haq would level most of the town with explosives and bulldozers
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Sep 15 Report IS used to earn around $1 mil/day from oil smuggling Now might be making only
$250,000/day IS believed to be producing 25,000-40,000 bar/day of oil in Iraq and Syria Most trucked to Turkey Some oil refined IS took 7 oil fields in Iraq in Aug 2 retaken by peshmerga
Sep 15 Tribes helped IS take Makhmour Ninewa in Aug Peshmerga retook town Then stopped some
Arabs from returning to town because accused of being IS sympathizers KRG also blocked some displaced Arabs from entering
Sep 15 Peshmerga said they freed Qara Tapa Diyala from IS
Sep 17 Report Water shortages could threaten oil production Water shortages to maintain output
already hurting West Qurna 1 and Zubayr fields Seawater project to boost output stalled Was supposed to be finished in 2013 Exxon was in charge of project Removed in 2012 over disagreements with govt South Oil Company put in charge
Sep 17 Obama had war council Agreed to retake Baiji refinery Salahaddin Qayara airfield in Ninewa
and eventually Mosul by Dec 2014 or early 2015 Planned to train and equip up to 8 Iraqi army divisions and 3 peshmerga divisions Agreed small number of US forces would be used because threats from pro-Iran militias and ISIS Also realized timetable would probably take longer than planned
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Sep 18 Report Tikrit under IS control Islamic Army Naqshibandi outside city Tikrit taken by
combination of insurgent groups IS pushed them all out Jan Fallujah taken by group of armed factions IS slowly dominated city through threats and co-option Only 2 independent groups in Fallujah 1 tribal group Other ex-Saddam soldiers
Sep 18 Operation to clear Yusifiya Baghdad started
Sep 18 Tuz Kharmato police chief blamed Turkmen Hashd units for stopping Kurds in district at
checkpoints
Sep 18 IS unsuccessfully attacked prison in Kadhimiya Baghdad Tried to break members out
Sep 18 IS counterattack in Saqlawiya Anbar surrounded Rapid Intervention Force and seized base
Biggest IS victory in 2 months
(Musings On Iraq The Latest Military Fiasco In Iraq The Fall of Camp Saqlawiya, Anbar)
Sep 19 France carried out first air strikes against IS hitting Zummar, Ninewa
Sep 19 7 Kilo in Ramadi district freed by ISF Part of security operation to clear area around Ramadi
Army and Sadr’s Sayara al-Salam started campaign to clear Ishaqi Salahaddin
Sep 20 Report Govt took money from Development Fund for Iraq to fund war because no budget
passed Fund had $10 bil Was down to $3 bil
Sep 20 9th op started to clear Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr dist
Sep 21 IS captured Saqlawiya Attacked Dujail Salahaddin ISF broke siege of Sjar in Anbar where
400 soldiers were trapped
(Musings On Iraq The Latest Military Fiasco In Iraq The Fall of Camp Saqlawiya, Anbar)
Sep 21 Report IS smuggled up to 80,000 bar/day in oil Controlled 4 oil fields in Iraq Turkey and
KRG said it was cracking down on smuggling Doubted would be enforced KRG didn’t want gas prices to rise if smuggling ended
Sep 22 Report Iraqi official said 1480 Quds Force members arrived in Iraq Added to 3600 already
in Iraq Operating in Samarra and Baiji Salahaddin Said 50 Iranians killed fighting IS
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Mobilization In Iraq In The Face Of The Insurgent Surge)
Sep 22 Report Sunni sheikhs complained PM Abadi’s promise for Iraqi forces not to shell civilians
areas not followed Complained about ISF and Hashd detaining people without charges
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Sep 22 Babil governor and head of security committee said Fadhiliya in Jurf al-Sakhr dist cleared
Said IS suffered heavy casualties Was 9th op to clear district
Sep 23 Anbar Ops Command expanded attacks to Albu Atha Albu Ali al-Jassim Albu Risha north
of Ramadi
Sep 23 Report Abadi govt considering creation of National Guard Would integrate Sunni units into
ISF Would be under control of governors Talk of including Hashd in Guard Ruling parties killed idea
(Musings On Iraq Can PM Abadi Appeal to Iraq’s Sunnis?)
Sep 24 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani and 70 Iranian Rev Guards in Irbil helping
Peshmerga Kurdish general said without Iran Irbil would’ve fallen to IS
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Sep 24 Report 400 soldiers SWAT Asaib Ahl Al-Haq fighters sent to retake area around Fallujah
Supply and communication cut by IS 40 killed More captured at Camp Saqlawiya in trap
Sep 24 Report IS used 3 car bombs and a suicide bomber to try to take Baiji Refinery Salahaddin
Iraqi air force attacked insurgents to keep them at bay
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Sep 24 Report Residents in Dujail Salahaddin said under attack by IS and area might fall ISF in area
said not paid 3 months
Sep 24 ISF and Saraya al-Salam said cleared 5 villages in Muqdadiya dist Diyala Report more than
100 families fled same areas fearing IS
Sep 24 Salahaddin councilman asked Baghdad to investigate burning homes in Tuz Kharmato and
Amerli by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Sep 24 500 US soldiers sent to Baghdad Irbil Kuwait to coordinate with ISF against ISIS
Sep 25 Report Businesses complained about corruption at airports and ports Officials try to
blackmail and threaten people Hold up goods to get bribes
Sep 25 MPs complained top commanders being retired for fall of Mosul when should be prosecuted
Said had to know truth of what happened
Sep 26 Report Hashd cut off water to Sunni areas Bulldozed 100s of homes Carried out mass arrests
Ordered people to leave in Latifiya Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Sep 26 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq carried out sectarian attacks in Latifiya Baghdad Population
dropped from 200,000 to 50,000 Accused of executions and blowing up homes Jun Hashd took away 137 men 30 found dead Hashd Police Army accused of kidnappings
Sep 26 Report Soldiers at Camp Saqlawiya Anbar were running out of ammo and supplies Called
commanders MPs NGOs for help Didn’t get any More than 100 soldiers captured by IS when camp fell
(Musings On Iraq The Latest Military Fiasco In Iraq The Fall of Camp Saqlawiya, Anbar)
Sep 27 Transportation Min Jabr said corruption within Civil Aviation Authority Said officials
charged $1000 for planes to cross Iraqi airspace Charged $350 to have plane in Iraq
Sep 27 UK flew first reconnaissance missions over Iraq Denmark deployed 7 F-16s jets to Iraq Both
to fight IS
Sep 27 Report VP Maliki organized websites that attacked PM Abadi Called him a traitor Tool of
the British Blamed him for fall of Saqlawiya in Anbar Called for protests
Sep 28 Report Some estimated IS made $2-$3 mil/day from oil smuggling Thought overestimate
Lost 7 oil fields Still holds 2 but neither produced much Still had fields in Syria
Sep 28 IS took 3 districts in central Ramadi Attacked Amiriya Fallujah but turned back
Sep 29 Kurdish MP said PM Abadi agreed to pay salaries of KRG govt workers for Aug and Sep
KRG said Baghdad owed it $9 bil Was goodwill gesture by Abadi after being elected to office KRG was in oil/budget dispute with Baghdad
Sep 29 PM Abadi repeated claim that civilians would not be bombed Continued anyway
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Sep 30 UK launched first air strikes on IS
Sep 30 Cabinet authorized govt to provide weapons, equipment, salaries to Hashd
Sep 30 Report IS controlled around 40% of Iraq’s wheat farming areas Have been depriving
Christians and Yazidis of food Seized crops mills and livestock Was controlling farmers who sold products to govt
Oct 1 US sent Apache helicopters to Iraq to protect forces there and later offensive
ops against IS
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Oct 1 Report Peshmerga said Hashd carrying out revenge attacks in Salahaddin Went into village
and destroyed Sunni homes and businesses Badr cmdr in Suleiman Beq said they were fighting jihad against IS Said had right to kill Sunnis and take their property if with IS Harassed Kurds as well
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 1 ISF Hashd Peshmerga working to clear 5 villages in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Army cleared
Fallujah Univ south of city Peshmerga freed Rabia Ninewa
Oct 2 Amb Hill wrote article Said Sec State Clinton neglected Iraq Only went on 1 trip to Iraq Hill
wrote monthly memos Battle between NSC and State over who should read them Thought Obama only 1 that read memos Felt State officials didn’t care about Iraq either Obama admin didn’t see Iraq as strategic issue but legacy of Bush US started complaining about Maliki being strongman and Maliki resented US as a result Claims Maliki’s actions forming govt in 2010 made more US officials have negative view of him False VP Biden and Obama both backed PM Maliki for 2nd term
Oct 2 Fmr Def Sec Panetta book said Obama didn’t listen to advisers about keeping troops in Iraq
past 2011 withdrawal Said withdrawal undermined stability in Iraq Said deal to keep troops would’ve been difficult but was necessary Said White House main priority was withdrawal
Oct 3 Australia authorized air strikes against IS and Special Forces to be sent to Iraq
Oct 3 IS released video of beheading of UK hostage Alan Henning and threatened to behead US
hostage Peter Kassig
Oct 3 IS took Hit Anbar
Oct 3 ISF said it freed Dhuluiya Salahaddin 2nd time said liberated
Oct 3 Hashd and Peshmerga got into gun battle in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin 4 wounded After car
bomb Peshmerga stopped Hashd from arresting a man Led to confrontation Were competing for control of dist
Oct 5 PM Abadi told cabinet had been billions stolen from Interior and Defense Mins under PM
Maliki Said contracts and tenders used by ministries and intel services with no legal controls Mentioned fake bomb detectors as an example
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Oct 5 Anbar Ops Command said ISF withdrew from areas north of Fallujah which were then taken
by IS ISF also withdrew from most of Ramadi IS seized Kubaisa and Muhammadawi in Anbar after Hit fell
Oct 8 IS issued another order for Mosul’s Christians to convert to Islam or leave
Oct 8 Doc showed Al-Huda bank used forged papers to buy dollars at Central Bank of Iraq auction
in 2012-2014 for total of $6.5 bil Sent money to Jordan
Oct 8 Report Peshmerga and Hashd got into shootout in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Before two
cooperated to free Suleiman Beq and Amerli 2 competed for control of district Both killed civilians and forced people out Hashd tried to arrest man over car bomb Stopped by Peshmerga Led to gun battle Turkmen mad at Kurdish control of area
Oct 9 Report Corruption undermined ISF Commands bought and sold Soldiers extorted Gas spare
parts weapons rations stolen and sold
Oct 9 Peshmerga and volunteers claimed freed all of Tuz Kharmato dist in Salahaddin ISF made
another attempt to free Tikrit Failed
Oct 11 Peshmerga began op to free Sinjar Ninewa from IS
Oct 12 IS magazine Dabiq article justified enslavement of Yazidis
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State’s Destruction Of Iraq’s Yazidi Community)
Oct 12 Human Rights Watch IS holding 100s of Yazidis in Iraq and Syria Took women from
families Carried out forced marriages Took young boys and forced them to convert to Islam Shabak leader said 137 men taken by IS in Ninewa
Oct 13 Amnesty Intl Militias abducted and killed Sunni civilians Militias backed by govt and
carried out joint ops Kidnapping sometimes for ransom Some militias carried out revenge attacks after insurgent ops Found 170 Sunni men abducted in Samarra area since Jun 2014 Dozens were found dead and rest missing
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 13 Insurgents took army base outside Hit Anbar Hit under IS control ISF claimed made tactical
withdrawal from city
Oct 14 Baghdadi Anbar surrounded and under siege by IS Fighting in Garma
Oct 14 Interview with Gen Gharawi head of Ninewa Ops Command Said knew big IS offensive was
coming in Jun against Mosul Asked PM Maliki for reinforcements who said no Foreign countries tried to warn Maliki of attack IS began assault on Mosul with convoy of trucks from Syria Gharawi blamed for fall of Mosul Was under investigation Said was shortage of fighters in Mosul infighting amongst commanders and political leaders Maliki and Defense Min turned down several offers of help from Peshmerga Gharawi said he didn’t abandon city Said only left when Mosul taken Gharawi blamed Army chief of staff Qanbar ground forces cmdr Gen Ghidan and PM Maliki Said Qanbar and Ghidan gave up on west Mosul Said that led to mass desertions Gharawi said he was scapegoated Gharawi fmr Republican Guard under Saddam 2004 picked to head National Police division US charged him with running death squads Ran secret Baghdad prison where torture used 06 US pressured PM Maliki to fire Gharawi Maliki resigned him 2011 Maliki made Gharawi head of Federal Police in Mosul Sunnis accused Gharawi of killings but he denied it 2014 Maliki made Gharawi head of Ninewa Ops Command IS started attack on Mosul with few 100 fighters but increased to 2000 Attacked 6th Brigade 3rd Army Div Supposed to have 2500 soldiers but only had 500 Was short ammo and weapons Supposed to have 25000 soldiers and police in Mosul but only had 10000Gharawi set up defensive line in west Mosul Maliki told him to hold Mosul until Qanbar and Ghidan arrived They arrived Jun 7 and took control of city Pres Barzani offered peshmerga to help hold city Maliki rejected offer twice US and UN tried to work out deal between Maliki and Barzani Maliki still rejected deals Jun 8 IS attacked with reinforcements from Syria Sleeper cells also attacked Ninewa Gov Nujafi met with Qnbar and Ghidan Nujafi asked 2nd Div in east Mosul to counter attack Ghidan and Qanbar withdrew to east Mosul ISF thought they were fleeing Most of 2nd Div deserted afterward Jun 10 Qanbar and Ghidan left Mosul for KRG After fall of Mosul Maliki promoted Qanbar
Oct 15 IS attacked Amiriya Fallujah in Anbar from three direction Police chief said ISF were almost
trapped IS surrounded Al-Assad base
Oct 15 ISF attacked Fallujah Failed
Oct 16 KRG started producing oil from Kirkuk fields it occupied after Mosul fell Oil sent to
refineries in KRG and then smuggled to Iran and Turkey KRG Natural Resource Min Hawrami said KRG wanted to reach 500,000 bar/day in exports by end of 2041 Could only do that with Kirkuk oil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 16 Report Maliki and Abadi govts carried out talks with Sunni tribes and politicians in Jordan
and Irbil to gain their support against IS US mediated US also wanted to turn insurgents against IS Members of 1920 Revolution Brigades and Mujahedeen Army said they were opposed to IS but unwilling to help govt
Oct 17 Interior Min approved 3000 tribal fighters into new brigade in Anbar Would be trained by
US
Oct 17 Salahaddin governor said ops started to free Tikrit and Baiji Both failed
Oct 17 IS began final assault on Ramadi
Oct 18 Hashd and Peshmerga got into gun fight in Tuz Kharmato dist Salahaddin Peshemrga fired
on Badr vehicle that didn’t stop at checkpoint 1 Peshmerga 2 Hashd wounded 2 sides had peace talks afterward
Oct 18 IS attacked Baghdadi Anbar City now surrounded on all sides Est IS controlled 80% of
Anbar
Oct 20 Report Spanish intel said IS smuggling drugs into Europe to finance itself Started with Al
Qaeda in Iraq
Oct 20 Report Shootout between Federal Police and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in Baghdad Police raided
hotel where kidnapped female relative of Dep PM Shaways held No one arrested
Oct 20 IS attacked Qara Tapa Diyala Dressed as Peshmerga Half population fled IS executed 9
civilians and kidnapped 6 others IS attacked Mount Sinjar
Oct 20 Mass grave found outside Fallujah with 19 civilians killed by IS
Oct 21 Report Iraqi forces still trying to clear Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr after 9 security ops PM Maliki
appointed officer from his clan to lead effort
Oct 21 Iraqi forces began 10th security operation to try to clear Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr
Oct 21 Report Diyala govt said province threatened with food insecurity due to war 70% of farming
stopped Insurgents controlled water infrastructure Poverty and unemployment going up
Oct 21 Report Sep Asaib Ahl Al-Haq kidnapped businesswoman in Basra who was relative of Dep
PM Shaways Asked for $1.66 mil ransom Moved her to Baghdad Escaped and told Federal Police who raided building Asaib Ahl Al-Haq demanded women be given back to them or they would kill police Led to shoot out 4 police wounded
Oct 21 Report More than 100,000 militiamen put on govt payroll with Hashd Given weapons and
uniforms Access to govt vehicles Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam refused govt pay Hashd only followed their own leadership Badr member named Interior Minister Hashd freed Amerli Salahaddin and cleared southern Baghdad Jul Human Rights Watch reported 48 Sunnis killed by Hashd Mar-Apr Another 61 killed Jun-Jul Amnesty Intl reported Hashd abuses
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 21 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani posted pictures of himself on social media advising
Iraqi forces Thought message to MidEast and US that Iran was main ones supporting Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Oct 21 Report 6000 soldiers killed in Anbar Jan-Jun More than double that deserted according to
sources 60,000 soldiers on paper in Anbar Because of ghost soldiers might only be 20,000 in reality Anbar govt has constantly criticized army for making bad decisions
Oct 21 Ablu Nimr tribe and ISF attacked Hit in Anbar but repulsed
Oct 22 Report US expanding role in Iraq Conducted air operations to supply ISF in Salahaddin and
Anbar Increased intel sharing Helped coordinate and plan attacks by ISF and tribes in Anbar Involved in op to retake Baiji and Baiji refinery
Oct 22 Report Displacement Min officials stealing and delaying money meant for displaced
Parliament investigated Stories displaced had to pay bribes to get govt aid Dep Displacement Min said found officials within ministry made fake papers saying they were displaced to steal money Displaced families supposed to get $850 for food and shelter Anbar official said Migration Min officials had been asking for bribes Abadi govt wasn’t sending money to KRG for displaced
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Oct 22 Report Kurds kidnapped by ISF in Baghdad for ransom Kurdish army cmdr said ISF used
checkpoints in Baghdad to stop Kurds from getting to capital and turned them back Claimed leadership ordered ISF to stop Kurds A Kurdish cmdr was kidnapped in Baghdad
Oct 22 Report IS took control of Euphrates area northwest of Hit Anbar Arrested 98 people
including police and local officials Executed police chief
Oct 22 ISF announced 2nd op to try to free Baiji Salahaddin
Oct 22 IS launched new attack upon Amiriya Fallujah Anbar driven off with help of Coalition air
strikes
Oct 22 Albu Nimr tribe in Hit area of Anbar surrendered to IS Was fighting IS with no help from
govt Was massacred afterward
Oct 23 Report IS earned up to $1 mil/day from smuggling oil Went through KRG to Turkey KRG
and Turkey denied it bought IS oil 2 peshmerga arrested for buying IS oil
Oct 23 Anbar Ops Command launched op to clear Euphrates area outside of Ramadi IS just took
Oct 23 PM Abadi said he would get rid of fake bomb detectors
Oct 23 Iraqi forces started 11th op to free Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr dist
Oct 23 IS destroyed a Shiite and a Sunni shrine in Salahaddin
Oct 24 Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr finally cleared after a dozen attempts All civilians forced out of city
and not allowed to return Turned into Hashd base
Oct 24 Report Sep CIA est IS had 20,000-31,500 fighters Large increase from last CIA report that
said 10,000 fighters Due to heavy recruitment and new foreign fighters CIA est 15,000 foreign fighters went to Iraq and Syria over last few yrs IS went into Arab villages in Ninewa to recruit Also recruited amongst other insurgent groups in Iraq and Syria After fall of Mosul got more recruits Other insurgent groups joined IS
Oct 24 Report US blamed PM Maliki for politicization of ISF and its problems 6 brigades were
being retrained by govt Jul US reported 24 out of Iraq’s 50 brigades were undertrained and underequipped
Oct 24 IS attacked Edheim NDiyala ISF and tribes freed 3 villages between Hit and Baghdadi in
Anbar
Oct 24 Report Peshmerga cmdr said Hashd killing civilians and burning homes in Tuz Kharmato
Salahaddin Up to 7000 families fled
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 25 Sr Interior Min official said Iraq bought modern US bomb detectors to be used in Karbala
Said fake bomb detectors were going to be removed
Oct 25 Peshmerga freed 13 villages and then Zummar in Ninewa
Oct 25 Report As ISF transferred from Basra to north to fight IS criminals and Hashd asserted power
in province Basra councilman said kidnappings and crime up Asaib Ahl Al-Haq blamed for kidnapping Kurdish businesswoman who was cousin of Dep PM Shaways in Basra
Oct 26 IS destroyed a Suffi shrine and a Sunni one in Salahaddin
Oct 27 IS rounded up families in Anbar from Albu Nimr tribe after took town Executed most of
them
Oct 27 Report ISF freeing Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr disrupted IS’s attempt to take northern Babil Also
thought it would help end IS siege of Amiriya Fallujah in Anbar
Oct 27 Peshmerga launched attack upon Sinjar dist Ninewa
Oct 28 Parliament’s integrity comm said Displaced Comm run by Dep PM Mutlaq was stealing
money Said wasn’t providing aid or services to displaced
Oct 28 Report KRG upgraded oil pipeline to Turkey Was exporting 290,000 bar/day Natural
Resource Min said wanted to reach 1 mil/bar/day by 2015 KRG was connecting two Kirkuk fields it seized after fall of Mosul to its pipeline
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 28 Report Quds Force Gen Suelimani and 200 Iranian soldiers went to Salahaddin to help with
ops to retake Baiji and Tikrit Went with Badr’s Amiri
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Oct 29 IS took 40 captured tribal fighters from Albu Nimr and executed them in center of town in
Anbar in front of residents Report IS executed them after they repented to IS Kicked out family members and took their homes
Oct 29 Report Anbar tribes complained they asked PM Abadi for aid and got nothing Sheikh Gaood
from Albu Nimr said Abadi had only given them promises Sheikhs said Abadi didn’t agree to send any weapons to tribes Sheikh Hardan said Anbar tribes were divided Said govt needed to evaluate tribes before supported them Sheikh Sulaiman said they wouldn’t work with govt until Hashd withdrawn
Oct 29 Report Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr dist emptied of 80,000 people after it was freed Hashd took
over area Meant to protect Shiite pilgrims going south in Nov Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani involved in op to free area Iran posted pictures of him on social media Police said Iranians were in Jurf al-Sakhr Babil councilman said all families from Jurf al-Sakhr were IS supporters
Oct 29 ISF secured Thar Thar Dam in Anbar Moved on Garma and still fighting for Amiriya
Fallujah
Oct 29 Report ISF largely on defensive in Anbar Army withdrew to bases Police and tribes fighting
on their own Many ISF units understrength poor morale Losses blamed on poor leadership IS took Hit Assassinated Anbar police chief
Oct 30 IS executed 75 members of Albu Nimr tribe in Anbar
Oct 31 ISF started 3rd attack on Baiji
Oct 31 IS executed head of Abu Nimr tribe in Anbar
Nov 1 IS executed 50 civilians in village in Anbar
Nov 1 Amnesty Intl researcher went to village in Ninewa All houses destroyed Kurds blamed IS
Peshmerga probably responsible Kurdish civilians said they destroyed some homes of IS supporters
Nov 2 IS executed 50 members of Albu Nimr tribe in Hit and another 77 in Thar Thar
Nov 2 Human Rights Watch Aug Hashd attacked mosque in Diyala Killed 34 civilians 1 group of
Hashd shot people in mosque 2nd group came and killed survivors Thought retaliation for IED that went off earlier in day that killed 5 Hashd ISF checkpoints near mosque did nothing
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Nov 2 Report PM on integrity committee said Mutlaq’s Supreme Comm for the Relief of the
Displaced should be closed due to corruption
Nov 3 Report Hashd entered town in Salahaddin and started destroying homes When families tried
to return were accused of being IS sympathizers arrested beaten Some disappeared
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Nov 3 IS killed 36 civilians in Hit Anbar
Nov 4 Operation started to free Hit and Kubaisa in Anbar Would include Hashd police tribes Iraqi
forces entered Baiji Were preparing to attack Baiji Refinery
Nov 4 IS attacked Haditha and Amiriya Fallujah in Anbar
Nov 5 Report War in Syria often noted to be cause for resurgence of insurgency in Iraq Story is in
2008 IS moved to Syria and grew into new force Gained knowledge heavy weapons and brought them back to Iraq in summer 2014 offensive PM Maliki’s abuse of power also important Drove Sunnis into hands of insurgency US thought 2010 elections death of IS leaders Abu Hamza and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and drop in attacks meant Iraq had turned corner Increased desire to withdraw US wasn’t thinking about Iraq’s political situation such as failure to integrate Sunni leaders and no reconciliation US had short term success with Surge and sahwa IS lost their claim to be protectors of Sunnis IS reacted by going after Sunnis and ISF leaders IS wanted to punish and make examples of opponents Had to gain back control of areas Recruit new fighters Turn back ISF so IS could gain authority in Sunni areas 2007-2010 IS carried out assassination campaign against sahwa and Islamic Party Won over tribes
Nov 5 Report Hezbollah and Iranian Rev Guards advisers involved in op that freed Babil’s Jurf al-
Sakhr Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani posted pictures of himself in district Suleimani involved in stopping insurgent drive on Samarra in Jun Freeing Amerli in Aug Defending Irbil in Sep Jul Hezbollah commander killed in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Nov 6 Report After Mosul fell in 2014 Badr head Amiri went to Diyala PM Maliki gave Badr
military supplies and aid Made Amiri head of security in Diyala Amiri was going to be Interior Min under PM Abadi but vetoed by US Badr still got Interior Min Amiri said Iran stopped IS outside Baghdad Amiri worked with Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani to end siege of Amerli Salahaddin in Sep 2014 Badr helped clear Jurf al-Sakhr in Babil again with help of Gen Suleimani Iran posted pictures of Amiri and Suleimani in Babil on social media Reports Badr tortured and killed captured IS fighters in Babil Also attacked civilians accused of being IS sympathizers Human Rights Watch said Badr looted and burned homes destroyed entire villages and kicked Sunnis out Amiri said were mistakes of war 2009 US Embassy accused Amiri of running death squads within ISF and killing Sunnis When Amiri Transportation Min under PM Maliki gave contracts to front companies owned by Badr Allowed Iran to ship weapons to Syria through Iraqi air space Sr official at Iraqi Airways said Transportation Min full of nepotism under Amiri Promotion within ministry based upon Badr membership
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Nov 6 Report Albu Nimr tribe in Anbar split over IS Some members helped others fought it Members killed and kidnapped each other Happened across Anbar
Nov 8 2nd operation launched to try to free Hit Anbar ISF and Hashd declared Baiji Salahaddin
freed
Nov 9 IS killed 70 more members of Albu Nimr tribe in Hit Anbar
Nov 10 IS announced it got allegiance from groups in Egypt Libya Yemen Algeria Saudi Arabia
Nov 10 2 step brothers of Pres Barzani cousin of Pres Talabani PUK leader in Diyala Kirkuk police
chief accused of buying oil from IS 2 car companies in KRG accused of selling vehicles to IS
Nov 12 PM Abadi fired Army Chief of Staff Gen Zebari along with 26 ISF commanders Appointed
18 new commanders within Defense Min Was in response to fall of Mosul
Nov 12 Report During battle to end siege of Amerli Salahaddin Kataib Hezbollah sent in 50 elite
fighters who set up ops room to coordinate between ISF and Hashd Had Quds Force advisers with them Sep Iran Rev Guards cmdr said Gen Suleimani saved Irbil from IS
Nov 12 Report Hashd carried out retaliatory attacks on Sunnis after it freed Tuz Kharmato dist
Salahaddin Burned homes and drove out Sunnis in one town
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Nov 12 Report Iraqi air force pilot said Iranians regularly flew Iraqi air force planes out of base in
Baghdad Su-25s that Iran provided to Iraq flown by Iranians Flew helicopters and transport planes that dropped barrel bombs Some Iraqi air force units were completely Iranian
Nov 13 Fin Min Zebari said Baghdad reached budget deal with KRG Baghdad would deliver
monthly payments to KRG again KRG would export 150,000 bar/day of oil in return
Nov 13 IS executed 16 members of Albu Nimr tribe in Hit Anbar Included 2 kids and a woman
Families had been in Awakening 100 other members of tribe held as prisoners
Nov 13 Army and tribes began op to free Amiriya Fallujah Anbar
Nov 14 Report Defense Min claimed ISF cleared all of Baiji Salahaddin Was still heavy fighting
with IS at Baiji refinery
Nov 14 Anbar govt said new campaign to try to free Ramadi started ISF also started op to clear Hit
and Albu Nimr in Anbar
Nov 15 Iraqi forces freed Albu Nimr outside Hit Anbar
Nov 15 Report When IS entered Alam Salahaddin outside Tikrit told sheikhs it was there to protect
Sunnis Most of the tribe fled IS blew up their homes Kidnapped 100 residents
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Nov 16 Report Iraq okayed oil exports using KRG’s independent pipeline to Turkey
Nov 18 Report Source in Def Min said Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani led 500 Revolutionary
Guards in Iraq Arrived via Wasit Deployed in Salahaddin and Diyala 3000 more went to Diyala Salahaddin Babil Baghdad Iranians took part in clearing ops in Baiji and Jurf al-Sakhr
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Nov 18 Report Head of Albu Nimr tribe said Abadi govt not arming tribes in Anbar Said 3000 tribal
fighters volunteered to fight for govt at Al-Assad base Only 100 given weapons
Nov 18 ISF and Peshmerga launched op to free Jalawla and Sadiya in NEDiyala
Nov 21 Turkey said it would train Peshmerga 150 already in Turkey Were supposed to be deployed
to Syria
Nov 23 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani and Badr’s Amiri were in charge of op that freed
Jalawla Diyala Iranian soldiers might have been involved as well
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Nov 23 After Sadriya Diyala freed from IS Hashd destroyed 6 mosques Also shot at mosques in
Jalawla
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Nov 23 IS attacked Ramadi wearing ISF uniforms IS pushing towards city from north and south
Fighting in downtown Ramadi
Nov 24 Report 2013 IS rebuilt networks in southern Baghdad-northern Babil Jurf al-Sakhr was
major base used to send car bombs into Baghdad and attack Anbar Jul 2013 Abu Ghraib prison break provided more men Apr 2014 IS attacked Amiriya Fallujah from Fallujah Jun Took Mosul and Tikrit as well as attacked north Babil Jurf al-Sakhr cleared of IS that reduced IS activity in Babil
Nov 24 IS blew up Christian monastery in Mosul
Nov 24 2 towns in Diyala freed by Peshmerga and then completely destroyed
Nov 25 KRG received 1st payment from Baghdad for $280 mil as part of new oil-budget deal KRG
needed money to pay its govt workers KRG was to export 150,000 bar/day of oil in return
Nov 25 Report Sep IS started major campaign in Anbar Oct executed members of Albu Nimr tribe
Killed Anbar police chief Took Camp Hit ISF responded by shelling Fallujah that had no effect on IS op IS tried to take Baghdadi but failed ISF tried to take Fallujah but failed IS brought in 3000 fighters from Syria into Anbar IS attacked Amiriya Fallujah Then Ramadi and Jazeera IS executed commander in Amiriya Fallujah Albu Nimr and ISF then attacked Hit but failed IS couldn’t take Amiriya Fallujah Led to mass executions of Albu Nimr members Nov ISF retook Camp Hit
Nov 25 Peshmerga said Hashd started looting Jalawla Diyala after it was freed
Nov 26 PM Abadi suspended 4000 soldiers Said they were paying officers not to serve
Nov 26 Report People complained Hashd burned and blew up homes in Baiji Salahaddin Attacked
civilians
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Nov 27 Report After Mosul fell 4 Iraqi army divs and a Federal Police div destroyed ISF was down
to around 85,000 US wanted 45,000 new ISF US blamed PM Maliki for appointing loyalists commanders Many were corrupt
Nov 28 Report Ansar al-Islam gave allegiance to IS Ansar al-Islam was connected to Al Qaeda in
KRG before 03 After US invasion became Ansar al-Sunna 2007 split into 2 groups Ansar al-Islam and Ansar al-Sunna 2011 Ansar al-Islam moved into Syria to fight vs Assad Was rival to IS Fought IS in Ninewa and Kirkuk 2013 Ansar al-Islam asked Al Qaeda to restrain IS but nothing happened 2014 2 groups worked together to take Mosul and Tikrit Then IS tried to push Ansar al-Islam out Majority of group then went over to IS
Nov 28 Sadrist head of security comm MP Zamili said rules had to be set for Hashd because were
kidnapping and extorting money from people
Nov 29 Report Turkey and KRG signed deals for oil exports and a new oil and a new natural gas
pipeline KRG said it would export 1 mil/bar/day of oil by 2015 Gas exports would start in 2017 Neither happened
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Nov 30 IS put travel restrictions on people trying to leave Mosul
Nov 30 Report Investigation found 50,000 ghost soldiers PM Abadi cut off payment to them
Nov 30 Report MP from Salahaddin said that Hashd burning homes and kidnapped 500 people
from Yathrib dist
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Dec 3 2 mass graves with 200 bodies of people killed by IS found in Jalawla Diyala Another mass
grave with 40 bodies found in south Ninewa
Dec 3 Basra councilman said wave of assassinations in province due to Hashd and political parties
Said corrupt ISF allowed assassination teams to operate
Dec 4 Report Iran flying air missions into Iraq vs IS Nov 18-23 and Nov 29-30 Dec 1-2 flew sorties
into Diyala
Dec 5 Magazine editor assassinated in Sulaymaniya after wrote critical article about KRG ruling
parties
Dec 5 Report Oct Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr cleared All residents around 70,000 forced out Dist had
representative in Babil govt who was kidnapped and then found dead in Shiite town Sunni judge from Jurf al-Sakhr kidnapped Babil govt barred people from returning claiming not safe Actually done to protect Shiite pilgrimage routs to Karbala
Dec 6 PM Maliki’s son arrested in Lebanon Had $1.5 bil in cash on him
Dec 7 VP Maliki blamed Kurds for fall of Mosul Claimed he had evidence of what really happened
in Mosul Said Kurds were spreading rumors against him Pres Barzani said he warned Maliki about IS threat to Mosul but Maliki ignored him KRG offered to send Peshmerga to defend Mosul but Maliki refused
Dec 7 2 mass graves found in 2 towns in Ninewa with 100s of people killed by IS
Dec 7 Report Iranian Rev Guard was training Hashd and Iraqi Air Force pilots PM Maliki signed
military aid deal with Iran Allowed Iran to work inside Iraq along border Iranian jets bombed IS in Iraq Rev Guard had base in Diyala Was meant to protect border with Iran Created joint ops command with Iran US knew about cooperation Drew redline at Iranians attacking Sunni areas in north and west Iraq and sending troops to Baghdad
Dec 8 Report Dep head of Khorasani Brgiade said Iranians were operating artillery in support of
Hashd in Iraq
Dec 9 PM Abadi said corruption was as big a threat to Iraq as insurgency Said he was going to fight
it no matter what VP Maliki denied there were ghost soldiers Challenged Abadi to supply facts before accused anyone of graft Abadi did not fight corruption
Dec 10 KRG report Said 727 Peshmerga killed 3564 wounded since Mosul fell in Jun
Dec 10 Report ISF was on decline since 09 2013 Faced mass absenteeism Politicization of
leadership Sent units from south to Anbar and Ninewa because units there weak Was breakdown in security in Kirkuk and Salahaddin after Hawija massacre of protesters Militias began taking over security in Baghdad and Samarra Used fighters back from Syria Before Mosul fell most ISF units were at half strength After Mosul ISF lost 19 army brigades 6 Federal Police brigades 25% of force
Dec 10 PM Abadi said there were over 50,000 ghost soldiers Army had weak logistics Could buy
positions Officers sold gas and spare parts Took bribes at checkpoints Sold electricity Took salaries of soldiers
Dec 12 Report crime wave and kidnappings in Baghdad blamed on Hashd ISF said kidnappers
wore ISF uniforms and drove govt vehicles
Dec 13 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali interview Said Kurds were 2nd biggest problem in Iraq
especially Pres Barzani Said peaceful solution with KRG unlikely
Dec 13 Report IS published pamphlet in Mosul justifying sex slaves
Dec 14 IS used sleeper cells assassinations and other means to intimidate tribes in Anbar Collected
info on tribes and distributed it to units Ran checkpoints Did background checks on people Went after people involved in Awakening and sahwa
Dec 14 Peshmerga said it would not allow people back into Jalawla Diyala unless Kurds got
meaningful role in running Sadiya Said both towns needed joint administration between Baghdad and KRG
Dec 14 Abu al-Fadhl al-Abbas cmdr said Iranian advisors on frontline in war with IS Said provided
ammo intel air cover coordination between Hashd and ISF Said Iranians united Hashd effort in war KRG source said Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani designed defense of Baghdad PM Abadi denied any Iranian troops in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Dec 14 Report Iran’s dep speaker of parliament said Iran’s Basij helped save Baghdad
Dec 15 IS attacked Bahgdadi Anbar Stopped by air strikes Attacked Amiriya Fallujah
Dec 16 PUK and Gorran signed Iranian brokered deal to share power in Sulaymaniya Part of
Gorran’s move from opposition to ruling elite in KRG
Dec 16 Mayor of Bani Saad Diyala and 3 councilman arrested by members of security forces 2
councilmen who were Shiites released Mayor and other councilman who was Sunni found shot in the head Hashd blamed
Dec 17 Peshmerga began offensive to break IS siege of Mount Sinjar
Dec 17 Report Hashd called Baghdad Belts kill zones Dep Cmdr in Abu Ghraib Baghdad said
everyone there was IS NGO said 83,000 mostly Sunnis had fled homes in Belts After Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr cleared Iraqi forces banned people from returning Reporters saw Hashd burning homes while taking Jurf al-Sakhr Defense Min official said Hashd wanted to change demographics of Belts by expelling Sunnis Said army couldn’t control Hashd State of Law dep head of displacement comm said families couldn’t return to Belts because helped IS
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Dec 20 IS attacked Baghdadi Anbar 2nd time Stopped again by Coalition air strikes
Dec 20 Peshmerga began attack upon Sinjar town in Ninewa Army and Peshmerga began offensive
to clear Tal Afar Failed
Dec 21 Fmr Communications Minister Allawi acquitted of corruption charges for lack of evidence
Dec 22 IS withdrew from Qaim Anbar
Dec 27 Kurdish Imam killed in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Blamed on Hashd Protesters burned cars
afterwars
Dec 27 Report Kataib Hezbollah leader said it tripled in size since fall of Mosul Said Iran never left
Iraq and he met with Ayatollah Khamenei
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Dec 27 Report ISIS said it wanted to annex western Anbar to east Syria and create Islamic state ISIS
increased attacks in Anbar Included large ops vs ISF Anbar politician said asked for help for months from PM Maliki and got nothing Said ISIS moving back and forth form Syria to Anbar
Dec 27 Reports Assist to Iranian Pres said Iraq’s security was Iran’s security Sr Iranian cleric said Iran
had 1000 advisers in Iraq along with elite units and carried out air strikes vs IS in Iraq Iran sent more than $1 bil in military aid Quds Force in Iraq Posting pictures of Gen Suleimani at fronts in Iraq
Dec 27 Iranian Rev Guard Quds Force general killed in Salahaddin fighting IS was 5th Iranian Rev
Guard member killed in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Fifth Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force member Dies In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Naval Postgraduate School’s Ostovar on history of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard)
(Musings On Iraq review Vanguard of the Imam, Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard)
Dec 29 Pres Barzani said he wanted to re-write the Sykes Picot agreement Said Iraq not a real country
and people couldn’t live together Said Kurds were different from Arabs and wanted independence
Dec 29 Report After Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin freed Hashd burned houses Looted Didn’t allow
people to return
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Dec 29 Defense Min said Dhuluiya Salahaddin freed from insurgents
2015
Jan 1 VP Maliki gave speech to Dawa in Karbala claiming that he came up with Hashd Facebook
page created calling Maliki Leader of the Popular Mobilization
Jan 1 police in Kirkuk tried to expel displaced from Diyala Kirkuk govt claimed they were behind
violence in province
Jan 1 PM Abadi claimed IS would be expelled from Iraq by end of year Would take 2 more yrs to
defeat militants
Jan 1 Abadi govt said 15,538 killed in 2014 More than 22,000 injured Highest figures since 2007
Jan 2 Govt cleared Hawija in Kirkuk and Dhuluiya in Salahaddin of IS
Jan 5 Ayatollah Sistani statement called on people not to loot and rob liberated areas Said govt
should punish thieves and would lead to divisions Was response to Hashd abuses
Jan 5 Report 29 Iranian soldiers killed in Iraq in Dec 2014 fighting IS MP on defense committee
said their presence was open secret in Iraq National Alliance denied any Iranian soldiers in Iraq
Jan 6 4 bodies found in Albu Bahani, Babil believed to have been kidnapped and
executed by Hashd
Jan 6 Report IS made strategic mistakes Depended upon taking territory and assets to sustain itself
Benefited from attacking weak enemies Summer 2014 offensive that took Mosul based upon local alliances with Sunnis and other insurgent groups Turned on all of them afterward Thought attack on Sinjar in Aug was mistake Brought KRG into war Beheading of US reporter Foley assured US involvement Hadn’t seized any major territory since seizing Hit Anbar in Oct
Jan 10 Iranian Basij member working for Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force killed fighting
IS in Samarra Salahaddin
Jan 18 Report KRG warned PKK about its actions in Sinjar Said PKK couldn’t turn Sinjar into
autonomous region under its control
Jan 18 Report KDP attacked PKK for having meeting with Yazidis on Mount Sinjar Ninewa Claimed
PKK told Yazidis they should have self-rule KDP said that PKK was running Sinjar dist Sinjar used to be under KDP control Reason why opposed to PKK
Jan 20 IS suicide car bomb and assault on Nikhaib suicide truck bomb in Albu Ghanim Suicide
car bomb and assault upon Abu Risha 7 suicide car bombs in Ramadi
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Insurgents Pick Up Attacks In New Year)
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Launches New Car Bomb Wave In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Jan 20 60 members of the ISF were executed in Mosul by IS
Jan 22 Coalition air strike killed Abu Ans Samarraie IS’s governor for Anbar He was responsible
for executing hundreds of members of the Albu Nimr tribe
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Leadership Losses In Iraq And Syria)
Jan 22 Fire at contract office of Industry Ministry blocked investigation into Minister Ahmad
Karbouli
Jan 23 Hashd destroyed four mosques in Muqtadiya, Diyala after operation there
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jan 24 Kurdistan Security Council announced 23 IS leaders killed in fighting Peshmerga Included
Abu Muslim al-Turkmani member of IS Shura Council highest body in group Said to be one of Baghdadi’s top deputies
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Leadership Losses In Iraq And Syria)
Jan 25 Yazidi militias and YPG forced Arabs out of Om Danabuk, Sinjar Killed 10 and
looted village Attacked 3 others villages in Sinjar dist 21 killed in total 40 kidnapped
Jan 25 Badr’s Amiri claimed all of Diyala cleared of IS It wasn’t
Jan 26 After battle with IS in Barwanah, Diyala Hashd kill 70 civilians
Jan 26 VP Maliki met with some Hashd units Declared himself leader of the Resistance factions
Jan 26 Report Interior Min official said Interior Min Ghaban appointed 4 Badr officers to Basra
police chief Dir of Internal Affairs Director of customs police Intel director Political patronage
Jan 26 Report Diyala governor MP and 2 sheikhs accused Hashd of killing 72 civilians in Diyala
town Interior Min denied everything and said IS was spreading rumors
Jan 26 Report Committee formed to investigate abuses by Iraqi forces in Diyala Speaker Jabouri
and VP Nujafi said they had received reports about violations Nothing happened
Jan 26 Report ISF general said Diyala had been liberated from IS Said that entire province under
govt control It wasn’t
Jan 26 Head of finance comm MP Ahmed Chalabi said Iraq needed to export 2.9 mbd of oil at
$40/bar just to pay govt salaries and pensions Said they cost 51 tril dinars
Jan 28 Report Parliament’s finance comm said 2015 budget included 55,000 govt jobs All
patronage
Jan 28 Report Shell signed $11 bil deal to develop petrochemical plant in Basra Attempt to
diversify econ Supposed to be finished in 5-6 yrs Would make Iraq largest petrochemical producer in Mideast Didn’t happen
Jan 28 Report Tanker with 1 mil/bar of KRG oil left US waters Tried to sell to US but failed Came
after Baghdad and Irbil signed new oil deal Was anchored in Gulf of Mexico since Jul 2014
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jan 29 Report VP Maliki trying to ingratiate himself with Hashd to gain power Met with Hashd
leaders in Jan Was highlighted in media and on Internet Maliki told Dawa meeting Hashd was his idea Went to memorial for Lebanese Hezbollah members killed
Jan 29 Report Baghdad and KRG argued over budget and oil PM Abadi said KRG didn’t follow
budget to export 250,000 bar/day of oil for Baghdad KRG said didn’t receive monthly budget payments from Baghdad Nov-Dec 2014 KRG cut oil exports for Baghdad KRG spokesman admitted KRG didn’t meet budget quota but said would make up for it by end of 2015 Nov 2014 KRG agreed to export 150,000 bar/day for Oil Min in return for $500 mil/mo in budget payments from Baghdad Exported oil in Nov-Dec 2014 Dec PM Abadi and KRG PM Barzani made follow up deal for 2015 budget that had KRG exporting 250,000 bar/day of oil for Baghdad Dec 2014 KRG Natural Resource Min Hawrami said KRG had right to export oil independently Oil companies in KRG Genel Energy DNO Gulf Keystone owed $250 mil for oil exports KRG also owed money to creditors
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jan 29 Report Interviewed 5 survivors of town attacked by ISF and Hashd in Diyala Said men in
military uniforms took and shot people Beat people Said sectarian slogans 72 people killed PM Abadi ordered investigation Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jan 29 Report 72 people killed in Diyala village by Hashd and ISF Hashd arrived in town with
wanted list and started killing people One local official blamed deaths on fighting with IS Another said all those killed were IS
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jan 29 Report KRG ops in north Iraq seized most of the disputed areas Angered Arabs Some Arabs
not allowed to move back to liberated areas Some KRG officials said they wouldn’t allow Arabs to control disputed areas again Also organized friendly Shabaks Yazidis Assyrians into militias under Peshmerga After KRG op in northeast Diyala minister accused Peshmerga of destroying 700 homes Said KRG blocking Arabs from returning to Jalawla Diyala Similar claims in Ninewa
Jan 29 Report Yazidis taking revenge upon Arabs in Ninewa that helped IS Burned looted
kidnapped and killed 75 people in 2 villages in Sinjar Attacked 2 other villages afterwards
Jan 30 Report 2 villages in central Diyala complained ISF withdrew and IS moved in Was burning
orchards
Jan 30 Report Iran had 3 main interests in Iraq Territorial integrity Opposed Kurdish independence
and Shiite region in south Stability Didn’t want Iraq’s problems to spill over into Iran Also wanted weak govt that didn’t threaten Iran Expand economic ties Iran 2nd largest non-oil trader with Iraq Iran benefited from Saudi Arabia and Gulf states turning on Iraq after 03
Jan 31 Peshmerga freed 2 towns in Diyala Told residents to leave afterward Then destroyed homes
in 3 towns
Feb 1 Report Aug 07 Gen Petraeus wrote report to Def Sec Gates that he was considering declaring
war on Iran Said Iran was attacking US forces with militias Joint Special Forces Comm had one unit to go after Iranian proxies Arrested member of Quds Force July 07 2/3 of US casualties were by militias 08 US could’ve killed Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani in Syria but didn’t out of fear of retaliatory attacks
Feb 3 Report Pentagon said oil smuggling no longer main source of IS revenue due to Coalition air
strikes Before summer 2014 was believed IS produced more than 80,000 bar/day of oil earning $1-$3 mil/day Oct 2014 Intl Energy Agency said IS only produced 20,000 bar/day Falling oil prices also affected IS
Feb 3 Abadi’s cabinet approved National Guard Law Never passed Was supposed to create
provincial security forces to fight IS
Feb 3 Report Some politicians complaining about sectarian cleansing by Hashd VP Allawi made
accusation Loudspeakers in 2 neighborhoods in Samarra called for residents to leave Left in 72 hrs Hashd moved in afterwards
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 4 Peshmerga Min said 999 Peshmerga killed and 4569 wounded from Jun 2014-Feb 2015
fighting IS
Feb 4 Report IS got funds from oil smuggling taxes selling artifacts ransoming hostages Also got
money from taxing people under its control Iraqi govt workers still got salaries and pensions in IS areas Baghdad paid $130 mil/mo to govt workers in Mosul
Feb 5 IS fought Naqshibandi in Hawija Kirkuk for 2 hrs 18 killed
Feb 6 Gulf Keystone said it would stop trucked oil export for KRG until it got paid Last payment
was in Dec 2014
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 7 Another Iran Rev Guard member killed in Samarra fighting IS
Feb 8 Peshmerga destroyed villages in 5 districts in southern Kirkuk
Feb 10 Report KRG hadn’t paid oil companies since Nov 2014 DNO official said it wouldn’t
investment in KRG until it was paid again Oil Companies were going to sell to local markets rather than export DNO Genel Energy Gulf Keystone owed around $750 mil KRG in financial crisis Couldn’t pay govt workers Natural Resource Min Hawrami still talked about increasing production to 1 mil/bar/day by end of 2015 Could only achieve that by including Kirkuk fields and upgrading KRG ones Gulf Keystone owed $575 mil for bonds Genel Energy owed $500 mil for its bonds
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 10 Report Yazidis returning to Sinjar dist in Ninewa Found mass graves of IS victims Carried
out revenge attacks on Arabs Attacked 4 villages Jan 25 2 more on Jan 26 Peshmerga stopped attacks on 2 other towns 21 killed Yazidis blamed Arabs for helping IS
Feb 12 Ayatollah Sistani said that Hashd should not violate people’s human rights or loot
Feb 12 When IS attacked Sinjar dist in Ninewa Yazidis fled to Mount Sinjar PKK and YPG came
from Turkey and Syria to protect them PKK were in Kirkuk and Diyala Dohuk governor asked PKK to leave and they did KRG said PKK was setting up its own areas in Iraq
Feb 13 IS took large parts of Baghdadi Anbar
Feb 15 Badr’s Amiri said Hashd would conduct offensive in Kirkuk Came after KRG Pres Barzani
banned Hashd in province Iran’s Gen Suleimani was supposed to supervise op
Feb 15 Report Went to Askari Diyala after security op Found all the homes had been burned
Feb 15 Report People in Muqdadiya Diyala said Hashd had been harassing people since fall of Mosul
Burned houses in area after security op Oct 2014 Hashd burned houses in Amerli Salahaddin after it was freed from IS Dec Hashd were kicking people out kidnapping and killing civilians in Baghdad Belts Jan 2015 reports that Hashd arrested 1000s in Samarra without warrants Jan 2015 Hashd blamed for killing 72 civilians in Diyala town Also burned houses there Most families fled as a result
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 16 Report Iraq-Baghdad budget deadlocked KRG PM Barzani went to Baghdad Budget said if
either side failed to follow through than deal annulled Baghdad did not send budget payments to KRG in Jan and Feb because budget not published yet KRG was to export 250,000 bar/day in oil for Baghdad and sell another 300,000 bar/day from fields it occupied in Kirkuk KRG only exported 150,000 bar/day for Baghdad and almost all of that from Kirkuk KRG focused upon its own independent oil exports KRG said would make up quota with later exports Never did PM Barzani said Baghdad would only send $300 bil in Jan Demanded $1 bil Called Iraq bankrupt KRG stopped making public any info about its oil industry
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 16 Hezbollah leader Nasrallah said it was fighting in Iraq during speech Called on others to join
fight in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Hezbollah’s Role In Iraq)
Feb 17 Report Sadr froze his 2 militias the Promised Day Brigades and Peace Brigades after sheikh
kidnapped and killed Sunni bloc in parliament called for boycott Sadr warned against brazen militias Said if they weren’t under command of govt bad things would happen Said armed groups weakened govt Aimed at his rivals in Hashd
Feb 17 Iranian news agency said another Iranian killed in Iraq fighting IS Died in Samarra Salahaddin
Feb 21 National Alliance MPs complained that Abadi didn’t consult with them about
his reforms
Feb 21 Sadrists said Abadi missed great chance to reform country Sadrists had been PM Abadi’s
main supporters
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Feb 21 Report 1000s of ISF and Hashd massing for Tikrit op Iran’s Gen Suleimani was going to lead
op Kataib Hezbollah cmdr said would only take 10 days Op failed
Feb 22 Sadr called for followers to protests in Baghdad next Friday calling for reforms
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Feb 23 7 killed in Shirqat dist Salahaddin after Naqshibandi and IS fought IS demanded Naqshibandi
turn over its weapons but refused leading to fight
Feb 23 KRG Natural Resource Min Hawrami gave press conference Said Jan KRG agreed to export
550,000 bar/day of oil for Baghdad Would be 250,000 bar/day from KRG and 300,000 bar/day from Kirkuk fields In 2014 KRG agreed to export 150,000 bar/day for Baghdad in return for $500 mil/mo Only got paid twice Hawrami denied KRG not meeting quota Met with PM Abadi Said Baghdad was side having problems with its exports Then said KRG was only exporting 350,000 bar/day but would increase to 650,00 bar/day later in yr to meet quota Never did
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 23 Obama admin held meeting to review Op Inherent Resolve vs IS Found it was splintered
improvised and lacked unity of command
Feb 24 Report VP Maliki still had strong position within Dawa Moved towards Iran Nov 2014 went
to Iran and met with Khamenei Pres Rouhani and Speaker Larijani then went to Lebanon and met with Hezbollah and Amal Tried to co-opt Hashd Jan 2015 said he was the leader of the Hashd
Feb 24 Report Badr’s Amiri said he followed Ayatollah Khamenei as leader of Islamic nation Hashd
leader Abu Muhandis acted as lieutenant to Iran’s Gen Suleimani Amiri and Muhandis had 20 yr relationship with Suleimani Iraqi and KRG officials said several 100 Iranian advisors in Iraq Iran helped organize Hashd Iran sent artillery to Iraq summer 2014 to fight IS Peshmerga worked as spotters for Iranian artillery and rockets Badr said Iran provided communications and intel to Hashd Taught them how to operate drones and intercept IS communications Khorasani Brigade put up billboards in Baghdad mourning death of Iran Rev Guard general killed in Iraq Khorasani Brigade had HQ in govt complex in east Baghdad Sr Shiite official said Khorasani Brigade created by Iran
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Feb 25 Report Gulf Keystone threatened to sell its holdings in KRG because it hadn’t been paid
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 26 Human Rights Watch on Kurdish abuses in Ninewa Limited movement of Arabs Blocked
displaced returning to freed areas while allowing Kurds in Cordoned off around 40 villages with 20,000 residents and didn’t allow them to leave Destroyed homes in Zummar and Makhmour dists
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Report On Kurdish Abuses In Northern Iraq)
Feb 26 Coalition air strike in Anbar killed Shishani aka Turkmani deputy leader of IS
Feb 27 Report Tanker with KRG oil that was turned away from US docked in Israel Sold oil there
Mar 1 Op to free Dour Salahaddin and Hawija Kirkuk began Meant to cut IS supply routes Hashd
force would attack Albu Ajeel and Albu Nasir tribes south of Tikrit Those tribes were accused of taking part in Camp Speicher massacre Iraqi forces destroyed homes of tribesmen
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Mar 2 Offensive to free Tikrit began Iran’s Gen Suleimani helped plan op US not taking part because
led by Hashd and Iran
(Musings On Iraq Could Salahaddin Operation Be A Game Changer For Iran Vs US Influence In Iraq?)
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Mar 2 Report Iran provided drones heavy weapons ground forces for Tikrit op Iranian Rev Guard
operated artillery and rockets during op Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani was at front providing aid US didn’t provide air strikes or advisors as a result
Mar 2 Badr’s Amiri claimed all the areas east of Tikrit cleared of IS Said US couldn’t protect Iraq
Said Coalition air strikes weren’t doing anything
Mar 2 Kurdish official complained Hashd recruited Yazidis in Sinjar dist Ninewa Head of Sinjar
Mobilization Force said it was popular and getting Yazidis to join Funded by KDP KDP created Yazdis security force but didn’t pay them Yazidi official said if didn’t get money they would quit security force
Mar 2 Report Displaced Sunni claimed Badr killed civilians after his village in Muqdadiya dist Diyala
was taken Claimed 71 killed Another displaced accused Badr of killing people in his village
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Mar 3 Sadr called for removal of brazen militias from Hashd Said Hashd carried out murders and
wanted to expand their power Said undermined govt Called for Hashd to be integrated into ISF to ensure discipline and prestige
Mar 4 Report Iran deployed around 1000 Iranian Rev Guard to support Tikrit op Worked with
Samarra Ops Command 150 Lebanese Hezbollah in Samarra and Tikrit op Iranian Su-25s flying missions vs IS
Mar 4 Report KRG got 1st payment from 2015 budget Said it would pay for govt workers KRG
supposed to export 550,000 bar/day of oil in return KRG only sold 145,000 bar/day in Jan Increased in Feb but didn’t meet quota KRG needed $708 mil/mo just for govt salaries Also in debt for borrowing after PM Maliki cut off budget payments in 2014 KRG Finance Min said KRG had 1.4 mil govt workers 682,000 working 718,000 retired 1 in 3 citizens relied upon KRG Natural Resource Min said it would increase exports to meet export quota by end of 2015 Didn’t
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 5 ISF tribes and Hashd started campaign to free Garma in east Anbar of IS
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
Mar 6 Dour outside of Tikrit freed from IS
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 7 MP on Finance Comm said delays in paying govt workers in Feb because of lack of cash was
due to drop in oil prices Finance Min said spent all its cash on fighting IS
Mar 7 ISF tribes Hashd freed Baghdadi Anbar from IS
Mar 8 ISF turned over Dour to Hashd who started destroying property
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Mar 8 200 people arrested by Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in Dour outside Tikrit 160 not
seen again Feared disappeared Dead
Mar 9 Peshmerga began offensive to take towns south of Kirkuk city focusing upon Hawija dist
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
Mar 9 Report 1000 new tribal fighters in Anbar undergoing training Anbar made deal with PM
Abadi to allow 6000 fighters total Would become part of Hashd Was clash between tribal fighters and police vs Kataib Hezbollah who tried to seize a mill
Mar 9 Report Hashd and soldiers stopped convoy of Prs Masum’s bodyguards in Salahaddin Took
their weapons and taunted them Said didn’t recognize the authority of the president 1 bodyguard beaten Protest by Kurds in Tuz Kharmato over incident Blocked highway Confronted by Hashd who then retaliated by beating up Kurds Badr and PUK with Iranian official as mediator tried to defuse situation
Mar 9 Video posted of men in uniforms yelling “Burn them!” as drove through Albu Ajeel outside
Tikrit after it was freed Showed burned buildings Satellite photos showed large part of town destroyed Town controlled by Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 10 Badr head Amiri said around 100 Iranian adv working with Iraqi forces in Salahaddin
Criticized politicians who asked for US aid Claimed Iranian advisors free while US advisors had to be paid for
(Musings On Iraq Could Salahaddin Operation Be A Game Changer For Iran Vs US Influence In Iraq?)
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 10 Video posted of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq burning homes in Albu Ajeel Salahaddin Punishment
for members of Jabouri tribe joining IS
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 10 UN human rights report said Hashd acted with impunity and left trail of death and
destruction behind it
Mar 10 Garma in east Anbar freed from IS
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
Mar 11 IS launched new offensive to take Ramadi
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Ramadi Has Not Fallen But The Islamic State Has Gained Ground)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
Mar 11 Sadr said that Hashd and ISF should be punished for torture and abuses Said liberated
areas from IS needed to be rebuilt Said his militia Peace Brigades would help restore services in some freed places Response to social media postings of killings and abuses by security forces
Mar 11 Salahaddin council admitted that some houses were burned during security ops but said
they all belonged to IS members Response to Hashd destroying houses
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 11 Report Photos being posted by ISF and Hashd on social media of killing prisoners Dead IS
fighters tied to Humvees and then heads cut off Civilians being executed
Mar 11 Report Mass grave found in Albu Ajeel Salahaddin with 300-400 bodies Some believed
they were from IS massacre of cadets at Camp Speicher after Mosul fell
Mar 12 Report IS had special group to find and sell antiquities in Mosul Employed locals to
help IS making news destroying historical sites but is more interested in looting them first IS earned up to $24 mil in Feb 2015 from stolen artifacts from Mosul Museum
(Musings On Iraq Destruction Of Historical Sites In Iraq Hides Looting Campaign By Islamic State)
Mar 12 Report IS burned 1500 historic manuscripts Bulldozed Assyrian city of Nimrod and Hatra
in Ninewa Looted Assyrian city of Khorsabad Bombed Ibn al-Atheer shrine and Mosque of the Prophet Yunus after took Mosul in 2014 Looted sites and sold items on black market
Mar 12 Babil council decided not to allow displaced to return to Jurf al-Sakhr dist Said it was
unsafe Real reason was along pilgrimage route for Shiites Residents never allowed back
Mar 12 Harith al-Dhari head of Association of Muslim Scholars died in Turkey Was critic of US
occupation and supported insurgency Sons and nephew became leaders in insurgency Warrant led to him to flee Iraq US and UN labeled him a terrorist supporter
(Musings On Iraq Spiritual Leader To Iraq’s Insurgency Harith Dhari Dies In Exile)
Mar 13 Report IS started new rules to keep people in Mosul Orders said people could only leave to
collect pensions Travel by non-Muslims was banned Said if someone left Mosul could not take family with them
Mar 13 UN human rights report ISF and Hashd carried out extrajudicial killings torture abductions
forced displacement No punishments Jun 2014 ISF burned army base with 53 prisoners inside Jun 2014 43 prisoners in Baquba police station executed Aug Hashd and police attacked Diyala mosque twice killing 34 civilians Aug 2014 Hashd kidnapped 7 men in Salahaddin and executed them Jan 2015 Hashd and ISF killed 70 civilians and arrested more who had not been heard from since ISF and Hashd arrested Sunnis at checkpoints in Salahaddin and tortured them Sep 2014 security operation in Salahaddin Hashd forced people from homes and burned them accusing them of being IS Reports of looting in two cities in Salahaddin
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Mar 13 Report Iran launched info campaign over Tikrit op posting pictures of Quds Force Cmdr
Gen Suleimani on social media as if he was leader of op
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
Mar 14 Operation to free Tikrit from IS stalled due to high Hashd casualties Iran was hoping to
push Hashd allies into lead in war but failed
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 14 Report IS selling looted artifacts on eBay Was looting historic sites Imposed taxes on
artifacts to maintain control over trade Had connections to crime rings in Turkey Lebanon and Jordan to sell items Money used to finance group
(Musings On Iraq Destruction Of Historical Sites In Iraq Hides Looting Campaign By Islamic State)
Mar 14 Report Badr head Amiri said some Iraqi parties were sucking up to US and getting nothing
while Iranian support was unconditional Said US threat to Iraqi sovereignty Hashd spokesman said 40 Iranian advisers helping with Tikrit op
Mar 14 Peshmerga found mass grave with 50 bodies in Shamsa Kirkuk Victims of IS
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Goes On The Offensive In Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Anbar)
Mar 15 Report 800 Hezbollah advisors sent to Iraq to help plan ops against IS
(Musings On Iraq Hezbollah’s Role In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 15 Head of Samarra Ops Command asked Defense Min to request Coalition air strikes to help
with Tikrit op Came after attack on city slowed due to Hashd casualties Hashd claimed Tikrit would fall in 3 days Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
Mar 16 PM Abadi asked US for airstrikes to help Tikrit operation that was stalled
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 16 Report Iran sent short range ballistic missiles to its allies in the Hashd for Tikrit
operation
(Musings On Iraq News Of Iran Moving Missiles Into Iraq Continue)
Mar 16 KRG Natural Resource Min Hawrami claimed KRG would be self-sufficient economically in
months Didn’t happen
Mar 16 Report Hashd said they were fighting in Syria to protect Sayid Zainab shrine but were
fighting all across country to help Assad Fighters returned to Iraq after Mosul fell 2014 Then returned to Syria in 2015
Mar 16 Interview with Hezbollah al-Nujaba head Kaabi Said group formed to fight in Syria Would
attack US if around Supports Iran’s vilyat al-faqih and Ayatollah Khamenei Said got aid from Iran Fighting across Syria
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Mar 17 Report Tikrit op planned by Iran and Hashd without PM Abadi or US involvement
Originally was completely Hashd op Army only added later
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 17 Human Rights Report Jun 2014 IS surrounded Amerli Salahaddin IS destroyed homes in
area Aug Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Peace Brigades Badr helped break siege Hashd began looting 30 villages afterward 95% of homes in Hufriya 75% in 17 others villages destroyed by Hashd Sep 2014 Salahaddin councilman asked gov to investigate destruction by ISF and Hashd
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Mar 19 Report KRG supposed to export 550,000 bar/day of oil for monthly budget payments from
Baghdad Baghdad said KRG only exporting 135,000 bar/day KRG said it was exporting 400,000 bar/day KRG Natural Resource Min said KRG should not have to follow daily export quota but it should get monthly payments
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 20 Report Up to 1,000 Hashd killed in Tikrit op Hashd and Iran pushed for frontal assault
upon city backed by air and artillery strikes Iraq Special Ops opposed because would lead to high casualties ISF wanted US airstrikes opposed by Hashd and Iran
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 20 Govt committee finished investigation of Hashd attack upon Barwanah Diyala where 70
civilians killed after clash with IS Results never released
Mar 21 Report Hashd said Jabour tribe fought IS in Alam Salahaddin and were allowed to return to
area Hashd said everyone else around Tikrit were IS supporters Stopped displaced from Dour returning Burned houses in Albu Ajeel
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Mar 21 Report Kataib Hezbollah and ISF cmdr denied any homes were burned in Dour Salahaddin
Councilman MP and local police accused Kataib Hezbollah of looting burning and blowing up homes in Dour Councilman said 150 houses destroyed
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Mar 21 US began providing intel and surveillance on Tikrit after request for aid by PM Abadi
(Musings On Iraq U.S.-Iranian Rivalry Behind Iraq’s Tikrit Operation)
Mar 22 Badr head Amiri called Iraqi army weaklings for asking for Coalition air strikes Rejected
any help from the U.S. in war vs IS Said Iran’s Gen Suleimani provided aid whenever needed
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
Mar 23 Report IS charging 30% of govt salaries in Mosul US debating whether to push PM Abadi
to cut off payments to IS controlled areas US bombed some oil refineries run by IS
Mar 23 Hashd looted and destroyed 8 houses in Sadiya, Diyala Adviser to Diyala
governor killed blamed on Hashd
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Mar 23 Soldiers in army’s 5th Div received notes from Hashd telling them not to ask for help
from the Great Satan/US or they would pay
Mar 24 Iraq’s Foreign Min Jaafari met with Syrian Pres Assad Said Arab countries needed to
support Syria
Mar 24 Report Hashd sending threatening letters to Iraqi army telling them not to ask for US help
in Tikrit op Soldiers in army’s 5th Div said got notes allegedly from Kataib Hezbollah Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Khorasani Brigade Officer at Samarra Ops Command said 12 officers also got threats from Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
Mar 24 Report Govt gave up on frontal attack upon Tikrit advocated by Hashd US training 2-3
more army divisions for attack upon Mosul
Mar 24 Report US defense official said stalled Tikrit op defeat for Hashd and Iran Said Iranian aid
not enough to take city
Mar 25 Officials accused Diyala governor of stealing millions in aid meant for displaced
(Musings On Iraq Number Of Displaced In Iraq Passes 3 Million Mark)
Mar 25 Gorran presented 3 plans for renewing Pres Barzani’s term
Mar 25 Fight in KRG parliament when KDP members attacked Gorran MPs over Pres
Barzani
Mar 25 Member of Salahaddin council accused Hashd of kidnapping 125 civilians
from Dour Later raised to 300 people and Kataib Hezbollah blamed
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Mar 25 US began air strikes on Tikrit Pro-Iran Hashd said they would not take part in op
to re-take city because of US involvement
Mar 25 Hashd accused of blowing up house and executing 3 civilians in Diyala
Mar 25 2nd adviser to Diyala governor killed blamed on Hashd
Mar 25 Ninewa Gov Nujafi set up training camp in Ninewa for militia Kurds provided land Turks
provided trainers Baghdad paid fighters
Mar 26 Hashd spokesman said Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Peace Brigades would no
longer take part in Tikrit op due to US airstrikes
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Mar 26 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq claimed US had bombed Iraqi forces and dropped aid to IS by
mistake Said US was trying to steal Tikrit victory from Hashd Badr and Sadrists said didn’t trust US led Coalition Said Tikrit could be taken without US help US demanded Iranians and pro-Iran Hashd pull back from Tikrit and allow ISF to take city
Mar 26 CENTCOM mcdr Gen Austin said Iraqi police and army were now in lead in Tikrit op
Mar 26 Report Tikrit op planned by Iran and Hashd Hashd cmdr Muhandis presented Tikrit plan to
PM Abadi and asked whether ISF wanted to be included Said US was not to be involved Muhandis said Iran and Hashd would attack Tikrit regardless of Abadi Meant to prove that Iran and allies could take major city without US Iran and Hashd launched media campaign showing that it was helping Sunni civilians during op
Mar 26 Report Garma eastern Anbar surrounded by ISF then operation halted
Mar 26 Report KRG received 2nd budget payment from Abadi govt but lower than expected KRG
still not meeting its oil export quota Was supposed to export 375,000 bar/day during 1st qtr 2015 Only exported 153,000 bar/day Jan 306,000 bar/day Feb KRG not getting enough money from Baghdad to meet its costs Oil companies in KRG owed $750 mil
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 27 Tikrit operation re-started after US airstrikes requested by PM Abadi
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 27 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq claimed US told IS about airstrikes beforehand Said Coalition was trying
to save IS in Tikrit Claimed US bombing ISF
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 27 Report PM Abadi told Hashd they should be cooperating with govt and ISF to take Tikrit
after many factions said they withdrew due to US involvement Ayatollah Sistani gave sermon saying Hashd should work with Abadi and ISF Hezbollah Nujaba said it might target Coalition planes for taking part in Tikrit op
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Mar 29 Most Hashd had pulled out of Tikrit op to protest US airstrikes PM Abadi met with them to
hear their complaints
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 29 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said it would not join future ops in Anbar and Ninewa if US involved It
did
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 29 Hashd claimed U.S. bombed Hashd and Federal Police in 3 parts of Tikrit
Mar 29 Report Hashd assassinated two aides to Diyala governor to warn him to work with it or else
Badr’s Amiri in charge of security in Diyala Hashd had blown up houses in two towns in March
Mar 31 PM Abadi announced Tikrit freed from IS Stories emerged of Hashd looting afterward
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Mar 31 Diyala council voted to remove confidence from Gov Yacoub for stealing aid for displaced
Apr 1 UN received reports that govt forces looting and burning homes in Tikrit after it was liberated
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 1 Sadr complained about brazen militias and said any that broke law should be brought to
justice Response to Hashd looting and destroying homes in Tikrit area Hashd also his political rivals
(Musings On Iraq Hashd al-Shaabi’s Threat To Iraq’s Established Shiite Religious Parites)
Apr 1 IS released video of Ninewa sheikhs giving it allegiance
Apr 1 KRG was $17 bil in debt Couldn’t pay public workers Started large borrowing
Apr 1 Kataib Hezbollah said it was involved in Shjariya op in Anbar Came after pro-Iran Hashd
said it would not take part in Anbar ops due to US involvement in freeing Tikrit
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 2 PM Abadi arrived in Tikrit after its liberation to make victory tour in city
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
Apr 2 Sadr said brazen militias should be removed from Tikrit by ISF after stories
of looting and burning homes Were also his political rivals
Apr 2 Hashd leader Muhandis said that any looting and abuses in Tikrit were done
by locals not Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 2 Guard in Tikrit said he counted more than 200 homes in Qadisiyah district destroyed after
city’s liberation
Apr 2 Report Jalawla in Diyala empty of people even though freed from IS in Nov 2014 Some
displaced allowed to return but couldn’t stay Asayesh said 2 areas that supported IS would be destroyed and rebuilt
Apr 3 Salahaddin council called on Ayatollah Sistani to intervene to stop burning and looting in
Tikrit Sistani’s reps called for end of looting during Friday sermons
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 3 Head of Salahaddin council said Hashd were looting and burning buildings in Tikrit
Apr 3 VP Nujafi complained about looting and burning homes in Tikrit
Apr 3 PM Abadi ordered ISF to arrest anyone breaking law in Tikrit
Apr 3 Police said there had been clashes between soldiers and Hashd to stop them from
looting in Tikrit
Apr 4 Great Tikrit Mosque set on fire after city freed Tribes demanded Hashd withdraw
from area
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 4 ISF set up checkpoints to try to stop looting and burning of homes in Tikrit Hashd said to be
leaving city
Apr 5 Tribes claimed 400 buildings burned in Tikrit after liberation Human Rights Watch found
evidence of 75 houses destroyed in Qadisiya neighborhood of Tikrit since it was freed
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 5 Iraqi military spokesman said some Hashd took part in looting in Tikrit Said they
were undermining the victory
Apr 5 Speaker Jabouri said there was looting in Tikrit Sadr called for end of looting in
Tikrit
Apr 5 KDP arrested Haider Sesho in Sinjar for forming his own militia and siding
with Baghdad
Apr 5 President and VPs said that tribes in Anbar and Ninewa should be armed to fight IS
Apr 6 MP said Hashd were looting in Tikrit after its liberation
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 6 Abadi said 152 houses and shops burned in Tikrit but didn’t say by who
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Apr 6 3 Yazidi activists fled Kurdistan due to death threats from Kurdish officials
Accused KDP
Apr 7 Cabinet said Hashd part of ISF and under premier as commander in chief
Apr 7 Report Sunni tribes blamed for some of the looting in Tikrit after city freed
Apr 7 Report MP from Albu Ajeel tribe said looting and burning in Albu Ajeel and Dour
Salahaddin were done out of revenge for Camp Speicher massacre
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 7 Report 09 Hill new US amb to Iraq Had little knowledge of Mideast and Iraq US Iraq cmdr
Gen Odierno complained Hill did not keep contact with Iraqis Hill told staff meeting he didn’t like Iraq
Apr 7 Report 2010 election PM Maliki came in 2nd Claimed voting fraud Claimed Mujahdeen e-
Khalq tampered with voting computers Got recount Maliki advisor said he needed 2 seats to be biggest list either through recount or deBaathification otherwise PM would be blamed for losing Iraq for Shiites Maliki got Supreme Court to reinterpret constitution so largest bloc could be formed after vote US cmdr Gen Odierno said US shouldn’t pick winners just make sure process followed Odierno didn’t think winner Allawi could put together govt but had right to try Hill said Iraq not ready for democracy and strongman like Maliki needed Iran got Shiite parties to unite behind Maliki US did nothing Iran pushed Syria to drop support for Allawi Used Hezbollah to pressure Sadr Iran backed Talabani as president VP Biden told Maliki US was behind his 2nd term and Allawi had to accept defeat Obama admin wanted new Iraqi govt before US midterm elections and backing Maliki way to do that Allawi’s Iraqiya afraid if Maliki got 2nd term he would go after them and he did charging VP Hashemi and Finance Min Issawi with terrorism
Apr 8 KDP released Haider Sesho Yazidi militia commander on promise that his
men would follow Peshmerga
Apr 9 Hashd spokesman denied stories Hashd looting in Tikrit Blamed tribes and individuals
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 9 Dep head of Anbar council said Kataib Hezbollah and Peace Brigades had deployed to
Shjariya, Anbar Hashd would later claim they were not in Anbar because of Abadi and US
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 9 Report VP Nujafi claimed population of Sunnis and Shiites was very close in number
Claimed voting didn’t provide real numbers of Sunnis because of violence and boycotts
Apr 9 IS began multi prong attack upon Ramadi in Albu Jassim Albu Risha Albu Faraj and 2
neighborhoods in city Included 5 car bombs 3 suicide bombers
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Ramadi Has Not Fallen But The Islamic State Has Gained Ground)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
Apr 10 IS captured Albu Faraj north of Ramadi Executed 33 people afterward Part of effort to
capture Ramadi
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Ramadi Has Not Fallen But The Islamic State Has Gained Ground)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
Apr 10 Report IS attacked Ramadi from 5 sides started Apr 9 Policeman said army had cleared area
around Ramadi Then turned it over to police who were driven off by IS Sahwa and tribal fighters complained govt hasn’t armed them PM Abadi promised to incorporate 10,000 tribal fighters into Hashd
Apr 11 Badr’s Amiri said 100s of Badr fighters in Baghdadi and Haditha Would later claim
were none in Anbar because of Abadi and US Kataib Hezbollah said it was fighting in Shjariya Earlier said would not fight in Anbar because of US
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 11 US Amb Jones met with Anbar tribal leaders and officials Said he didn’t like Hashd being
deployed in Anbar offensive US demanded that they withdraw from Ramadi area before it would conduct air strikes
Apr 11 Report IS lost many of the oil fields it controlled in Iraq Oil prices also dropped Nov 2014
UN est IS making up to $1.6 mil/day from oil Was selling oil in Turkey IS looking into other financing like smuggling cigarettes Selling artifacts
Apr 11 Report ISF and Hashd withdrew from Shjariya and retreated back to Habaniya base in
Anbar Supposed to allow for more air strikes
Apr 12 US requested that Hashd withdraw from Ramadi before it would start air strikes
Apr 12 Report KRG had $17 bil deficit Didn’t have money to pay civil servants Owed $1.25 bil for
2 months unpaid salaries $10 bil to private banks $1.1 bil to govt $17 bil to oil companies Borrowed $500 mil from Turkey
Apr 13 PM Abadi fired 300 army officers as part of reforming ISF
Apr 13 IS attacked Baiji refinery
(Musings On Iraq Iranian & Hezbollah Advisers Committed To Baiji Refinery And Ramadi Ops Leading To Another Loss For The Revolutionary Guard)
Apr 13 VP Maliki said Hashd had become 3rd military force in country after army and
police and said any negative stories about them were all lies
Apr 13 Hashd arrived at Assad base in Anbar for Albu Faraj op Would later claim they
were not in Anbar due to PM Abadi and US
Apr 13 Report Kataib Hezbollah and Peace Brigades said they would take part in Anbar offensive
Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Hezbollah Nujaba and Badr said wouldn’t take part in campaign unless PM Abadi asked them
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Apr 14 Haider Sesho said that his arrest by KDP was illegal That he would work with
Peshmerga but not follow their orders
Apr 14 New offensive to take Garma from IS in Anbar launched
Apr 15 UN received reports that up to 700 homes had been looted and burned 200
blown up in Tikrit area after it was freed
(Musings On Iraq Divisions Over Iraq War Exposed In Victory In Tikrit)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 15 IS took control of 1/3 of Baiji Refinery Also seized four towns around Ramadi Sufiya Albu
Ghanim Albu Mahal Albu Soda Army and Hashd withdrew from area northeast of Ramadi
(Musings On Iraq Iranian & Hezbollah Advisers Committed To Baiji Refinery And Ramadi Ops Leading To Another Loss For The Revolutionary Guard)
Apr 15 Albu Ghanim tribal head called for Hashd to help fight IS in Anbar
Apr 15 Report PM Abadi said there were 110 Iranian military advisers in Iraq
Apr 16 PM Abadi said all the pictures of Iranian Gen Suleimani in Iraq sent the wrong
message that Iran was saving Iraq instead of Iraqis
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
Apr 16 Anbar Governor Rawi called on Hashd to be sent to province to help fight IS 3000
Hashd sent to Ramadi to help Some Hashd units already in Anbar
Apr 16 IS said to be in control of 70% of Ramadi
Apr 17 Police and councilman in Ramadi said IS had almost taken center of city
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Ramadi Has Not Fallen But The Islamic State Has Gained Ground)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
Apr 18 Khorasani Brigade pledged allegiance to Ayatollah Khamenei and said it
followed vilayat al-faqih Said didn’t take orders from Iran but Khamenei
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
Apr 18 Govt claimed it fully controlled Baiji Refinery but IS still held sizeable amount
of complex
Apr 20 IS held ceremony where Ramadi sheikhs gave it allegiance
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
Apr 20 80 Anbar sheikhs called on Abadi to provide more military aid and called
on Hashd to help fight in province
Apr 21 Pres Barzani and other KRG politicians complained about PKK being in Sinjar
Claimed trying to take over district
Apr 21 Report Asst Sec of Terrorist Financing at US Treasury said IS sold most of its oil to Assad
govt
Apr 21 IS attacked Sahl al-Milh in Ninewa Next day Peshmerga kicked out Sunnis looted and
burned homes
Apr 22 Day after IS attacked Sahl al-Malih, Ninewa Peshmerga expelled Arab residents,
looted and burned village
Apr 24 Report that ISF were charging displaced Anbaris money to get into Baghdad
Apr 24 Report Hashd imposed movement restrictions within Tikrit Investigating Camp Speicher
massacre and not allowing others to be involved Most of presidential palaces in Tikrit seized by Hashd
Apr 24 IS took army regiment HQ in Anbar Executed 22 soldiers
Apr 25 PM Abadi said Hashd should include all Iraqis from all backgrounds
Apr 25 Kudish Alliance said opposed National Guard in disputed areas because
peshmerga could secure them
(Musings On Iraq Can PM Abadi Appeal to Iraq’s Sunnis?)
Apr 25 Yazidi militia leader Haider Sesho said that Yazidis would form their own
party in Sinjar and be independent of KDP
Apr 25 IS took over army base in Thar Thar, Anbar 141 soldiers killed in fighting including 1st Div
cmdr Base had been calling for reinforcements for a week and got nothing
Apr 26 Kataib Hezbollah withdrew from Fallujah area claiming PM Abadi and
US were preventing it from fighting there
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 26 Head of Anbar council announced PM Abadi okayed recruiting locals for Hashd
Apr 27 Arabs accused Peshmerga of destroying homes in 5 villages after freed from IS in
Kirkuk
Apr 27 Badr’s Amiri said using Hashd only way to free Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Apr 27 IS head Baghdadi called on Syrian fighters to help fight in Salahaddin and Anbar
Apr 28 Badr’s Amiri said Hashd would not wait for permission to enter Anbar Were
already there
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Apr 28 Sadr criticized Hashd for trying to politicize fight against IS to gain power
Apr 28 Report After PM Maliki closed down Ramadi protest site insurgents seized Fallujah Locals
formed Military Council some tried to deny IS was present Council tried to keep IS out of administering city and only dealt with them for military affairs Then let IS onto Council Forbid IS from imposing sharia or killing govt workers and sahwa IS eventually took control of city
Apr 29 Report Zarqawi attacked Shiites believing that would rally Sunnis to him 2004 created
Omar Brigade to assassinate militiamen Used indiscriminate violence with bombings to establish control By 2006 had control of many other insurgent groups Led to Sahwa turning against ISI 2008 began planning comeback Targeted sahwa Didn’t believe argument Baathists were behind much of ISIS’ success Baathists were not in Zarqawi or Abu Omar al-Baghdadi’s inner circle
(Musings On Iraq Behind The Revival Of The Islamic State in Iraq, Interview With Naval War College Prof Craig Whiteside)
Apr 29 Diyala police chief claimed no insurgent strongholds in province Said all regions were
under ISF control Not true
Apr 30 Head of Salahaddin council said Hashd were looting and burning buildings
in Tikrit
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
Apr 30 City worker in Tikrit said 300 buildings in northern section of city had been
destroyed including 2 mosques
Apr 30 IS seized half of Baiji refinery 250 ISF held out within facility
Apr 30 Report PM Abadi agreed to deploy Hashd to Anbar Badr’s Amiri had info campaign
pushing for Hashd to be sent Hashd were already in Anbar Just way to criticize PM Abadi
May 1 Report IS executed around 300 Yazidis in Tal Afar
May 2 Report IS controlled 90% of Baiji refinery and 200 ISF trapped inside
May 3 3rd day of protests in Basra over lack of electricity
May 4 Report When Tikrit fell to IS in 2014 had been weakened by sustained assaults by
insurgents IS and Albu Ajeel captured 1500 cadets at Camp Speicher and executed them IS recruited from poor towns around Tikrit and some Tikritis IS demanded govt workers and professions in Tikrit repent or be killed IS set up administration Went after ISF members Jabour tribe fought IS Nov 2014 IS saw Jabour tribesman with Iraqi flag Thought it was sign of attack Kidnapped 20 men Blew up 50 houses When assault to retake city started most people fled to Kirkuk and KRG IS looted abandoned houses After city freed Hashd looted and destroyed property Many locals angry for ISF not stopping Hashd and govt refusing to talk about it
May 5 IS started attack upon central Ramadi Turned back by Golden Div and helicopters
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 6 Pres Barzani met with Obama in Washington Asked for heavy weapons Said Kurds would
help in Battle of Mosul Said wouldn’t fight in Arab areas and didn’t covet territory
May 6 Baghdad Governor Tamami claimed province bankrupt Couldn’t pay for projects or
contract workers Hadn’t gotten any money from budget
May 7 Salahaddin council said would not let displaced associated with IS return to
homes
May 7 Peshmerga demanded that Hashd withdraw from Sadiya and Jalawla Diyala as two vied
for control of area
May 8 IS broke out 30 prisoners from facility in Diyala posing as inspectors
May 9 Report 1000 new tribal fighters in Anbar undergoing training Anbar made deal with PM
Abadi to allow 6000 fighters total Would become part of Hashd Was clash between tribal fighters and police vs Kataib Hezbollah who tried to seize a mill
May 9 Report Hashd and soldiers stopped convoy of Pres Masum’s bodyguards in Salahaddin Took
their weapons and taunted them Said didn’t recognize the authority of the president 1 bodyguard beaten Protest by Kurds in Tuz Kharmato over incident Blocked highway Confronted by Hashd who then retaliated by beating up Kurds Badr and PUK with Iranian official as mediator tried to defuse situation
May 11 Kataib Hezbollah attacked ISCI office in Basra accusing official of corruption
(Musings On Iraq Intra-Shiite Rivalaries In Iraq As Kataib Hezbollah Raids ISCI Office)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
May 12 Report ISCI claimed Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and other Hashd challenging
future of National Alliance Wanted to turn success in war vs IS into political power Accused Kataib Hezbollah of attacking ISCI offices in Basra Baghdad and other provinces
(Musings On Iraq Intra-Shiite Rivalaries In Iraq As Kataib Hezbollah Raids ISCI Office)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 12 Diyala integrity comm called for court to dismiss Diyala governor for stealing funds for
displaced
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen on Iraq’s fight with corruption)
(Musings On Iraq interview with former anti-corruption official Vincent Foulk)
May 12 Report Rumaila oil field had budget cut by $1 bil Oil production not grown as fast as
predicted Was talk of Iraq producing 13 mil/bar/day 2015 Iraq was producing 3.7 mil/bar/day Oil Minister said early predictions unrealistic Said if Iraq reached 6-7 mil/bar/day by 2020 would be good Didn’t meet that mark Infrastructure years behind schedule
May 12 Report Gorran came in 2nd in 2013 KRG elections Got ministries but didn’t control
bureaucracy staffed by PUK-KDP Was criticized for going from opposition to partner with ruling parties it criticized Decline of PUK led KDP to want to be sole leader in KRG Pres Barzani declared himself commander in chief and wanted all Peshmerga under his control Peshmerga still under control of leaders within PUK-KDP PUK turned to Iran for aid
May 12 Report PM Abadi OK’d 6000 tribal fighters from Anbar Less than 1000 had signed up 40-
50% quit during training Badr accused some of the volunteers of being IS Criticized program created by US
May 13 Rumors of suicide bombers led to riot amongst Shiite pilgrims in Adhamiya,
Baghdad burning homes and cars
(Musings On Iraq Disaster In Iraq’s Adhamiya Neighborhood Averted)
May 13 Report Abu Ala al-Afri deputy IS leader killed in air strike in Tal Afar Ninewa
May 14 IS leader Baghdadi released 34 min long address 1st one in 6 months Came during
reports he was injured in air strike
May 14 IS attacked Ramadi govt center with car bombs and infiltration in final drive to take city
(Musings On Iraq Political Ramifications Of The Fall of Iraq’s Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Why Did Iraq’s Ramadi Fall To The Islamic State?)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 15 IS seized govt center in Ramadi with 10 suicide car bombs in final drive to take city
50 police taken prisoner executed
(Musings On Iraq Political Ramifications Of The Fall of Iraq’s Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
May 15 Abadi govt sent 3 units to relieve Ramadi Came too late to stop IS taking city
May 16 IS leader Baghdadi issued speech saying Anbari displaced being mistreated by
Baghdad for sectarian reasons
May 16 Ramadi fell to IS after months of fighting Report IS went through city executing
government workers and Sahwa members
(Musings On Iraq Why Did Iraq’s Ramadi Fall To The Islamic State?)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 16 IS seized Anbar Ops Command with 3 suicide car bombs in Ramadi area
(Musings On Iraq Political Ramifications Of The Fall of Iraq’s Ramadi)
May 17 IS seized Anbar Ops Command with 3 suicide car bombs Sealed control of Ramadi Tribes
wanted to counterattack but were no plans to do so
(Musings On Iraq Political Ramifications Of The Fall of Iraq’s Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Disarray Over How To Retake Iraq’s Ramadi)
May 17 Anbar council voted to allow Hashd to deploy to province after fall of Ramadi Were
already there
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 17 IS unilaterally began withdrawing from Baiji refinery after Ramadi taken Used
fighting in Baiji as diversion
May 17 Intl Org of Migration reported 2.8 mil displaced in Iraq since start of 2014
May 17 Report Gorran came in 2nd in KRG elections KDP tried to co-opt Gorran PUK got more
ministries and posts in new govt than Gorran Hadn’t followed through with any election promises
May 18 PUK’s Mahmoud Othman criticized Pres Barzani for talking about independence and
acting like sole leader of Kurds
May 18 Foreign diplomat in Baghdad said Iran using VP Maliki against PM Abadi Opposed his
pro-Western policies
May 18 Fighting broke out between Bani Tamim tribe and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in Basra
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 18 Badr head Amiri blamed Anbar council for loss of Ramadi because kept Hashd out
of province Hashd were there for months
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 18 IS called on medical professionals to return to Mosul or have their property
confiscated
May 19 State of Law MP said Iraq should rely on Iran not US for military aid Claimed
fall of Ramadi proved US helping IS
May 19 Hashd spokesman claimed retaking Ramadi would be easier than Tikrit Hashd failed to
take Tikrit
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 19 Report IS went door to door in Ramadi looking for police and sahwa to kill Said to have hit
lists Singled out Albu Alwan tribe as well Looting and burning homes
May 19 NSC discussed whether Op Inherent resolve vs IS still working or not Questioned Iraqi
resolve to fight and whether Iraq could be saved Obama agreed to increase US role and send advisors to Anbar base so they could be closer to the front and give more direct support Obama wanted PM Abadi to arm Sunni tribes and rein in Hashd Natl Sec Adv Rice asked to come up with policy paper on how to work with Sunnis
May 20 Pentagon spokesman said Ramadi fell to IS due to lack of leadership by Iraq ISF morale
low in Ramadi Many had not been paid for 6 months Not resupplied and lacked spare parts Soldiers often had to buy own uniforms
May 20 Report Dawa accused army of losing Ramadi Said officers lied about situation Ordered
withdrawal from city without consulting with PM Abadi Said some units in city had less than 50% strength and lacked weapons
May 20 Op to free Garma Anbar started City was already declared freed
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
May 21 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq blamed US and Abadi for fall of Ramadi Claimed US had kept Hashd
out Hashd had been in Anbar for months
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 21 IS broke through ISF defensive line in east Anbar Took Husaiba
May 22 Joint Chiefs Head Gen Dempsey said would take 3 years or more to defeat IS Blamed Iraqi
commander in Ramadi for fall of city
May 22 Report Some have claimed Baathists within IS make it more of a Sunni national group than
Salafi one Disagreed Baathists that joined IS were Salafis Baathists added military know how not ideology
(Musings On Iraq Behind The Revival Of The Islamic State in Iraq, Interview With Naval War College Prof Craig Whiteside)
May 22 IS took Husaiba and Albu Fahad in Anbar Attacked Khalidiya and Baghdadi
(Musings On Iraq Fight For Iraq’s Anbar And Salahaddin, 4th Week of May 2015)
May 23 Report Iranians operating rockets, artillery and drones in Baiji operation
(Musings On Iraq Iranian & Hezbollah Advisers Committed To Baiji Refinery And Ramadi Ops Leading To Another Loss For The Revolutionary Guard)
May 23 Report on fall of Ramadi IS used sleeper cells ISF lacked command and control Golden
Div suddenly left city Wasn’t enough coalition air strikes Tribes said not supplied by govt to fight Federal Police reinforcements turned back by IS Broke morale of ISF in city Anbar governor said 286 police died in fighting
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Political Ramifications Of The Fall of Iraq’s Ramadi)
May 23 Badr’s Amiri said US coalition was a mirage that didn’t help Iraq
May 23 Govt forces retook Husaiba Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Fight For Iraq’s Anbar And Salahaddin, 4th Week of May 2015)
May 24 Iranian Ground Forces commander said Iranian military moved 40km into
Diyala to protect border from IS
May 24 KRG claimed it met its oil export quota set in 2015 budget and should get monthly
payments from Baghdad Pres Barzani said if didn’t KRG would export oil independently KRG was not meeting its quota
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
May 24 US Defense Secretary Carter questioned Iraqis’ will to fight after Ramadi fell to IS
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 25 Report Apr IS called for reinforcements from Syria to deploy to Anbar and Salahaddin
Helped take Ramadi in May
May 26 Op to free Ramadi from IS announced by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Disarray Over How To Retake Iraq’s Ramadi)
May 26 IS executed Iraqi soldiers from Sadr City in Fallujah Hung him from bridge
Hashd used it to justify attacking city in July
May 26 Report over 400 buildings in Dour district in Tikrit destroyed by Hashd after
city freed 90 more buildings destroyed in another neighborhood since Apr
May 26 Report IS withdrew from Baiji Refinery day it took Ramadi Tried to destroy as much of
facility as it could Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Khorasani Brigade Kataib Imam Ali Jund al-Imam in area with Iranian and Hezbollah advisers Were operating artillery mortars anti-tank missiles UAVs
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
May 27 Iranian Foreign Min denied Iranian troops fighting in Baiji said only advisers
(Musings On Iraq Iranian & Hezbollah Advisers Committed To Baiji Refinery And Ramadi Ops Leading To Another Loss For The Revolutionary Guard)
May 27 Fmr MP Othman said 2,822 Peshmerga killed fighting IS since June 2014
May 27 Report Army and Hashd ordered to shut bridge to displaced trying to flee Anbar
into Baghdad In order to get into Baghdad displaced needed a sponsor Sponsorship being sold for up to $700 Abadi govt distrusted displaced fearing IS infiltrators
May 28 New U.N. resolution to try to crackdown on IS smuggling of antiquities from Iraq
and Syria
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
May 28 Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander killed near Ramadi Was supporting Khorasani
Brigade
(Musings On Iraq Iranian & Hezbollah Advisers Committed To Baiji Refinery And Ramadi Ops Leading To Another Loss For The Revolutionary Guard)
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Naval Postgraduate School’s Ostovar on history of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard)
(Musings On Iraq review Vanguard of the Imam, Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard)
May 28 Reinforcements arrived to try to take back Ramadi Wouldn’t happen until Feb 2016
May 28 Parliament removed Ninewa Gov Nujafi from office upon recommendation of PM Abadi
for fall of Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Ninewa’s Governor Nujafi Dismissed By Iraq’s Parliament)
May 29 Ninewa Gov Nujafi refused to give up office after parliament voted to remove him for
fall of Mosul Nujafi claimed there was a plot against him
May 29 Report Hashd fighters again going to fight in Syria 2014 Returned to Iraq to fight IS New
recruiting drive to get men for Syria
May 30 IS held ceremony where Ramadi sheikhs gave it allegiance
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
May 31 Kurdish MP said 1205 Peshmerga killed 6595 wounded fighting IS since Jun 2014
May 31 Badr head Amiri dismissed PM Abadi’s plans to retake Ramadi Said he had his own plan
which was to free areas of Anbar first to cut it off Led to Hashd operation to free Thar Thar
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Disarray Over How To Retake Iraq’s Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jun 1 Iraq began selling Basra Heavy crude that greatly increased oil sales
Jun 1 Pres Barzani said KRG would start independent oil exports if Baghdad didn’t
deliver KRG’s share of budget KRG was not meeting its oil export quota under budget
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 2 US sent 2000 AT4 anti-tank missiles to Iraq to help fight car bombs
Jun 2 Badr objected to US helping retake Ramadi
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jun 3 IS held ceremony in Ramadi where sheikhs gave it allegiance
Jun 3 Badr’s Amiri blamed Abadi for fall of Ramadi claiming he listened to US and kept Hashd
out of fight Badr MP called for Fallujah to be destroyed
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jun 3 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq asked govt to give its men immunity before it attacked Fallujah Hashd
wanted to take control of Anbar op and switch from freeing Ramadi to Fallujah even though it had no plans
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 4 IS held ceremony for Fallujah sheikhs to give it allegiance
Jun 4 Report IS looted Hatra museum Destroyed 10 pieces so could charge more for ones it sold
Jun 4 Number of displaced in Iraq reached 3.0 mil
Jun 4 Report Badr cmdr praised Ayatollah Sistani for creating Hashd Said Ayatollah Khamenei was
ruler of all Muslims Said Badr could outgun the ISF Said after war Hashd would be like Iranian Basij which is part of Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Jun 5 Report thousands of Iraqi fighters went to Syria for new Iranian led offensive
there
Jun 5 Report Norway’s DNO owed $500 mil-$1 bil by KRG for non-payments for oil production
and exports
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 5 Oil Min Mahdi said oil prices would reach $75 per barrel by end of year Iraq
crude dropped to $29 per barrel in Dec
Jun 5 Report May Peshmerga cmdr in Jalawla Diyala threatened to shoot Hashd if they didn’t leave
Kurdish general said Jalwala was Kurdish now Jalawla empty of civilians
Jun 7 KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani accused Baghdad of breaking constitution by not
giving Kurdistan budget payments KRG was not meeting its oil export quota under budget
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
Jun 9 State Dep spokesman said war against IS could take 3-5 years
Jun 9 US announced sending in 500 more trainers for Iraqi forces Said it would help
train 9,000 peshmerga
(Musings On Iraq Contradictions In Obama Administration’s Iraq Training Program)
Jun 9 Hezbollah al-Nujaba threatened to attack US after report that US air strike killed
some Hashd in Abu Ghraib by mistake
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Jun 9 Hashd claimed Baiji cleared Wasn’t
Jun 9 Iraq revised projected oil production to 5.5-6 mil/bar/day by 2020 Before predicted 8.4-9
mil/bar/day Didn’t reach either mark
Jun 9 DNO said couldn’t sustain investment or oil production in KRG unless it was paid KRG
behind payments due to budget dispute with Baghdad over oil
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
Jun 9 Hashd spokesman said Fallujah would be freed next instead of Ramadi May Hashd said
Ramadi was the main focus Was part of effort by Hashd to take over Anbar op even though had no plan
(Musings On Iraq Disarray Over How To Retake Iraq’s Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jun 10 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said US forces in Iraq were continuation of occupation
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 10 Amnesty Intl report Jan 2015 PKK and Syrian People’s Protection Units (YPG) attacked 2
Arab villages in Ninewa Killed 21 civilians Many were executed Town burned and looted Locals told not to return Were revenge attacks for IS crimes vs Yazidis in Sinjar
Jun 10 IS executed 130 prisoners
Jun 10 DNO said couldn’t sustain investment or oil production in KRG unless it was paid KRG
behind payments due to budget dispute with Baghdad over oil
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 11 Video showed US Special Forces taking part in firefight supporting Peshmerga in
northern Iraq vs IS
Jun 11 Mutahidun MP complained parts of Diyala had been cleared of Sunnis and
not allowed to return for political reasons
Jun 12 Peshmerga and Hashd got into firefight in Sadiya Diyala in power struggle for
control of Khanaqin district 5 dead
Jun 12 Report Human Rights Comm said 40000 ISF and Hashd killed 25000 wounded 3000 missing
3000 Sahwa dead 500 missing 3000 Peshmerga dead 7500 wounded 250 missing since June 2014
Jun 13 2nd day of fighting between Hashd and Peshmerga in Sadiya, Diyala over control
of town
Jun 13 Report split within Obama admin State Dept wanted more support for Iraq to help PM Abadi
and fight IS Military against escalation without knowing endgame Def Sec Carter Joint Chief head Gen Dempsey CENTCOM cmdr Gen Austin pushed for maintaining status quo Obama said if situation got worse US would increase support
(Musings On Iraq Review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Jun 13 PM Abadi speech said Hashd non-sectarian under his command in war against IS Not all
were
Jun 13 80 US soldiers arrived in Habaniya base Anbar to support ISF operations in
province
Jun 13 IS executed 27 captured members of the ISF in Badush Ninewa
Jun 15 First displaced families returned to Tikrit after its liberation
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
Jun 15 Report Obama admin admitted it didn’t have complete strategy vs IS Didn’t commit means
to achieve goals
(Musings On Iraq review Airpower in the War Against ISIS)
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Jun 15 Report Sunni Hashd brigades formed in Diyala Anbar Salahaddin Connected to Badr Kataib
Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Jund al-Imam Ali Akbar Brigade Kataib Sayid Shuhada Could get immediate access to weapons through Hashd Nothing from govt Analyst thought Hashd trying to co-opt Sunnis
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 15 Area around Garma Anbar declared freed of IS
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jun 16 Report Anbar councilman complained there was no united command to free Anbar
Emphasis went from Ramadi to eastern Anbar to Fallujah Hashd ISF and tribes didn’t coordinate Hashd didn’t listen to Anbar Ops Command
(Musings On Iraq Disarray Over How To Retake Iraq’s Ramadi)
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jun 17 Sadr blamed Maliki’s authoritarianism for return of insurgency
Jun 17 Report Def Sec Carter testified to House that US wanted to train 24,000 ISF by fall 2015 Iraq
wasn’t providing enough recruits Hadn’t been any Iraqi trainees at Ain Al-Assad base for weeks
(Musings On Iraq Contradictions In Obama Administration’s Iraq Training Program)
Jun 17 Hashd shot at car killing Kurdish civilian in Tuz Kharmato Led to clash with Peshmerga
Some Peshmerga wounded and Hashd arrested
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
Jun 18 Garma Anbar declared freed but fighting continued
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jun 19 Report returns to Tikrit area largely based upon whether or not backed IS Salaahddin Gov
Jabouri afraid of retaliation against IS families Said 400 homes destroyed in Tikrit after it was freed After Hashd left Tikrit families allowed in Families returning to Alam where tribes fought IS Dour and Abu Ajeel which sided with IS empty
Jun 20 Civil group claimed Peshmerga killing civilians and displacing people in
Diyala’s Khanaqin Dist
Jun 20 Report Tribes wanted to continue op to free Ramadi but were told to stop by ISF and Hashd
until plan formulated Ramadi op stopped by Hashd who turned to Fallujah instead Still fighting in Baiji 2 weeks after it was declared freed
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jun 20 Report Last 3 months Iraq reached record highs in oil production Still major problems Oil
Min cut investment in Rumaila oil field largest in Iraq in half Lukoil Shell Eni scaled back plans for fields they operated Plans to build Faw port shelved $13 bil water injection plan to maintain and increase oil production questioned Oil companies said Iraq always stalled on development plans
Jun 20 Hashd killed Kurd Wounded 4 others in Tuz Kharmato Led to gun battle between Hashd and
Peshmerga
Jun 21 KRG stopped exporting oil for Baghdad due to budget dispute KRG was not meeting its oil
export quota
(Musings On Iraq Strains and Stresses In The Kurdish-Iraq Central Government Budget Deal)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 21 IS executed 3 former Iraqiya candidates in Mosul Mass grave discovered in Tal Afar with 70
soldiers executed by IS
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Offensive In Anbar And Salahaddin Dragging On For Weeks Or Put On Hold)
Jun 23 Report Went over captured IS docs from 2010 US raid 1 said IS should set up relationship
with Sunni politicians to help with extortion rackets in Mosul 1 talked about extorting and skimming money from contracts in Mosul Got $4 mil from construction work Several Sunni politicians agreed to allow IS into govt contracts 1 said Communications Mnister Qadir and Dep head of Ninewa council Zebari resisted IS at 1st but then gave in and helped IS Qadir put 2 IS operatives in his ministry
Jun 23 Intl Org for Migration found displaced passed 3 mil mark from Jan 2014-Jun 2015
(Musings On Iraq Number Of Displaced In Iraq Passes 3 Million Mark)
Jun 23 Op to retake Ramadi still on hold Now waiting for tribal Hashd to finish US training Anbar
councilman and Dulaim sheikh went to Iran to ask for weapons
Jun 23 Anbar Council asked ISF to stop shelling civilians in Fallujah Said city shelled everyday
causing civilian casualties
Jun 24 RAND report Iraqi army had 14 divisions US est only ½ that strength Iraqi units sent for US
training were 40-70% below strength Many officers didn’t show up Many officers bad More than 40% of ISF units in Baghdad fearing IS attack on capital Counter Terror Unit best but suffered heavy casualties
Jun 24 Report KRG est of reaching 1 mil/bar/day in oil exports not realized KRG independent
pipeline to Turkey opened year ago KRG not making enough to pay oil companies Also had large bills for govt workers and war vs IS Oil companies turned to selling oil to KRG domestic market but didn’t make enough Companies stopped plans for new investment Cut staff
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 24 Report Jurf al-Sakhr in Babil Jalawla and Sadiya in Diyala Albu Ajeel in Salahaddin empty
of people Babil govt said IEDs reason why no returns to Jurf al-Sakhr Sheikh said was lie Said govt didn’t trust people
Jun 25 Member of Kataib Hezbollah leadership said group should enter politics Said politicians had
failed Said Hashd success on battlefield would translate to victory in politics
Jun 25 Report 13,000 registered for Ninewa Hashd Dep Governor said only 2,000 really existed
Rest ghost Hashd used to steal salaries
Jun 28 PM Abadi said KRG not following budget Cut its oil exports for Baghdad to increase its own
sales
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
Jun 29 Report Anbar council accused Hashd of burning homes in Nukhaib Demanded Hashd
brigade removed from province
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jul 1 Report Fall of Ramadi in May hurt PM Abadi Hashd took lead in fighting in Anbar Before it
was ISF Hashd changed emphasis from retaking Ramadi to Fallujah Different Hashd brigades had their own operations and argued with each other over victories Before Ramadi Anbar council asked Hashd for help Abadi tried to keep Hashd out but then had to ask for their help Badr’s Amiri blamed Abadi for fall of Ramadi Abadi said Hashd non-sectarian and was under his command Same day Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said Hashd part of pro-Iran Resistance that would fight US
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jul 2 Report Hashd said more planning needed to retake Ramadi Hashd stopped Ramadi op and
shifted to other parts of Anbar IS imposed dress code Set up TV screens in public square Showed videos of its victories Executed govt supporters Took control of mosques Told govt workers to go back to jobs
Jul 2 Report UN said IS looting artifacts on industrial scale to sell items on black market
Jul 2 Peshmerga Min said 1212 Peshmerga killed 7000 wounded fighting IS
Jul 2 Human Rights Min said 4772 people killed 28575 wounded since Jun 2014
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Authorities Continue To Underreport Casualties In War Against Islamic State)
Jul 5 IS attacked Baiji Salahaddin Started with 2 suicide car bombs Followed by infantry attack
Pushed Hashd and ISF back
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Jul 6 Report Differences between communities hindering fight vs IS Kurds took disputed areas
Pushed for independence Many Sunnis claim they’re majority in Iraq Make huge demands of govt Some Sunnis believed they could overthrow govt Learned nothing from civil war Sunnis fighting IS usually have strong ties with govt or feel threatened by IS Shiites questioned why should free Sunni areas when many didn’t appear willing to fight Both Sunnis and Shiites driven by victimhood and ignore each other PM Maliki revived insurgency by closing Ramadi protest camp Dec 2013 Groups later cooperated with IS Believed they could use IS to bring down govt and then achieve own goals Instead Sunnis suffered greatest losses during war
Jul 6 IS launched major attack upon 8 towns taking 3 of them before being turned back by Coalition
air strikes and Peshmerga
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jul 8 Report ISF and US wanted to take Ramadi Hashd wanted to free Fallujah Hashd started its
own op to free Ramadi then stopped and started one for Fallujah Hashd wanted to lead war
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jul 9 Report KRG trying to control oil sales in Kirkuk Took oil production from North Oil Company
and shipped it to Turkey via KRG pipeline KRG reduced its exports for Baghdad at same time Oil Min Abdul Mahdi said KRG wouldn’t get its monthly budget payments until KRG fulfilled its oil export quota
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jul 10 Report Iraqi Cmdr 4th Armored Rgt said week after Ramadi fell to insurgents orders to
regroup and retake city Said not supported by leadership Hashd said they not army would lead Anbar campaign and switched to Fallujah
(Musings On Iraq Heavy Fighting In Four Of Iraq’s Provinces During Start Of July 2015)
Jul 11 316 displaced fleeing Anbar Salahaddin Kirkuk stopped at checkpoint in Kirkuk and refused
entry Source said Kirkuk gov gave order to prevent any displaced from entering Kirkuk
Jul 11 Report Def Sec Carter said 560 more US troops would deploy to Iraq Most would go to
recently captured Qayara air base which could handle heavy cargo planes and helicopters Raised total US forces to 6000
Jul 12 Report Badr and Kataib Hezbollah posted photos of its forces using US Abrams tanks
Vehicles were only supposed to go to Iraqi army
Jul 12 Report Joint Ops Command announced start of op to free Anbar Badr’s Amiri said it
wouldn’t start until later ISF and Hashd competed over control of Anbar
Jul 13 Campaign started to recapture Ramadi from IS Badr’s Amiri then said campaign wouldn’t
start for another week Showed continued splits between Hashd and ISF Hashd wanted to control Anbar op and focus on Fallujah
(Musings On Iraq Battle Of Anbar Begins In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Ahmed Ali on fall of Ramadi)
Jul 13 Central Husaiba Anbar declared freed of IS despite ISF not being there yet
(Musings On Iraq Fight For Iraq’s Anbar Continues As Islamic State Launches Massive Car Bomb Campaign)
Jul 13 Genel Energy said it would stop exploration work in KRG because not paid Said it was owed
$378 mil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jul 13 PUK MP said Iran saved KRG from IS Said Tehran also helped in op in Jalawla Diyala Said
Turkey did nothing during war vs IS
Jul 13 Pro-KDP Yazidi leader said only Peshmerga could operate in Sinjar Was aimed at PKK which
controlled dist
Jul 14 Report ISF attacked Saqlawiya as start of op vs Fallujah Attacked Khalidiya Malahma
Sidiqiya Husaiba as start of Ramadi op New ISF and tribesmen took part Backed by Coalition airstrikes
Jul 16 Basra protest over services fired upon by police 1 Protester killed
Jul 16 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq kidnapped 12 members of Khazraj tribe in Dujail Salahaddin
Jul 17 Protest in Basra over electricity ISF fired into crowd 1 killed Protesters shot back
Also protest in Nasiriya and Amara where highway to Basra blocked
Jul 17 Car bomb in Khan Bani Saad Diyala killed 130 Wounded 155
Jul 18 Basra governor said he would meet demands of protesters by releasing prisoners
replacing electricity director
Jul 18 ISF declared Husaiba Anbar freed 2nd time Wasn’t
(Musings On Iraq Fight For Iraq’s Anbar Continues As Islamic State Launches Massive Car Bomb Campaign)
Jul 19 KRG said it would not sell any oil for Baghdad through its oil pipeline to Turkey Had an oil
export quota in budget
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Reaches Another New High In Oil Exports As Budget Deal With Kurds Breaks Down)
Jul 20 ISF declared Husaiba Anbar freed 3rd time Saqlawiya also declared freed but wasn’t
(Musings On Iraq Fight For Iraq’s Anbar Continues As Islamic State Launches Massive Car Bomb Campaign)
Jul 21 Fighting between IS and ISF broke out in Saqlawiya Anbar day after it was declared freed
East Husaiba was declared freed but wasn’t New op started to free Albu Hayat and Haditha
(Musings On Iraq Fight For Iraq’s Anbar Continues As Islamic State Launches Massive Car Bomb Campaign)
(Musings On Iraq Battle To Retake Iraq’s Anbar Province Continues)
Jul 21 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq spokesman said military success of pro-Iran groups would help them gain
victories in politics Said had surpassed the sectarian and nationalist boundaries of Iraqi society Said would run in next elections
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jul 22 Report Hashd complicated rebuilding ISF after Mosul Most volunteers joined Hashd US
wanted to train 24,000 ISF recruits but only got 9,000 ISF discredited Seen as corrupt Tainted by PM Maliki US support considered a negative Jr officers had to pay $3000 bribes to go to Officer Training Academy
Jul 23 East Husaiba and Saqlawiya in Anbar both declared freed 2nd time Hashd claimed 80% of
Baiji refinery freed but wasn’t
(Musings On Iraq Battle To Retake Iraq’s Anbar Province Continues)
Jul 23 Report Kurds preventing Arabs from returning to disputed areas controlled by Peshmerga
Destroyed homes Burned fields
Jul 24 IS was making far more money from oil than originally estimated Came after US raid in Syria
that found IS papers on finances US originally est IS making $8-$10 mil/month from oil sales New docs showed IS made $40 mil in one month Coalition air strikes tried to destroy business
Jul 25 ISF attacked Saqlawiya after it was declared freed 2 times Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said 40% of
Baiji Refinery cleared 2 days before Hashd said it was 80%
(Musings On Iraq Battle To Retake Iraq’s Anbar Province Continues)
Jul 26 ISF freed Anbar Univ outside of Ramadi
Jul 26 Protest in Nasriaiya over power shortages
Jul 27 Husaiba Anbar declared freed 4th time Qadisiya dist of Ramadi declared freed but wasn’t
(Musings On Iraq Battle To Retake Iraq’s Anbar Province Continues)
Jul 27 Protests in Rania KRG over project being stopped that led to clash with police Protest in Dhi
Qar over lack of power
Jul 27 Kataib Hezbollah spokesman said US playing negative role in Anbar Said holding up ops so
IS fighters could escape Said US trying to destroy Iraq
Jul 28 Fighting between IS and ISF broke out in Qadisiya dist of Ramadi day after it was declared
freed
(Musings On Iraq Battle To Retake Iraq’s Anbar Province Continues)
Jul 28 KDP called for KRG Pres Barzani’s term to be extended for 2 more yrs Was extended 2 yrs in
2013
(Musings On Iraq Crisis Over Iraq’s Kurdish Presidency Favors Barzani)
Jul 29 Report IS and Naqshibandi fought in Hawija dist Kirkuk with 13 dead
Jul 30 Protests in Arbat and Darabandikhan, KRG and Nasiriya and Amara over lack of services
and electricity
Jul 30 Report Yazidis returning to Sinjar Ninewa carried out revenge attacks on Arabs Yazidis
accused Arabs of helping IS Criticized KRG for seizing land during war with IS Amnesty Intl said 21 Arabs killed in Sibaya 40 others kidnapped 17 of whom were thought to be killed Man said all houses in town destroyed along with those in neighboring Sayer Sheikh said Yazidis and PKK destroyed 22 villages in 7 months Displaced 10,000 Arabs
Jul 31 Protest in Baghdad Basra Najaf over lack of electricity Called for Electricity Min
to step down
Jul 31 Report Went with Asaib Ahl Al-Haq unit in Baiji Salahaddin Asaib Ahl Al-Haq attacking
area from south Kataib Hezbollah from north Army not involved Asaib unit just returned from Syria Asaib commander criticized army Said it had no leadership or spirit to fight Said war was between Sunnis and Shiites and army had no place Blamed army for losing Baiji refinery to IS Badr’s Amiri told US Amb he didn’t want US air strikes because they would target Hashd Said Hashd would not disarm after war Would be third force along with army and police
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Aug 1 Protests in Basra and Karbala over lack of electricity and services PM Abadi announced 4
day holiday due to rising temperatures
Aug 1 KRG said PKK should leave Kurdistan Also called for PKK-Turkey peace talks to resume
Aug 2 Protests in Seysaib in Irbil and Dhi Qar Babil and Najaf over lack of services
Aug 3 Protest in Pirzin Irbil over power cuts and water shortages
Aug 3 KRG Natural Resource Min said it would pay expenses of oil companies operating in
region Said it would start paying past bills start of 2016
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 3 PM Abadi said officials rejected his idea of cutting salaries of top officials to deal with
budget problems
Aug 3 Pres Barzani gave speech on anniversary of IS seizing Sinjar Said would be revenge vs IS
Said Sinjar would be liberated Said Peshmerga was reason IS stopped Peshmerga fled Sinjar without a fight in 2014
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Government Tries to Create New Narrative Of What Happened To Iraq’s Yazidis)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AUIS’s Christine van den Toorn on what happened to Yazidis when IS invaded Sinjar)
Aug 4 2 Protests in Sulaymaniya province over lack of services that led to clash with
police Over 30 wounded Also demo in Maysan
Aug 5 Protests in Sulaymaniya over lack of services broken up by police
Aug 5 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said it would participate in next protest in Baghdad attempting
to co-opt demos
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Aug 5 Parliament’s finance comm said Iraqi banks transferring money to other countries Worked
with front companies to smuggle funds Did study going back to 2012 Found 15 fake trading companies involved in Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions
Aug 5 KDP Peshmerga commander said peshmerga didn’t withdraw from Sinjar Were defeated by
IS Peshmerga withdrew without a fight
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Government Tries to Create New Narrative Of What Happened To Iraq’s Yazidis)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AUIS’s Christine van den Toorn on what happened to Yazidis when IS invaded Sinjar)
Aug 6 Protests in Karbala, Najaf, Baghdad, Basra, Hillah, Nasiriya and Rumaitha in
Muthanna demanding reform
Aug 7 Report KDP said it would defend Sinjar to the “last drop of blood” Jun 2014 IS took Baaj
south of Sinjar Sheikh with permission of KDP set up Black Unit of 700 fighters to protect Sinjar Fmr MP Shesho formed volunteer unit of 3500 Yazidis KDP refused to arm it because wasn’t Kurdish Also said wasn’t needed because Peshmerga Religious Council of Yazidis asked Pres Barzani to set up Yazidi peshmerga unit in Sinjar Barzani said no 1347 Yazidis in ISF quit to protect their villages in Sinjar Asked peshmerga for weapons Turned down Aug 2014 IS attacked Sinjar Were 11000 Peshmerga in area Yazidi militias fought IS Peshmerga fled Yazidis told Peshmerga about IS attack Said reinforcements coming KDP politburo told Yazidis to hold IS until peshmerga arrived Yazidi villages asked Black Unit for aid Did nothing Peshmerga withdrew from Zummar allowing IS to attack Sinjar from 2 directions IS began surrounding Yazidi villages Some fleeing Yazidis stopped by peshmerga at checkpoint Told peshmerga would protect them and to return to their homes Peshmerga abandoned checkpoint Over 100 Yazidi men killed by IS in Til Ezer Women and children put in trucks and taken away 600 Yazidi men killed in Kojo 1000 women and children executed few days later Peshmerga would not let people in Kojo leave IS massacred people in Gir Izer When Yazidis heard Peshmerga fled they fled too East of Sinjar Yazidi peshmerga unit asked for weapons to defend their villages Were denied by KDP Yazidis in Zorava pleaded with peshmerga to stay and fight Peshmerga Killed 3 Yazidi peshmerga and then left Arabs in villages near Yazidi towns joined IS and begin shooting at fleeing Yazidis 36,000 Yazidis reached KRG 60,000 went to Mount Sinjar KRG said they made tactical retreat denying they fled without fighting Peshmerga spokesman later told Der Spiegel forces ran away Pres Barzani said he would bring to justice all those responsible for Sinjar Nothing happened KDP leaders from Sinjar were put under hour arrest for a few days Then released 200 Peshmerga commanders questioned Then sent to front Sesho arrested by KDP for threatening internal order As criticism grew of KRG abandoning Yazidis responded that Yazidis ungrateful for what Kurds had done for them Kurds claimed Yazidis Kurds but discriminated against if didn’t support KDP YPG and PKK from Syria backed by US air strikes reached Mount Sinjar and relieved trapped Yazidis 4 months later peshmerga attacked Sinjar Pres Barzani and PM Barzani went to Mount Sinjar and proclaimed themselves liberators
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Government Tries to Create New Narrative Of What Happened To Iraq’s Yazidis)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AUIS’s Christine van den Toorn on what happened to Yazidis when IS invaded Sinjar)
Aug 7 Iranian cleric said Iraqis should not join protests because they were for secularism
Aug 8 PM Abadi proposed reform program of fighting corruption broadening tax base improving
services dismissing VPs and Dep PMs in response to protests Most moves were actually to cut costs during budget crisis Plan had no details on how to achieve goals Called on courts to come up with own reform plan
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Judiciary Resistant To Reforms)
Aug 9 Cabinet voted to reduce number of members on provincial councils PM Abadi said govt
would not use quota system End large security details for officials Set up anti-corruption commission Cut ministers and agencies End VPs Sold as reforms but meant to cut spending
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 9 VPs Nujafi and Maliki Speaker Jabouri and KRG said they supported Abadi’s reform
program
Aug 9 Chief of staff of Iranian military criticized protests in Iraq saying they were
making Abadi’s govt look bad
Aug 9 Protests in Baghdad, Nasiriya, Maysan supporting Abadi’s reforms
Aug 9 KRG Pres Barzani called opposition demands to reduce his power a coup
Aug 10 Foreign Min Jaafari dismissed 7 ambassadors and retired some directors as part of
Abadi’s reforms Were actually to cut costs during budget crisis
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 10 Speaker Jabouri demanded MPs with 2 passports give up the second or be dismissed
Aug 10 After Gorran said speaker of parliament would replace Pres Barzani when term ended in 9
days KDP said no one would replace Barzani as long as he lived
(Musings On Iraq Crisis Over Iraq’s Kurdish Presidency Favors Barzani)
Aug 10 After car bomb in Baquba Diyala 61 Sunnis were abducted
Aug 10 VP Maliki TV interview said protests were becoming anti-religious and could get
out of control
Aug 10 Dep PM Araji resigned Was facing corruption investigation
Aug 11 Parliament approved PM Abadi’s reform program Included corruption committee Ending
ethnosectarian quotas Dismissing VPs and Dep PMs Pres Masum said reforms violated constitution
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 11 MP on finance comm said 719 deputy ministers 6,000 director generals Cost 50-100
bil/dinars/month
Aug 11 Baghdad Babil Dhi Qar Basra fired and retired hundreds of officials as part of PM Abadi’s
reforms Were actually budget cuts
Aug 11 Protesters stormed Babil council building demanding better services
Aug 11 KDP Yazidi leader Sesho said Yazidis wanted to be part of KRG Said he trusted KDP and
Pres Barzani Said Sinjar should be annexed so it could be protected KDP abandoned Sinjar in 2014 allowing IS genocide of Yazidis
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Government Tries to Create New Narrative Of What Happened To Iraq’s Yazidis)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AUIS’s Christine van den Toorn on what happened to Yazidis when IS invaded Sinjar)
Aug 11 Report US didn’t have strategy or resources to defeat IS in Iraq Obama unwilling to commit
resources Used conventional military planning against IS insurgency US wanted to train and equip ISF Didn’t have equipment for ISF Iraqis couldn’t absorb or maintain what it was given because of lack of logistics Hadn’t used airstrikes effectively because of strict rules of engagement and lack of ground targeters Only small group of Iraqis could call in airstrikes Only deployed small force
Aug 12 Pres Masum said parliament should keep one VP since position is in the constitution Was
part of PM Abadi’s reforms but actually budget cuts
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 12 Hashd op to take Fallujah failed Withdrew ISF originally wanted to retake Ramadi Hashd
took over Anbar campaign and said Fallujah would be 1st
Aug 12 Report PM Abadi fired secretary general of cabinet and his deputies Part of budget cuts
Aug 13 Maliki’s State of Law said PM Abadi had to keep one vice president because
position as in the constitution
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 13 Report IS set up system to sell Yazidi women into slavery Yazidi leaders said 3,144 Yazidi
women were held by IS Dabiq magazine said IS planned enslavement of Yazidis before attacked Sinjar
Aug 13 Report PM Maliki made Badr’s Amiri head of security in Diyala in 2014 Badr got Interior
and Human Rights Ministries under PM Abadi 2015 won governorship of Diyala with deal with PUK Badr led offensive in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr Behind Hashd take over of Anbar op which shifted from Ramadi to Fallujah against ISF plans
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Aug 14 Ayatollah Sistani’s office said PM Abadi needed to reform judiciary
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 14 Protests in Maysan Kirkuk Salahaddin Basra Karbala Najaf Dhi Qar Babil Baghdad
Diwaniya Wasit Diyala demanding better services fighting corruption reforming judiciary Some attacked by gunmen
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Judiciary Resistant To Reforms)
Aug 14 Journalists said that Baghdad Operations Command stormed their office and
told them not to cover protests
Aug 14 VP Maliki gave interview Said protests were anti-religious
Aug 14 UN called on Iraq to close secret prisons Reviewed torture and abuse Asked Iraqi officials
to name 1 person jailed for torture Found none Iraq denied torture happened Muthanna secret prison in Baghdad discovered in 2011 still open UN watched 92 trials Jan-Jun 2014 where 50 defendants said they were tortured Judges did nothing even though illegal
(Musings On Iraq Secret Prisons Alive And Well In Iraq)
Aug 14 Report PM Abadi’s reform program almost same as reforms proposed in 2006 2010 2014
None had details on how to carry out changes 1 Abadi reform doing away with VPs part of power struggle with Maliki who was VP Constitution created VPs and deputy PMs which Abadi wanted to abolish Wouldn’t make any real change Abadi’s reforms also concentrated power in his hands to dismiss officials Called for reforming judiciary then said judges could come up with their own plan Called for anti-corruption agencies to go after corruption When protests ended and summer ended talk of reform will disappear That’s what happened
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 15 Chief Justice Medhat said that judiciary supported Abadi’s reforms but made no changes
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Judiciary Resistant To Reforms)
Aug 16 PM Abadi closed 4 ministries and merged 8 others into 4 by decree even though
legally had to go through parliament Part of cost cutting moves
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Limits To Iraq Premier’s Reform Program, Cuts Cabinet While Maintaining Quota System)
Aug 16 Peshmerga destroyed Arab homes in Jalawla Diyala
Aug 16 Parliamentary investigation blamed fmr PM Maliki and 35 others for fall of Mosul Dawa
members on committee wanted Maliki removed from report Then attacked it for being political PM Abadi said he would put ISF commanders on trial for their role Didn’t happen
Aug 16 Protests in Babil and Basra over services corruption political reform
Aug 17 Judicial Council rejected call for Chief Justice Medhat to resign
Aug 17 KRG Judicial Council extended Pres Barzani’s term for another 2 years Gorran called move
illegal
(Musings On Iraq Crisis Over Iraq’s Kurdish Presidency Favors Barzani)
Aug 17 State of Law threatened to boycott parliament if Maliki’s name not taken off investigation
that blamed him for fall of Mosul Mutahidun rejected investigation as well because it blamed ex-Ninewa Gov Nujafi Report sent to judiciary but nothing done
Aug 18 IS second in command Abu Muslim al-Turkmani killed was killed by a US
drone strike in Mosul
Aug 18 KRG parliament finance comm said over $800 mil in oil revenue missing since Jul Said
Natural Resource Min didn’t put money in Finance Min bank account as it should have
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 18 Report Maliki said Mosul fell to conspiracy between Turkey and Kurds Part of
recriminations over fall of city Investigation said Maliki didn’t understand situation in Mosul in 2014 because appointed incompetent and corrupt military commanders
Aug 18 PM Abadi cut number of advisers in ministries Cabinet said it would retire 80 director
generals and 18 deputy ministers Part of reform program Really about cutting costs during financial crisis
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 19 IS and Naqshibandi fought in Hawija Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq review The Caliphate At War, Operational Realities and Innovations of the Islamic State)
Aug 19 Report IS was making $11 mil/month from Ninewa before took Mosul in Jun 2014 Charged
taxes on petroleum products sent from Baiji refinery to Ninewa Taxed cement companies Got salaries of 300 contractors in Mosul Doctors power generator owners paid protection money
Aug 20 Pres Barzani’s term expired but he refused to leave office
(Musings On Iraq Crisis Over Iraq’s Kurdish Presidency Favors Barzani)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Barzani Calls For Elections To Determine His Fate, May Mean 2017)
Aug 21 Protests in Baghdad Maysan Dhi Qar Wasit Diyala Basra Kirkuk Qadisiyah
Salahaddin Najaf Karbala Babil demanding reform
Aug 21 Police attacked reporters from 3 TV stations trying to cover day’s protests
Aug 21 Report US announced Haji Mutazz IS commander in charge of military ops in Iraq killed
in drone strike near Mosul
Aug 21 Fmr Trade Min Sudani convicted on 3 corruption charges $4-$8 bil missing from ministry
Bought expired food and charged Ministry full price Bought food and kept it for themselves to sell on black market Bought goods for double the prices Sudani signed contract with company owned by his son for $50 mil for old tea that was only worth $20 mil Bought contaminated milk from China Found $8 mil in expired food in warehouse Sudani’s brother and nephew got $40 in kickbacks from every ton of sugar imported by ministry Sudani used some of money to fund PM Maliki’s State of Law in 2009-10 elections
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Aug 21 Report Est $300-$350 bil stolen from Iraq since 03 Finance Min Zebari said bloated salaries
cost $3 bil/mo PM Abadi said 1 official had 900 bodyguards Head of parliament’s integrity comm said it sent 500 corruption cases for investigation in 2014 but most dropped PM Abadi’s office said it has no power over judiciary and therefore can’t reform it
Aug 22 Gunmen in military uniforms attacked sit in protesters in Basra Police did nothing Riot
police broke up protests in Hillah beating them and used water hoses
Aug 22 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani visited Karbala with Hashd leader Abu Muhandis
Wanted to make sure Maliki wasn’t taken to court for fall of Mosul Talked with Sistani representative Told him that protests needed to calm down
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Aug 23 Police opened fire on demonstrations in Babil Wounded 4 Reporters in Diwaniya said they
were threatened by gunmen not to cover protests Um Qasr port blocked for 2 days by demonstrators Protest in Karbala
Aug 23 Report Israel bought 19 mil/bar of oil from KRG in May and Aug France and Greece other
major buyers KRG exporting oil via oil traders
Aug 23 Report 2014 KRG tried to export oil internationally via tankers Tanker to US stopped by
lawsuit filed by Oil Min Stopped KRG effort KRG now selling via oil traders who sold to Israel Italy France and more KRG increased sales after export deal with Baghdad collapsed Since May KRG sold 40 mil/bar
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 23 Report crime grown in Basra during war vs IS More kidnappings fighting between tribes
fighting between political parties Councilman said citizens rather than govt handled security Oil companies reduced staff and postponed projects due to lack of security
Aug 24 Sadr said his followers should join Friday protests in Baghdad on Aug 28
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Aug 24 Sit in protests in Basra ended when govt promised to meet their demands Were not met
Aug 25 PM Abadi said all Hashd and tribal fighters had to be under control of state Didn’t happen
Aug 25 Pentagon’s inspector general investigating whether intelligence assessments exaggerated
about war vs IS 1 DIA analyst said CENTCOM was changing conclusions of intel assessments when talked with White House Early statements said IS losing when it wasn’t
Aug 25 Report KRG pipeline off line 2 days in Aug Posed financial threat to KRG Outages cost
KRG avg $246 mil Natural Resource Min signed deals with oil traders to get $850 mil/mo advance payments on exports KRG fallen behind schedule in those deals Contracts also said KRG would sell oil for $50/bar Prices are now below $50 Oil prices dropped since 2014 Meant KRG would have to export more oil to fulfill contracts but didn’t KRG pipeline hit by smugglers and bombings Natural Resource Min blamed PKK KRG thought deals with oil traders would be better than working with Baghdad Didn’t work out Lost monthly budget payments from Baghdad as a result KRG owed $1.6 bil to traders but wouldn’t have to start paying it until 2016 Gorran accused Natural Resource Min of mismanagement
Aug 25 PUK said Pres Barzani should step down Said Barzani acted like a dictator and KDP
control of KRG should end
(Musings On Iraq Crisis Over Iraq’s Kurdish Presidency Favors Barzani)
Aug 25 Report Quds Force Cmdr Gen Suleimani showed up at meeting of National Alliance Told
it that Maliki should not be prosecuted for fall of Mosul Suleimani criticized PM Abadi’s reform program because it threatened Maliki Abadi got mad and kicked Suleimani out of meeting
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Aug 25 Study of Iranian reports found 26 Iranians killed in Iraq since Jul 2014 All Iranian
Revolutionary Guards 4 were Basij militia 1 general killed 3 killed in Anbar 18 in Salahaddin 5 in unknown locations
(Musings On Iraq interview with Naval Postgraduate School’s Ostovar on history of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard)
(Musings On Iraq review Vanguard of the Imam, Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard)
Aug 25 Fmr head of Interior Min’s explosive dept General Jabri got 1 yr in prison for buying fake
bomb detectors
Aug 26 Pres Masum implied that some of Abadi’s reforms were unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Aug 26 Peshmerga offensive to free Daquq south Kirkuk began
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Offensive Into Kirkuk’s Daquq Displaces Thousands)
Aug 26 Report KRG pipeline off line 2 days in Aug Posed financial threat to KRG Outages cost
KRG avg $246 mil Natural Resource Min signed deals with oil traders to get $850 mil/mo advance payments on exports KRG fallen behind schedule in those deals Contracts also said KRG would sell oil for $50/bar Prices are now below $50 Oil prices dropped since 2014 Meant KRG would have to export more oil to fulfill contracts but didn’t KRG pipeline hit by smugglers and bombings Natural Resource Min blamed PKK KRG thought deals with oil traders would be better than working with Baghdad Didn’t work out Lost monthly budget payments from Baghdad as a result KRG owed $1.6 bil to traders but wouldn’t have to start paying it until 2016 Gorran accused Natural Resource Min of mismanagement
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 27 Gulf Keystone said KRG owed it $283 mil for oil sales and other costs KRG said it would
start regular payments to oil companies in Sep
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 27 Report Jun 2014 IS was earning $11 mil/mo in Mosul Early 2014 IS started destroying
bridges and blocking supply routes to Mosul Iraqi officials ignored intel that Mosul was going to be attacked in Jun ISF lacked command and control Sr ISF commanders were political appointees by PM Maliki and not competent head of Ninewa Ops Command Gen Gharawi was on vacation when IS attacked Day of attack only 30% of ISF in Mosul on duty Inspection found half of soldiers in 6th Brigade in Mosul didn’t exist Half of existing soldiers were on leave Gen Gharawi’s decision to withdraw from Ninewa Ops Command HQ during battle of Mosul led to widespread panic and desertions Sadrist MP blamed PM Maliki for fall of Mosul Maliki told parliamentary committee he did not make decisions as commander in chief
Aug 27 Peshmerga started looting and destroying homes in Daquq south Kirkuk during security op
to free district
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Offensive Into Kirkuk’s Daquq Displaces Thousands)
Aug 28 Protests in Salahaddin Basra, Najaf Karbala Babil Dhi Qar Wasit Diyala
Maysan for reform Muthanna anad Qadisiyia governors resigned due to protests
Aug 28 Sadr told his followers to join Friday protests in Baghdad Waned to co-opt demonstrations
Aug 29 Gorran Speaker of KRG parliament said Pres Barzani no longer legitimate and wasn’t
president anymore Barzani’s term expired Aug but he refused to leave office
Aug 30 People in Rutba Anbar protested after IS executed a man who killed an IS member IS
arrested 70 people
Aug 31 Protest in front of Judicial Council building in Baghdad demanding Chief Justice
Medhat be dismissed
Aug 31 Fmr Human Rights Min Bayati filed complaint to court over PM Abadi ending his ministry
under reform program
Sep 1 Hashd leader Muhandis and Badr head Amiri visited Chief Justice Medhat saying
they fully supported him
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Judiciary Resistant To Reforms)
Sep 1 Report Peshmerga destroyed and looted Arab homes in Kirkuk’s Daquq dist after it was freed
2 Peshmerga officers blamed volunteers for losing control after operation Homes bulldozed in 4 villages Kurds also blocked displaced returning to area Feared they were IS KRG using war vs IS to expand its control over dispu
ted areas
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Offensive Into Kirkuk’s Daquq Displaces Thousands)
Sep 2 Protesters surrounded Najaf provincial council building and tried to sack it
Sep 4 Allawi condemned Abadi saying his reforms were unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Sep 6 Judiciary said it would increase number of judges dealing with corruption as its reform effort
Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Sep 8 Turkey launched cross border raid into KRG against PKK 1st time in 2 yrs since PKK
ceasefire PKK attacked Turkish forces leading to operation
Sep 8 Pro-Iran Hashd came out against PM Abadi’s National Guard idea Helped kill bill in
parliament
(Musings On Iraq Can PM Abadi Appeal to Iraq’s Sunnis?)
Sep 9 Abadi removed 123 dep ministers and director generals to cut costs as part of his reforms
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Sep 10 Protests in Baghdad Babil Karbala Najaf Qadisiyah Muthanna Dhi Qar Wasit
Maysan Basra Diyala demanding reform
Sep 10 Report More than 50 military intel analysts accused White House of manipulating intel on IS
2 senior analysts at CENTCOM complained to inspector general Said intel on IS changed to show progress in war
Sep 10 Report IS killed 34 Naqshibandi in Kirkuk and Salahaddin Accused them of apostasy
(Musings On Iraq review The Caliphate At War, Operational Realities and Innovations of the Islamic State)
Sep 10 Report Daquq Dist Kirkuk freed summer 2015 Peshmerga still did clearing ops there Arabs
accused Kurds of blocking them returning to their homes Kurds said district unsafe ISF general said district safe and people could return Some houses burned and destroyed Peshmerga blamed IS Arabs blamed Kurds Peshmerga adviser said Peshmerga had done some looting
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Offensive Into Kirkuk’s Daquq Displaces Thousands)
Sep 10 Report PM Abadi got into argument with Hashd leader Abu Muhandis and Quds Force cmdr
Gen Suleimani PM didn’t want Hashd to lead Fallujah op Suleimani threatened to replace Abadi PM ordered Suleimani to leave 2 hrs later met again Suleimani told Abadi not to give into US demands
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Sep 11 Kataib Hezbollah said no Hashd or lovers of Islam should join protests Claimed
they were being controlled by US
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Sep 11 Hashd group posted video of 14 Turkish workers it kidnapped in Baghdad Demanded
Turkey stop helping jihadists and block KRG oil exports
Sep 12 Iranian media claimed 14 Turkish workers kidnapped in Baghdad by Hashd group worked
for company that helped IS Taken to negotiate population transfer in Syria
Sep 15 Cabinet voted on law to cancel Vice Presidents VPs in constitution
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Sep 15 Report US intel analyst provided docs showing sr military officers manipulated reports to
claim IS weakening Pentagon’s inspector general investigating case Looking into sr intel officials at CENTCOM for changing reports
Sep 15 Common Seawater Supply Facility Project to pump sea water into oil wells to maintain
pressure for oil production 7 yrs behind schedule Supposed to boost production by 4.1 mil/bar/day Not expected to be finished until 2020 2015 Oil Min owed companies $8 bil for project Had paid $9 bil so far Project planned in 2009 Exxon signed contract for project 2010 Suspended 2011 when Exxon signed oil deal with KRG South Oil Company given project in 2012 Maliki govt asked foreign firm to do project in 2014
Sep 15 Report Ruling parties in KRG deadlocked over future of Pres Barzani KDP refused any
reforms Barzani said reforms were an attempted coup against him KDP said Barzani would stay in office 2 more yrs Barzani had term extended 2 yrs in 2013 despite draft constitution saying he could only serve 2 terms No one expected Barzani to step down but wanted to limit his powers Gorran wanted parliamentary system rather than presidential one Dispute meant Barzai would stay in power until resolved
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Barzani Calls For Elections To Determine His Fate, May Mean 2017)
Sep 17 KDP said it refused any deal that would lesson president’s powers Said wanted elections
for president PUK Gorran Kurdistan Islamic Union Kurdistan Islamic Group said Barzani could be elected by people with limits on his powers or elected by parliament with more powers
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Barzani Calls For Elections To Determine His Fate, May Mean 2017)
Sep 18 Protests in Baghdad over reforms
Sep 18 Iran’s Dep Foreign Min warned KRG independence referendum could lead to regional
instability
Sep 19 General Safavi military adv to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Iraq was part of
Iran’s strategic defense Said US was trying to divide Iraq
Sep 20 Human Rights Watch Tikrit freed Apr Hashd from Badr Ali Akhbar Brigades Asaib Ahl
Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Saraya Khorasan Jund al-Imam looted and destroyed at least 1425 buildings afterward in Tikrit Dour Albu Ajeel Alam Arrested around 200 people 160 disappeared Sunni volunteers destroyed buildings in Alam After Amerli freed Dec 2014 was also looting and destruction of homes by Hashd PM Abadi promised to bring Hashd under state control afterward but didn’t Apr cabinet said Hashd part of ISF and under PM’s command Feb Qais Khazali said Salahaddin ops were for revenge for Camp Speicher massacre
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Finds Iraq Government Forces Destroyed Tikrit Area After Its Recapture)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Sep 21 Protest in Irbil by govt workers over KRG salary cuts
Sep 21 Pres Barzani rejected opposition proposal for presidency to be elected by people with
reduced power or be elected by parliament with full powers
Sep 21 Several Trade Min bodyguards arrested for assassinating reporter Also accused of killing
staff of ministry
Sep 21 Report Argument between ISF and Hashd continued over Anbar Op Hashd took over op
Ended campaign to free Ramadi and shifted to Fallujah over ISF objections
Sep 21 Report Ruling parties blocked PM Abadi’s reforms Upset with losing govt offices
Sep 22 Report US federal court ruled against KRG selling oil to US KRG failed to appeal lower
court ruling that sales illegal Started when tanker with KRG oil sitting in Gulf of Mexico
Sep 28 Kataib Hezbollah said passing National Guard Law would be treason
Sep 28 Report Salahaddin govt made deal to allow displaced back to Albu Ajeel Had list of 300
people labeled IS sympathizers that would be banned from returning
Sep 30 Report 16 Turkish workers kidnapped in Baghdad by hashd released Happened after Shiites
allowed to leave 2 Syrian villages that were under siege
Sep 30 Report ISF said around 50 people kidnapped by Hashd on highway from KRG to Baghdad
Some ransomed Some killed May 4 bodyguards of Pres Masum kidnapped and not seen again
Oct 2 Protests in Baghdad Babil Karbala Najaf Qadisiyah Muthanna Dhi Qar Wasit
Maysan Basra Diyala demanding reform
Oct 2 Report Abadi govt finally decided to cut salaries to govt workers in IS areas
Oct 2 28 IS and Naqshibandi fighters killed in clashes between two groups in Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq review The Caliphate At War, Operational Realities and Innovations of the Islamic State)
Oct 2 Report Est 5000 Iraqis went to fight in Syria from Jul-Aug
Oct 2 KRG reported 1300 Peshmerga killed 52 wounded 5000 wounded vs IS since Aug 2014
Oct 3 PM Abadi said VP Maliki wasted billions of dinars from Dawa buying votes Said leaders
needed to be held accountable
Oct 3 Teachers went on strike in Sulaymaniya city over KRG not paying salaries
Oct 4 Govt workers at Sulaymaniya Court went on strike over not being paid
Oct 6 Badr’s Amiri criticized Abadi’s reforms as full of mistakes and disorganized
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Oct 6 Teachers in Sulaymaniya and Halabja struck over unpaid wages
Oct 6 Report KRG Natural Resource Min Hawrami coming under pressure for mismanagement and
corruption 2 KRG MPs accused him of sending fuel to company that didn’t exist Opposition attacking Harwami to attack Pres Barzani KRG owed oil companies $1.5 bil for oil exports Oil companies took KRG to London Intl Arbitration court over not being paid KRG borrowed billions to help with financial crisis caused by war with IS and budget/oil dispute with Baghdad Sep Finance Min took control of Turkish bank account where Natural Resource Min put oil revenues in Only had $14 mil in it Min claimed it put money in German bank and then to KRG bank
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 8 Protests across KRG by govt workers over not being paid Clashed with police in Sulaymaniya
city
Oct 9 Protests in Baghdad Babil Karbala Najaf Qadisiyah Muthanna Dhi Qar Maysan
Wasit Basra Diyala for reform
Oct 9 Govt workers and teachers protested in Halabja over KRG not paying salaries Protest in
Sulaymaniya at KDP HQ Guards fired into crowd 3 killed
Oct 10 KDP accused Gorran of being behind protests that burned KDP HQ in Sulaymaniya Said it
was planned and not spontaneous Accused Gorran of trying to destabilize KRG Govt workers in KRG were protesting over not being paid
Oct 10 Govt workers protesting not being paid by KRG threw stones at Kurdistan Islamic Union HQ
and KDP HQ in Kalar Broke into Gorran HQ Rudaw offices in Sulaymaniya burned Clashed with security forces
Oct 10 Sulaymaniya Asayesh and security forces attacked NRT TV station for covering protests
Oct 10 New Ramadi offensive began Backed by US artillery US pressuring Abadi govt to exclude
Hashd Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Saraya al-Salam pulled out of Ramadi area More Sunni tribal fighters recruited into tribal Hashd
Oct 11 KDP security refused to allow KRG Speaker of parliament from Gorran to enter Irbil city
and attend parliament in dispute over Pres Barzani’s term
Oct 11 Protesters burned KDP HQ in Halabja Were protesting KRG not paying salaries KRG
security forces closed 3 offices of TV station and attacked another for covering protests
Oct 12 KRG PM Barzani dismissed 4 Gorran ministers
Oct 13 Abadi cabinet approved new pay scale for govt workers to cut costs pushed as reform move
Led to protests by civil workers
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Oct 13 Op started to free Baiji Salahaddin
Oct 13 Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam rounded up displaced men at Ishaqi camp Never seen again
Oct 15 Immediately after Baiji refinery liberated Hashd began looting facility and selling off
equipment to Iraqi and Iranian businesses
Oct 15 Teachers protested in Sulaymaniya and Halabja over KRG not paying salaries
Oct 15 Reports Gorran claimed KDP told them to give up speakership of KRG parliament and not
get involved in future of Pres Barzani and it could return to govt Gorran called for Barzani to resign
Oct 16 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani went to Ladhidiya province in Syria to oversee
offensive Accompanied by Iraqi militiamen who would be main force in attack
Oct 16 IOM counted 3.2 mil displaced in Sep 87% came from Anbar Ninewa Salahaddin
Oct 17 Sulamaniya teachers held protests in four cities over KRG not paying them
Oct 18 National Intel Service arrested Trade Min Kareem over taking bribes
Oct 19 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani leading new offensive in Syria using Iraqi militias
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba said Iraq and Syria same war Suleimani said road to liberate Mosul is through Aleppo Kataib Hezbollah sent 1000 fighters to Aleppo on orders of Suelimani Kataib Sayid al-Shuhada said it sent 500 fighters
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Oct 20 Baiji town finally cleared of IS
Oct 20 Genel Energy said it was cutting investment in KRG until it was paid regularly
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 20 Govt workers went on strike in 6 parts of Sulaymaniya over KRG not paying them
Oct 20 Hashd leader Abu Muhandis leaked letter that attacked PM Abadi for blocking funds for
Hashd Abadi cut appropriation for Hashd by $1 bil
Oct 21 Report Head of Joint Chief Gen Dunford visited Iraq Met with PM Abadi and Defense Min
Obeidi Said if Iraq asked for Russian help vs IS US would cut its support
Oct 21 Report Members of National Alliance were pushing PM Abadi to ask for Russian help vs
IS Mid-Oct official request for Russian help sent to Abadi but he didn’t respond Badr leader said Russia did more in Syria than US did in Iraq so Iraq should ask Russia for help
Oct 21 US launched Op Tidal Wave II to degrade IS oil industry
Oct 21 Report army’s 5th Div and part of Interior Min under Badr control 1 ISF officer said 70% of
Interior Min under Hashd control esp Badr Interior Minister from Badr PM Abadi spokesman said he was trying to fire officers within Interior and Defense Ministries that didn’t follow his commands Fmr US officer said Iraq only had 5 fully functioning divisions with about 50,000 men Abadi was angry with op to free Tikrit Hashd started shelling civilian areas without his knowledge Hashd looted part of Tikrit After suicide bombing of wedding in Diyala Hashd killed 25 Sunnis and dumped bodies in river Hashd attacked protesters Was increase in kidnappings and robberies in Baghdad blamed on Hashd
Oct 21 National Alliance MP said list had agreed to block National guard law Said if passed would
divide Iraq
Oct 22 Report Albu Ajeel tribe in Tikrit dist blamed for helping IS with Camp Speicher massacre
Victims’ families demanded compensation from tribe Albu Ajeel was also known to be close to Saddam 23 members of tribe arrested and disappeared Tribe harassed by ISF and Hashd Awja north of Tikrit mostly destroyed by Iraqi forces because Albu Nasr tribe there blamed for backing IS Jabour and Abed tribes wanted revenge upon Albu Ajeel and Albu Nasr Shiite tribes in Balad dist wouldn’t allow Sunnis back into area because accused of being IS sympathizers Sunnis in Balad said their property was being seized
Oct 22 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Badr Kataib Hezbollah Hezbollah Al-Najba and Hashd special
forces unit Anger Div took part on attack on Baiji Hashd made deal with local Sunni tribes to take part in op 3000 tribal fighters also took part but were not on front lines Secured freed towns Hashd said didn’t want looting and destruction of property in Baiji like what happened in Tikrit Hashd looted Baiji refinery after freed
Oct 22 After car bomb on Ashura procession Hashd arrested 175 Sunnis from Askari and Tin areas
of Tuz Kharmato accused of being IS Taken to 2 Hashd bases Some were tortured 8-34 were killed
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 23 Report US thought IS oil revenues down 66% due to air strikes US est IS earned $500 mil/yr
Meant early est IS making $1.4 mil/day was off
Oct 23 KRG paid Gene Energy $25.5 mil for oil exports KRG paid 6% of $409 it owned to oil
companies as of Sep 2015 Genel Energy said it was cutting its investment in KRG until got paid more
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 23 Bodies of 3 people detained by Hashd in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin found dead
Oct 25 IS destroyed Yazid shrine on Mount Sinjar Ninewa
Oct 25 Yazidi militia Sinjar Alliance blocked Peshmerga from entering East Mount Sinjar Ninewa
Oct 25 Report VPs were still getting full salaries after PM Abadi announced they would be cut
Oct 26 Media adv to Trade Min killed in Sep by sticky bomb Was going to reveal corruption to
Integrity Comm 4 Trade Min guards admitted to assassination Had killed ministry workers before Murder led investigation that found corruption in importing grain and construction equipment
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Oct 26 KRG Finance Min said it would cut Jul salaries for Interior Min Police Electricity and
Religious Endowments ministries KRG in financial crisis due to war with IS and budget/oil dispute with Baghdad
Oct 26 Peshmerga Secretary said 1,258 Peshmerga killed 7301 wounded in war vs IS
Oct 26 KDP Peshmerga blocked road from Syria to Sinjar to stop PKK movement PKK retaliated by
blocking road to Mount Sinjar to stop KDP reinforcements from arriving
Oct 27 State of Law withdrew support for PM Abadi over his appointment of secretary to cabinet
Oct 27 60 members of State of Law sent letter to Abadi demanding answers about his reforms
organized by Maliki
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Oct 28 Report Up to $500 bil ½ of Iraq’s revenue from 2006-14 went missing under PM Maliki Fmr
Def Min Shalan Fmr Trade Min Sudani Fmr Electricity Min Samarrie all charged with corruption
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector Gen for Iraq Reconstruction Bowen on corruption in Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with fmr anti-graft official Vincent Foulk on corruption in Iraq)
Oct 28 Report Dawa split between pro-West faction of PM Abadi and pro-Iran group of VP Maliki
His bloc withdrew support for Abadi over appointment of cabinet secretary Abadi called Maliki “leader of necessity” like Saddam Said he bought votes
Oct 28 Report 2750 guards for president and vice presidents 21000 guards for parliament and
ministers Each MP had 20 guards and 5 armored vehicles
Oct 28 PM Abadi said Iraq had 40 trl dinars from oil sales Wasn’t enough to cover 50 tril dinars
needed for salaries and pensions Called for cutting govt workers and pensions
Oct 29 VP Maliki said PM Abadi removing Vice Presidents was illegal
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Oct 29 Report Pro-Iran groups tried to remove PM Abadi Abu Muhandis leaked letter that attacked
Abadi for blocking funding for Hashd Parliament approved $2 bil for Hashd Abadi cut it to $1 bil Abu Muhandis called for attacking US in Iraq US Sadr ISCI Ayatollah Sistani backed Abadi Many were getting angry with him Abadi appointed his own secretary to cabinet ISCI said they were supposed to get position Hakim and Sadr complained Abadi didn’t consult with them Members of Abadi’s Dawa said same thing
Oct 29 Report Basra Union of Industrialists said there was 15,360 industrial businesses in Basra
Half of those closed since 2003 due to lack of govt support high taxes cheap imports
Oct 29 Report KRG dropped out of budget deal in Jun thought it could make more money from its
independent oil exports Didn’t work out KRG was not meeting its export quota in budget because focusing upon independent sales Natural Resource Min increased revenues but built up debts to oil traders Fluctuations in production also meant money was up and down Oil traders gave KRG $850 mil/mo in advances for 525,000 bar/day in exports KRG only produced half that Had to use oil fields it seized in disputed areas after Mosul fell Meant future of oil production caught up in legal and political problems KRG took advances from oil traders when oil prices were declining Eventually produced 550,000 bar/day but by then wasn’t enough to pay back oil traders KRG also sold oil at discount because of legal issues with Baghdad KRG spent most of its oil revenue to pay debt By end of 2014 KRG owed $1.1 bil to oil traders 2015 KRG owed up to $1.8 bil Oct KRG was making $160 mil/mo Needed around $700 mil/mo just for govt salaries and pensions 2016 draft budget said Baghdad would deduct money from KRG payments if it didn’t pay for oil exports it owed Even if KRG agreed to new budget couldn’t meet export quota because owed sales to oil traders Debt meant KRG late to pay oil companies who reduced operations as a result KRG owed $3 bil to oil companies Turkish pipeline KRG used also often bombed which shut down exports for long periods
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 29 Genel Energy sold 20% of 1 of its oil fields in KRG for $10 mil Oct Genel Energy said it
was cutting investment until KRG paid it regularly
Oct 29 Report Oil revenues couldn’t pay for govt salaries and pensions Abadi govt borrowed from
Central Bank of Iraq’s reserves Dollar auctions also reduced reserves Govt spent $9.5 bil on salaries $9.4 bil on pensions $26 bil on perks Govt would have to cut $20 bil in spending to stay liquid and just cover costs Oct Abadi offered new pay scale for govt workers to cut costs Govt workers protested Those cuts didn’t equal $20 bil Would only save $1.7 bil Abadi sold pay cuts as political reforms Then said govt was broke and needed austerity
Oct 30 PM Abadi went to Dawa meeting to answer critics of his reforms
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Oct 30 Report Pro-Iran Hashd said Baiji op proved it could free Iraq without US help Badr
spokesman said US not serious about fighting IS Said every victory by Hashd was an embarrassment for US
Oct 31 Albu Faraj north of Ramadi attacked by ISF after it was declared freed 3 times
Oct 31 KDP MP said Gorran had no role in KRG anymore because violated all political
agreements Came after KDP blocked Gorran speaker of parliament entering Sulaymaniya and 4 Gorran minister dismissed
Oct 31 Report KDP Yazidi politician said Sinjar belonged to KDP Said PKK was an occupier
Nov 1 Report Since 2003 KRG moved towards independence Developed own energy sector
Took over disputed areas Paid lobbyists in West Used war with IS to increase power Around 70% of KRG lived off govt Not economically autonomous Budget dispute with Baghdad backfired KRG couldn’t pay govt workers as a result Led KRG to go into debt Borrowed against oil exports KRG oil revenue went into 16 intl bank accounts Finance Min only had access to 1 of them Only had $14 mil in it Nechirvan Barzani and Natural Resource Min Hawrami controlled other accounts
Nov 2 Parliament voted to support Abadi’s reforms but had to approve his individual moves
Nov 2 Supreme Court ruled vice presidents could not be dismissed as office was in constitution
overturning Abadi’s move
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Nov 2 50 houses of displaced blown up in Yathrib dist Salahaddin Locals accused displaced of being IS supporters Houses destroyed to stop their returns
Nov 2 Head of Badr in parliament said US was in Iraq to protect IS and prosecute Hashd Called for
US to leave Iraq
Nov 3 Report US Federal Reserve and Treasury Dept temporarily cut off US$ to Central Bank of
Iraq because thought dollar auctions were manipulated by Iran and IS Iraq said it started better oversight Dec 2014 US met with Iraqis over auctions US asked Iraq to cut dollar flows to Iranian banks IS and Iran continued to manipulate auctions
Nov 3 Peshmerga Minister said 1258 Peshmerga killed 7301 wounded in war with IS
Nov 3 Report Hashd tried to pressure PM Abadi to drop US Coalition support and turn to Russia
and Iran for help in war vs IS Iraqi army brigade supposed to have 1000 men Usually operated at half strength Lacked supplies due to bad logistics
Nov 4 Report Dawa split between PM Abadi and VP Maliki factions Abadi wanted reforms National
Guard law Opposed Russian involvement in war vs IS Maliki against reforms and National Guard bill Critical of US Wanted Russia to intervene in Iraq Supported Iran 60 MPs from State of Law sent letter to Abadi complaining that he was acting unilaterally Abadi backed by Sadr and Hakim Have been meetings about removing Abadi
Nov 5 VP Maliki said people shouldn’t support Abadi’s reforms anymore
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Nov 5 Reporter arrested after posted on Facebook about poor services in KRG
Nov 5 Head of Harakat al-Nujaba said Hashd could overthrow govt if it had legitimate reason
Thanked Iran for help with Hashd Said Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani didn’t represent Iran but Islam Said 90% of Coalition air strikes in Iraq and Syria were faked
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Nov 5 Iraqi planes dropped flyers over Ramadi telling civilians to leave
Nov 6 Friday sermon Ayatollah Sistani rep said Abadi’s reforms should not be blocked
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Nov 7 VP Maliki said Abadi’s reforms were unconstitutional
Nov 7 PM Abadi went to Najaf to gain more support for reforms but Sistani would not meet with
him
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Nov 7 Teachers in Sulaymaniya went back on strike after getting no response to demand to be paid by
KRG
Nov 7 KDP Yazidi official Shesho said PKK led to cancellation of plan to free Sinjar Ninewa
Nov 9 Report Central Bank of Iraq moved against several banks and businesses for forging
documents to take US$ out of Iraq from 2012-14 Came after financial committee said $4.2 bil smuggled out of Iraq through banks and companies One document showed in 2014 bank used forged docs to buy $6.5 bil from Central Bank of Iraq from 2012-14 and sent money to Jordan
Nov 10 Sadr froze Saraya al-Salam in Diyala after accused of kidnapping extortion other crimes
Nov 11 Iraq-Iran signed 2nd natural gas deal Iran would deliver gas to Basra for 6 yrs to fuel power
plants
Nov 12 Report IS told members if fought for money not fighting for God Feb IS cut salaries from
$233 to $76 probably due to reduction in revenue
Nov 12 Clashes between Hashd and Peshmerga at checkpoint in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin
Spread to other parts of dist Kurds blamed Hashd for not stopping at checkpoint Badr blamed Peshmerga
Nov 12 Report KDP Peshmerga began attack on Sinjar Ninewa KDP Yazidi militia met with PKK
Came to agreement to separate battleground US special forces backed KDP
Nov 13 Peshmerga freed Sinjar town
Nov 13 Pres Barzani gave victory speech in Sinjar When asked about YPG’s role in dist said only
Peshmerga would be involved
Nov 13 Peshmerga and Turkmen Hashd announced ceasefire in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Fighting
started day before 15 dead 60 stores burned 100 houses destroyed
Nov 14 Gunfight between IS and Naqshibandi south of Mosul 14 killed Started over money dispute
Nov 14 Salahaddin govt said houses still being burned and shops looted in Tuz Kharmato dist Still
fighting between Kurds and Turkmen
Nov 15 Reports Yazidis burned and looted Arab homes in 3 towns in Sinjar dist after it was freed
Blamed Arabs for working with IS Peshmerga denied anything happened
Nov 15 New ceasefire brokered between Kurds and Turkmen to stop fighting in Tuz Kharmato
Nov 16 Report Iran tried to mediate between PUK and Hashd after fighting in Tuz Kharmato PUK
met with Badr and Iranians present Iranian consul in Sulaymaniya went to Tuz
Nov 16 Reports Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said Sinjar occupied by Peshmerga Called for Baghdad
to take control of Tuz Kharmato to stop violence Hashd cut road from Khanaqin to Sadiya in Diyala Head of Khanaqin council said Hashd blocked movement of Kurds
Nov 17 VP Nujafi filed lawsuit to remain in office after Abadi dismissed vice presidents
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Nov 17 3 dozen protesters in Baghdad taken away by police Some beaten
Nov 17 Report Iraq was going to earn $40.3 bil from oil exports Needed $44.8 bil for govt salaries
and pensions Finance Min Zebari said Iraq might have to borrow from foreign banks to cover budget deficit Govt had no plans to deal with money problems
Nov 17 Report Parliament revoked its approval for PM Abadi’s reform package Reforms were
actually austerity measures to deal with finance crisis After Abadi dismissed VPs parliament turned against his program Aug Abadi merged and dismissed ministers even though didn’t have authority to do so Abadi appointed cabinet chief which angered Maliki and Amiri Abadi backed down on reforms
Nov 22 Report Dana Gas won vs KRG in British court KRG Had to pay it $100 mil Dec 2014
company won arbitration case against KRG over its contract and payments for oil sales
Nov 23 Report US started new campaign to bomb IS’s oil industry Networks were stronger than
thought 1 yr after air campaign started IS increased oil production Nov Op Tidal Wave II began Targeted oil fields traders and other targets Trying to bomb industry every day
Nov 24 Peshmerga Min said 1,288 Peshmerga killed 7,554 wounded fighting IS
Nov 25 Report Were 4 days of fighting in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin between Badr and PUK
Ceasefire stopped fighting 10 Hashd 5 Peshmerga killed Jun Peshmerga and Hashd fought in Jalawla Diyala Kurds dug ditches to stop Arabs from returning to town Fighting killed 3 Peshmerga 2 Hashd
Nov 25 Report Peshmerga expelled 60 Arab families from Kirkuk village 50 Arab villages have been
destroyed by Kurds since Jul Families expelled because accused of being IS After Sinjar freed Yazidis and Peshmerga began looting towns
Nov 25 Report Kurds divided in war vs IS KDP and PUK didn’t give weapons to rivals Sinjar
offensive delayed for yr due to Kurdish rivalries KDP against PUK PKK YPG Sinjar Protection Units being in Sinjar which was run by KDP before IS KDP wanted control Sinjar to control Ninewa Plains PKK wanted base in Iraq for ops in Syria 11 Arab villages burned during Sinjar op Pres Barzani gave speech saying only KRG flag would fly in Sinjar as jab at PKK
Nov 25 Sinjar Protection Forces and Peshmerga got into gun battle in Sinjar 5 Peshmerga wounded
Nov 29 Report UK court ordered KRG to pay Dana Gas $1.98 bil 07 KRG gave Dana Gas and
Crescent Petroleum 25 yr deal to develop Khor Mor and Chamchamal fields Companies complained they were underpaid for natural gas from Khor Mor Oct 2013 filed suit in UK court vs KRG Came after Dana Gas won another case in UK that ordered KRG to pay $100 mil
Nov 29 Report IS set up system of fees for funding Charged tolls and taxes Gave traffic tickets
Charged rents and electricity and water bills Fines Some est these earned up to $1 bil/yr RAND analyst said that if IS lost land would lose funding
Nov 29 Karbala court sentenced Fmr Trade min Sudani to 7 yrs in absentia for corruption Sudani
left Iraq for UK in 2009 Was accused of stealing up to $400 mil some of which went to PM Maliki’s State of Law
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Dec 1 IS kidnapped 35 members of Ansar al-Islam and Naqshibandi in retaliation for them fighting
IS in Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Resurgent Insurgency Interview With Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi)
Dec 2 Sec Gen of Sayid al-Shuahda Brigades said there were 20,000 Hashd casualties in war vs IS
Dec 2 Kataib Hezbollah said it would fight any Americans in Iraq Came after Def Sec Carter said US
was sending Special Forces to Iraq to help with war vs IS
Dec 3 In deal with KRG Pres Barzani Turkey set up new military base in Bashiqa Ninewa Not
approved by Abadi govt
Dec 4 UN reports of abuse of Sunnis in areas freed of IS Done by ISF Hashd Peshmerga Included
looting Destroying homes Evictions Kidnappings Illegal Arrests Extra judicial killings
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Dec 5 Abadi govt demanded Turkish troops leave Ninewa KRG said Turks were in Ninewa to train
Peshmerga Didn’t leave
Dec 7 Badr’s Amiri said foreign intervention in Iraq wouldn’t be tolerated Called for protest against
US and Turkey Said US military bases in Iraq could be targeted
Dec 7 Report IS set up huge bureaucracy to govern territory it controls Had 16 depts for services
and governance After Mosul fell in 2014 focused on rules for citizens 2015 worked on state building IS doc said it made 23% of its money from oil and gas 63% of its spending on military 17% on services
Dec 7 Turkey said it would withdraw 350 of its 600 troops in Ninewa that were training Peshmerga
Came after PM Abadi demanded they withdrew
Dec 8 Dana Gas Crescent Petroleum Pearl Petroleum said KRG still owed them more than $11 bil
Filed lawsuit vs KRG in 2016 over matter 2015 UK court ordered KRG to pay Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum $1.98 bil KRG didn’t pay
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Dec 8 Report Number of foreign fighters going to Iraq and Syria doubled last yr to around 27-
31,000 Came from 86 countries
Dec 8 Report IS killed 3 Naqshibandi leaders in Hawija Kirkuk because refused to pledge loyalty
Dec 8 Report PM Abadi started reform program without consulting with other parties Thought
could exploit protests and Ayatollah Sistani support to go after rivals and improve his position but united them against him Nov parliament voted that all his reforms had to get approval beforehand
Dec 8 Peshmerga and Hashd fought in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Peshmerga accused Hashd of
burning buildings and attacking KDP and PUK HQ Arabs and Shiite Turkmen said Peshmerga tried to kick them out of district and annex it to KRG
Dec 9 Report Badr’s Amiri said Turkey was trying to restore Ottoman empire by deploying troops to
Ninewa Said Badr had right to respond Kataib Hezbollah threatened to attack Turkey Sep 16 Turkish workers kidnapped in Baghdad
Dec 11 Banker said IS made $25 mil/mo from Central Bank of Iraq auctions US Treasury Dept
and Fed Reserve made investigation of auctions Central Bank made changes afterward IS still used auctions IS sent dinars form Mosul Banks to Jordan Then brought money in cash back into Iraq Sent it to exchange houses and Iraqi and Turkish banks that bought dollars in auctions IS then sold dollars at exchange for a profit
Dec 14 NSC met Obama said US had to act with sense of urgency in war vs IS
Dec 14 Sec Def Carter said US finally had campaign plan against IS
(Musings On Iraq review Airpower in the War Against ISIS)
Dec 14 Report 03-04 US arrested Badr assassination teams with lists of Iran-Iraq War officers to
kill US released them 05 US raided secret prison run by Interior Min’s Special Investigations Dir run by Badr Directorate was making unwarranted arrests torturing and killing people Suspected of assassinating Saddam era officials Interior Min Jabr denied any wrong doing PM Jaafari said he could do nothing US pressured Jaafari to open investigation that led to nothing Reuters got Iraqi report which blamed Baathists for secret prison US report blamed Jabr and Chief Justice Mahmoud for abuse along with 2 generals in Interior from Badr
Dec 14 Report Taxes main form of revenue for IS Even if lost oil business would still be making
large sums of money Financial Times est IS made $23 mil from taxing govt salaries in Mosul in 2014 Taxes on grain and cotton could earn $20 mil Taxed trucking through IS areas
Dec 14 Assassins killed legal adv to North Oil Company and injured dep inspector general Were
investigation oil smuggling
Dec 15 Report Est IS spent 2/3 of its revenues on military Fighters get full benefits IS had
centralized budget run out of Mosul Spending decentralized Had regional budgets run by governors Had taxes and fines in each province Est spent $20 mil/mo on fighters $15-$20 mil/mo on locals and auxiliaries $10 mil/mo on services Coalition est 30,000 fighters with 50-70,000 members
Dec 15 Obama approved using Apaches in special ops and increase US troops in Iraq
Dec 16 Report Jul 2014 KRG said all Peshmerga would be unified under 1 command Didn’t
happen 1992 KDP and PUK said they would unify peshmerga Created Peshmerga Min but didn’t unite forces 1994 KDP and PUK had civil war 1998 peace agreement Again talked about uniting Peshmerga Units controlled by different political leaders KDP and PUK don’t want unified Peshmerga force or democratic system of control because would weaken their power
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Divided Kurds, Political Divisions Amongst The Peshmerga Interview With Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
Dec 19 Def Min Obeidi said 2649 soldiers had died and 11,230 killed in war vs I S
Dec 21 Peshmerga and YPG captured Sinjar
Dec 21 Pres Barzani said at meeting of KDP he would talk with other parties about KRG
independence referendum
Dec 22 KRG cabinet announced it was cutting pay for top officials due to financial crisis Didn’t
make cuts
Dec 22 Report US artillery supporting ISF fighting in Ramadi Another report said US special
forces and helicopters involved in Ramadi op
Dec 23 Report Jun 2014 only a few 100 insurgents seized Mosul 1000s of Baathists helped IS
during summer offensive seize Salahaddin and Kirkuk after Mosul Baathists and ex-Saddam era soldiers believed they could regain power by working with IS Jan 2014 was meeting of Baathists in Mosul that formed council to work with IS Baathist Naqshibandi and Mujahadeen Army both helped IS take Mosul Made deal Baathists would get Mosul and IS would get other cities August 2014 IS rounded up 6 Baathist leaders and executed them claiming part of coup Baathists Naqshibandi Mustafa Army Mohammed Army Al Fadayeen all split with IS
Dec 23 Report Nov 2014 Jalawla Diyala freed Town empty of people Only Peshmerga in town
which Kurds claim as part of disputed areas Mayor said $100 mil needed to rebuild town Kurds claimed Arabs supported IS Arabs said Peshmerga destroyed homes Peshmerga cmdr said Arabs would never return to town and wouldn’t allow Iraqi govt back either
Dec 26 Dawa leader said party split between Maliki and PM Abadi factions Maliki had most
supporters but Abadi more powerful in govt because supported by ISC Sadrists Kurds
Dec 27 IS head Baghdadi released message US afraid to fight IS and Islam destined to rule world
until judgment day
Dec 28 Iraqi forces freed Ramadi
Dec 28 Report US air strikes largely shut down IS oil industry in Iraq Had up to 2000 oil workers
2014-15 IS was making as much as $40 mil/mo from oil sales Taxed transportation of oil products Oct Op Tidal wave II started targeting industry Still held Qayara field and refinery in Ninewa
2016
Jan 2 Saudi Arabia reopened embassy closed since 1990
Jan 2 VP Maliki said Hashd may go to Syria if needed Hashd units had been fighting in Syria for
years already
Jan 4 Hashd spokesman said it was not sending fighters to Syria Hezbollah al-Nujaba was
recruiting fighters for Syria Talked about its victories in Syria on its website
Jan 4 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said PM Abadi worked with US to weaken the Hashd Said govt wasn’t
paying Hashd salaries due to US Abadi tried to keep Hashd out of Ramadi battle due to US
Jan 8 Report KRG building natural gas pipeline to Turkey Would connect to Bai Hassan field
Jan 8 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said Basra suffered from organized crime tribal wars drug
abuse and answer was to use Hashd for security Said would work under Basra Ops Command Attempt to extend Hashd control over south
Jan 9 Report ISF left Basra to fight IS Led to lawlessness in province Robberies kidnappings tribal
fights drug trafficking Governor asked tribes to disarm Interior Min sent police unit in Dec to help with security
Jan 9 Ayatollah Sistani rep Friday sermon said he regretted no serious reforms and lack of fighting
corruption over last year
Jan 9 PM Abadi new year speech said 2016 would be year to end corruption Nothing done
Jan 11 After suicide bombing at café Hashd killed Sunnis burned mosques shops and homes in
Muqdadiya for several days Badr and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq blamed
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Diyala Province Explodes In Sectarian Violence After Islamic State Bombing)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Jan 11 Teachers judicial workers went on strike in Sulaymaniya and Halabja for not being paid
KRG hadn’t paid govt workers for 4-5 months
Jan 12 Peshmerga Min said 1345 Peshmerga killed around 8000 wounded fighting IS
Jan 12 KRG Finance Min said there would be hiring freeze and budget cuts up to 70% due to
economic crisis in region
Jan 12 PM Abadi sent ISF unit to Basra to secure province Said suffering from political violence
Tribes and political parties fighting for power after many ISF units sent north to fight IS
Jan 13 Report After Mosul fell in 2014 military blamed civilians for lack of leadership and funding
Civilians said military was corrupt had ghost soldiers low training poor cohesion Thought both sides right and relationship between govt and ISF bad PM Maliki had control of military with no checks or balances Was afraid of coups Interfered in personnel equipment etc to control it Sidelined Defense Min and parliament Maliki denied himself military expertise and advice with his interference Maliki known to be corrupt and nonresponsive to others Didn’t trust US to rebuild ISF Were ethnosectarian quotas within military leadership Army went through massive expansion with only basic training Hurt development of officers 2008 only 73% of officers and 69% of non-commissioned officer positions were filed Had to recall Baath-era officers to fill gap 70% of officers and almost every general were from Saddam era Parliament’s role in ISF was removed Security comm rarely met because of violence and boycotts US rebuilt Defense Min using civilians rather than soldiers who lacked knowledge of running military Lacked capacity to deal with expansion of forces Defense Min was originally staffed without Iraqi input leading to many problems with Iraqi parties that wanted to control it Maliki centralized military decisions under his control Set up security agencies to spy on military Created paramilitary groups that competed with ISF Used office of cmdr and chief to control military Used office to get around Defense and Interior Mins 2010 Maliki became acting Defense and Interior ministers Took over regional commands and placed loyalists within them Promoted officers loyal to him without parliamentary approval Recruited people with little military background into officer corps that would follow his orders Created info network to spy on military Purged Kurds from 2 divisions in Ninewa Maliki loyalists not held accountable Generals were mostly Sunnis trained in Baathist-Soviet top down military style Young officers 50% Shiite and pushed for decentralized command taught to them by US Were ignored by generals Shiites wanted to make sure most officers were Shiites so quickly promoted them Certain divisions were dominated by one ethnosectarian group and came under control of political parties 9th Div pro-Dawa 4th Div pro-PUK 7th Div pro-Awakening 5th Div pro-ISCI
Jan 13 Report Hashd executed 15 men in Muqdadiya Diyala Told Sunni families they had to leave
city or be killed Blew up another mosque Fmr Diyala govt said dozens of civilians killed Hashd burned shops and homes of Sunnis Sunni Endowment condemned executions of Sunnis UN envoy to Iraq condemned attacks Came after bombing killed Hashd who then carried out revenge attacks
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jan 13 Speaker Jabouri cut short visit to Lebanon to address violence in Muqdadiya Diyala Met
with political and ISF leaders ISF sent to city to restore order and stop violence Was result of Hashd revenge attacks after bombing
Jan 13 Human Rights Watch Blamed both Peshmerga and Shiite Turkmen for violence in Tuz
Kharmato Salahaddin After Oct car bomb during Ashura Shiite Turkmen Hashd arrested 150 Sunnis Some were tortured Some were released 8-34 were killed 50 still held Nov shoot out between Turkmen Hashd and Peshmerga at checkpoint after Hashd car stopped 1 Hashd wounded Brought to hospital where Hashd got angry at staff and started shooting Then fired artillery at hospital Asayesh who were guarding hospital returned fire Peshmerga arrived Led to gun battle with Hashd 3 killed Afterward both sides started kidnapping people Looted Destroyed homes and shops 50 Kurdish buildings destroyed Kurds retaliated by destroying 80 Turkmen buildings Total of 400 buildings were damaged Turkmen began arresting Kurds and Arabs Sep 2014 Peshmerga Asayesh and Hashd cooperated to free Suleiman Beq and Amerli Salahaddin Hashd attacked Sunni villages afterward and kidnapping Sunnis in Tuz Kharmato Suleiman Beq and Amerli
Jan 14 Report One suggestion to deal with Iraq’s budget crisis was cutting govt salaries Govt largest
employer 7 mil out of 35 mil workers Politicians opposed to cuts PM Abadi assured people there would be no major econ changes coming Adv to Abadi said govt wanted to transition to market economy Finance Min Zebari warned deficit could mean govt couldn’t pay public workers Needed $45 bil for govt workers Only expected to earn $15 bil Borrowed $10 bil
Jan 14 Reports Parliament’s security comm said it would investigate violence in Muqdadiya Diyala
PM Abadi ordered arrest of people attacking mosques in city Neither happened Hashd spokesman said intl community was trying to exploit Muqdadiya to destabilize Iraq Came after bombing which led to widespread attacks on Sunnis by Hashd
Jan 15 Report 110 homes and 200 shops destroyed in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin since Nov fighting
between Kurds and Turkmen
Jan 15 Report 3 US contractors working for General Dynamics were kidnapped in Baghdad Abadi
govt claimed they were at a brothel Not true Were taken by Sadr’s Sayara al-Salam Taken to Sadr City and beaten
Jan 16 Badr’s Amiri blamed violence in Muqdadiya Diyala on Baath Was Hashd carrying out
revenge attacks vs Sunnis after suicide bombing
Jan 16 After confrontation between ISF and al-Shuhada Brigades pro-Iran groups formed Resistance
Factions Council Called on PM Abadi to withdraw all ISF from Basra and send them to Anbar and Salahaddin Badr said there was an intl conspiracy against Hashd
Jan 18 Report KRG said it would pay half of teachers’ salaries from Sep 2015 Other half would be
paid sometime in future Workers at KRG Educ and Health depts in Sulaymaniya went on strike for not being paid
Jan 18 Report PM Abadi wanted to reduce cabinet and govt positions due to financial crisis brought
on by drop in oil prices Wanted to cut cabinet to 18 ministers Wanted to cut independent bodies by 50% Wanted to reduce number of general managers and inspector generals Abadi already cut ministries from 33 to 22 Wanted to merge some ministries Supported by Sadr Abadi originally said these were political reforms
Jan 19 Report Oil Ministry told oil companies to cut their budgets because govt couldn’t pay them
due to drop in oil prices Would drive some western companies to eventually leave Iraq
Jan 19 Integrity Comm approved 4 yr sentence for Interior Min Explosives dir Gen Jabiri for buying
fake bomb detectors Was found guilty of misdemeanor charges
(Musings On Iraq Fake Bomb Detectors At Center Of Corruption Case At Iraq’s Interior Ministry)
Jan 20 Report Protests restarted in Sulaymaniya province over KRG not paying salaries to govt
workers Some govt workers have been on strike for a week
Jan 20 Amnesty Intl Evidence that Peshmerga and Kurdish militias destroyed Arab towns Was
revenge for IS Destroyed villages in Diyala Salahaddin Ninewa Peshmerga took control of areas in June 2014 Destroyed villages afterward
Jan 22 Badr spokesman said it wouldn’t accept Kurdish control of Kirkuk or Tuz Kharmato dist in
Salahaddin Objected to Kurds selling oil from Kirkuk Said Kurds violated constitution Hashd was recruiting amongst Shiite Turkmen to expand influence
Jan 24 Report Shiites stopped Sunnis from returning to Yathrib and Suleiman Beq in Salahaddin
Demanding Sunnis pay blood money for people killed by IS and damages
Jan 25 Flyers posted in Baghdad calling for ban on singing and make up Part of criminals religious
parties ISF and militias to control culture in capital
Jan 26 Sadr said victories of the Iraqi army led to brazen militias Was criticizing rivals in Hashd
Jan 26 Teachers in 25 schools in Choman and Soran KRG went on strike over govt not paying
salaries
Jan 28 PM Abadi met with Pres Masum and Speaker Jabouri to talk about technocratic govt and
reforms
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Jan 28 Report Baiji Refinery taken from IS Oct 2015 Refinery was looted by Hashd afterward Held
auction for parts open to businessmen from Baghdad and Iran Large pieces of equipment were shipped to Iran Hashd blocked Oil Min team from entering facility to assess it and shot at it Hashd officer said refinery destroyed and used as a Hashd base
Jan 28 Report Fighting in Diyala changing demographics Hashd and Kurds blamed for pushing
Sunnis out
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jan 29 Report Life in Tikrit returned to normal Market open People shopping 70-90% of resident
returned Sunni police Hashd flags fly all over city Hashd took over presidential complex People accused of being IS sympathizers not allowed back Around 120,000 Sunnis not allowed back to Tikrit and surrounding areas Tribes want blood money but only Shiites ones were given any payments
Jan 31 Human Rights Watch Blamed Badr and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq for attacking Sunnis after Jan
2016 bombing in Muqdadiya Diyala 30 killed in retaliation 12 Sunnis mosques and shops also destroyed 2 journalists killed after tried to report on story PM Abadi said he would seek justice for incident Claimed gangs had been arrested for attack Muqdadiya mayor said no Hashd arrested for incident Hashd blamed attack on IS
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jan 31 Report Hashd blamed for around 1000 kidnappings in Salahaddin After areas freed of IS MP
called on PM Abadi to find the missing
Feb 1 Report KRG said it would pay oil companies in KRG constantly in 2016 Started payments in
Sep 2015 after not paying them in months Led to companies cutting investment and development Banks didn’t think KRG had money to pay companies
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 2 State of Law MP criticized Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions Finance comm said 57% of oil
revenues went to dollar auctions Said 80% of money went to corruption Said private banks were buying up dollars at auctions at expense of wider economy Many dollars were then smuggled out of Iraq using forged invoices
Feb 3 KRG Pres Barzani issued statement that it was time for KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq Is Kurdistan Serious About Independence From Iraq?)
Feb 3 KRG said it would cut all govt salaries from 15-25% Due to economic crisis with drop in oil
prices and budget dispute with Baghdad Didn’t cut top salaries
Feb 3 Report Dec 2015 Central Bank of Iraq put in new rules on money exchanges to try to limit IS
access to them IS had cash crunch from reduction in oil sales Central Bank told banks not to allow wire transfers to areas under IS control Govt stopped paying govt salaries to workers in IS areas Central Bank banned 142 money exchange from taking part in dollar auctions
Feb 4 KRG cabinet said it would cut high ranking officials salaries 75% Other govt workers would
be cut 10-20% Security forces will have no cuts KRG expected $368 mil/mo deficit Govt workers hadn’t been paid for months Led to protests and strikes in Sulaymaniya KRG said govt salaries would be paid and pay cuts were only temporary No sign KRG will fix its financial problems any time soon Even if oil prices increased KRG still had huge debts Began 2014 when PM Maliki cut off monthly budget payments KRG started delaying payments to fuel and electricity companies Borrowed billions Stopped paying oil companies Then worked out temporarily budget deal with PM Abadi which then broke down KRG expanded govt workers and created new electricity and fuel subsidies Together cost $4.5 bil/yr KRG had little to no taxation Private sector small Mostly based upon real estate and connected to PUK and KDP KRG made no reforms as crisis grew Also promised transparency at Natural Resource Min to lesson its control of finances KRG had 1.4 mil govt workers but only 720,000 were permanent workers Had to pay $692 mil/mo to them Was over 70% of operational budget Many workers received 2 salaries KRG seemed to acknowledge didn’t actually know how many workers were on payroll
Feb 4 Report Rabia Diyala freed more than a yr ago from IS but not rebuilt Jan 200 families out of
3000 returned Govt not paid farmers there for 2 harvests Local leader said hoped KRG would provide aid Said Baghdad wasn’t providing any money because area under KRG administration 70% of homes and 30% of schools in Sinjar Ninewa destroyed
Feb 5 Report shares in Genel Energy dropped 13% in Jan on news that production and revenue in
KRG could fall in 2016 KRG was making spotty payments to oil companies They reduced investment as a result
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 5 Amnesty Intl Jan 11 IS bombing at café in Muqdadiya led to Hashd revenge killings in 9
neighborhoods plus neighboring town Burned buildings Kidnapped and killed civilians 12 mosques destroyed ISF came and did nothing Hashd drove police cars with loudspeaker Told Sunnis to leave Man documented 15 deaths and 100 families fled Head of city council said deaths exaggerated and denied Hashd targeted Sunnis Said people were killed by unknown group Jan 2015 Hashd stopped 56 Sunnis at checkpoint and executed them PM Abadi said he would investigate Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 9 PM Abadi called for technocratic and non-partisan cabinet
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Feb 9 Ramadi finally freed from IS by Iraqi forces
Feb 9 Report Oct 06 ISI announced Jan 07 Sheikh said ISI would prosecute criminals and sinners
implement religious punishments resolve conflicts provide security regulate resources Carried out moral policing Attacked other insurgent groups who didn’t join ISI went to Syria presenting itself as friend of revolution Attacked other groups leading to in fighting Focused upon conquering east Syria
Feb 10 Report Hashd blew up dozens of homes in Salahaddin town Claimed they belonged to IS
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 13 Sadr said economic reforms needed and better govt Gave Abadi 45 day deadline and
supported his technocratic govt idea
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Feb 14 Hakim criticized Abadi’s call for ending quota system saying that PM got
his job because of quotas
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Feb 15 PM Abadi said he would pay salaries of KRG govt workers if it exported oil for Baghdad
again KRG civil workers not paid for months leading to protests Part of on going dispute over budget and oil
(Musings On Iraq Kurdistan and Iraqi Central Governments Still Arguing Over Budget)
Feb 15 Report 2500 shops and 1000 homes owned by Sunnis closed and taken in Samarra according
to Salahaddin councilman Were confiscated to expand Askari Shrine
Feb 16 Allawi said no reason to remove cabinet until Abadi presented a strategic plan
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Feb 16 Report 3 US contractors for General Dynamics kidnapped by Sadrists in Baghdad released
UN worker kidnapped in Baquba Diyala found dead Hashd blamed
Feb 16 Report Criminals religious parties security forces trying to control culture in Iraq Jan flyers put
up in Baghdad banning singing and wearing make up Jul 2015 ISF stormed night clubs in Baghdad Shiite cleric in Babil called for imposing Islamic law and shut down clubs because of singing and dancing Interior Min Ghaban met with motel and club owners and apologized for ISF raids Clubs paid protection money to security forces Some clubs owned by criminals Dec 2016 was beauty pageant in Baghdad Contestants received death threats
Feb 17 KRG accepted PM Abadi’s proposal that export oil for Baghdad and receive monthly
budget payments in return for govt workers
(Musings On Iraq Kurdistan and Iraqi Central Governments Still Arguing Over Budget)
Feb 17 Report Suleiman Beq Salahaddin freed more than 14 months ago but empty of people Hashd
occupied city Different brigades couldn’t agree on how to let people back Mostly under control of Badr that wanted to empower Shiite Turkmen Sr Badr member said wasn’t’ time to allow Sunnis back
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 17 Head of Baghdad Ops Command said fake bomb detectors worked 30-40% of the time Said
Iraq would continue to use them
Feb 19 Report Thought cohesion motivation strategy and tactics of ISIS biggest factor in group’s
success Some have argued Baathists backbone of group Didn’t believe that Thought Baathists contributed ideas to group like strategy and organization bought had its own experience ISIS also had foreign fighters who fought in places like Chechnya Looked at 3 ops by ISIS Found group used its own tactics not Baathist ones ISIS had decentralized system and tried to learn from its mistakes
Feb 20 PM Abadi said financial crisis meant reforms needed Called for end of quota system in govt
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Feb 20 Sadr created committee to nominate technocrats for Abadi’s new cabinet
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Feb 20 Tribe fought IS in northern Fallujah IS arrested 180 men afterward
Feb 21 Rosneft signed $2.1 bil deal with KRG Provided KRG with cash to settle lawsuits which
Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum won against region Paid companies $1 bil and restructured other $1.24 bil it owed them
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 23 Kurdish Alliance said they would support Abadi’s reform program if given 1/4 of positions in
new cabinet
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Feb 24 Sources said Iran told Abadi he needed to keep Shiite quotas in any new govt
Feb 24 PM Abadi issued Executive Order 91 creating Hashd Comm to legalize Hashd Made Hashd
independent force under military regulations Said couldn’t be affiliated with political parties
Feb 24 Report Sources said that Iran told PM Abadi he had to explain his political reforms to it
Warned Abadi not to change Shiite share of govt positions Said Oil Interior and Transportation ministries needed to stay with Shiite parties
Feb 26 Sadrists joined Friday protests in Baghdad saying they would end support
for Abadi if cabinet wasn’t reformed Said would storm Green Zone
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Feb 26 Kurdish Alliance said they would not give up their ministries to go along with
Abadi’s reforms
Feb 27 Sadr led demonstrations in Baghdad calling for ending corruption and reforming govt
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Feb 28 IS attacked Abu Ghraib west Baghdad Started with 5 suicide bombers hitting army base
Occupied Customs Dept Target was grain silo where food stolen and taken back to Fallujah
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State’s Raid On Iraq’s Abu Ghraib)
Feb 29 Sadrists and Supreme Council complained that PM Abadi not consulting with them over his
reforms
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Feb 29 Auditor report said reserves at Taq Taq oil field in KRG operated by Genel Energy were much
smaller than officially stated
Mar 1 Report Sadr calling for followers to protest again End of Feb called for massive protest in
Baghdad Said demonstrations needed until PM Abadi carried out reforms Threatened to storm Green Zone if demands not met Sadr played upon Shiite discontent with Abadi Many parties opposed to his reforms Sadr also worried about rivals in Hashd Jan were gun battles between Sadrists and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in Baghdad Sadr called for Hashd to be integrated into army Sadr told 2 of his ministers to surrender to courts for corruption charges
Mar 2 Report Interior Min Ghabban said purchase of fake bomb detectors corrupt Undermined
security Minister said officials took bribes to buy detectors also blocked investigation into matter UK manufacturer of detectors convicted of fraud in 2013 Trial revealed detectors had no working parts Interior Min investigation found 75% of money spent on detectors went to kickbacks to officials Manufacturer admitted to paying bribes to officials Interior Min was still using devices
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Interior Minister: Fake Bomb Detectors Fiasco)
Mar 3 Testimony to UK parliament that IS taking dinars from Mosul sending them to Jordanian
banks then to Ramadi and onto Baghdad using money transfers Then used dinars to buy dollars from Central Bank of Iraq’s dollar auctions and sold them for a profit Money then sent back to IS areas IS making $20-$25 mil/month from dollar auctions
(Musings On Iraq More On The Islamic State’s participation In Iraq’s Dollar Exchanges)
Mar 4 Sadrists held second demonstrations in Baghdad calling for reforms
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Mar 4 Report 2 videos by Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq showed it operating US made
vehicles including Abrams tanks Abrams not supposed to go to Hashd
Mar 4 Report Hashd accused of taking Christians’ property Sadrist head of parliament’s security
comm made accusation in Feb Afterward Hashd and Baghdad Ops Command said working together to recover Christian property Sec Gen of Assyrian Democratic Movement said Hashd and gangs were getting around restrictions and taking Christian property
Mar 5 KRG oil sector ran into problems Mar Genel Energy downgraded reserves and production
estimates leading to sell off of stocks Operated KRG’s main oil field Taq Taq Company almost cut in half KRG’s estimated oil reserves from 683 mil/bar to 356 mil/bar Problems with water management also lowered future production at Taq Taq Production at Taq Taq was estimated to decline in future KRG pipeline to Turkey regularly bombed Production at other major field Tawke declined because DNO wouldn’t invest because KRG wasn’t paying it regularly Oil companies owed $3 bil Some companies in heavy debt KAR owed around $1.1 bil by KRG KRG believed to be $26 bil in debt twice as big as economy KRG made deals with oil traders to be pre-paid for exports Debt to oil traders likely to increase Jan KRG exported $400 mil in oil but owed oil traders $250 mil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 5 Report Coalition’s Op Tidal Wave II targeting IS’s oil infrastructure appeared to be working
Est cut oil revenues by 30% Op started Oct 2015 Coalition also bombed 2 IS banks in Mosul Feb hit 4 more cash deposits including Central Bank in Mosul Baghdad stopped paying govt workers in IS areas IS could still tax and charge fees in its territory
Mar 6 Kurdish delegation met with Abadi demanding 20% of any new cabinet
Mar 6 Report Hashd started shooting at market in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Kurds returned fire
Kurdish police deployed to stop fighting Kurds accused of shooting on Mar 4 Feb 6 Kurdish security officers kidnapped by Hashd in Amerli Have been other kidnappings
Mar 6 Conflict between Hashd and Peshmerga in Tuz Kharmato led to blast walls being erected
between Kurdish and Turkmen areas
Mar 7 Sadrists threatened no confidence vote against Abadi if he didn’t announce new govt in 45
days
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Mar 8 Report KRG pipeline to Turkey down for 3 wks exacerbated KRG's budget problems Needed
$730 mil to pay govt workers Owed oil companies $70 mil Jan only earned $650 mil 2nd-1/2 of 2015 KRG earned avg $628 mil/mo from oil exports Signed pre payment deals with oil traders KRG promised min amount of oil exports for oil traders to receive payments If KRG didn’t meet minimum traders only paid for what they received and KRG had to pay them for oil not delivered Drop in oil prices and pipeline outages led to cut back in payments by oil traders to KRG at least 4 mos behind paying govt workers which were already cut 15-75%
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 8 Report Arms brokers got German weapons sent to Kurds and sold them to IS
Mar 9 Report Oil Min said it wanted to increase oil production to 9 mil/bar/day by 2020 Didn’t happen
Mar 11 Sadrists protested again in Baghdad demanding reforms
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Mar 11 UNHCR said KRG forcing displaced into camps and not allowing them to leave
Mar 12 PM Abadi called on political parties to present their technocratic candidates for
new cabinet Only 3 parties did so
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 13 IS withdrew from Qaim Hit Kubaisa Rutba in Anbar
Mar 14 State of Law MPs said Sadr’s protests in Baghdad could be infiltrated by terrorists
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 14 IS moved back into Rutba Anbar after leaving it day before Was meant to lure ISF into city
and then entrap them Fighting continued in Hit
Mar 14 Oil Ministry ordered North Oil Company to stop sending oil to Kurdish pipeline to Turkey
Part of on going dispute between Baghdad and KRG over oil
Mar 14 Report KRG stopped sending oil money to Baghdad and Abadi govt stopped sending
budget payments to Irbil KRG in financial crisis Signed contracts with oil traders to deliver set amount of oil each month which it didn’t meet 2014 Kurds took control of Kirkuk oil fields after ISF fled due to IS Kurds kicked out North Oil Company and had Kurdish company run fields
(Musings On Iraq Collapse Of Iraq’s Kurdish Oil Economy)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 16 Report Member of Integrity Comm said $130 bil missing from Defense Min
contracts Said weapons contracts with Eastern Europe for $350 mil corrupt
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen on Iraq’s fight with corruption)
(Musings On Iraq interview with former anti-corruption official Vincent Foulk)
Mar 16 Iran’s asst ground forces commander said Iranian Special Forces were going to deploy to
Iraq
Mar 17 Report MPs said Transportation Electricity Defense Water Ministries all had political party
offices that extorted money from contracts
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen on Iraq’s fight with corruption)
(Musings On Iraq interview with former anti-corruption official Vincent Foulk)
Mar 17 Gulf Keystone said KRG owed it $178 mil for exports and costs Reported over $100 mil in
losses in 2015 KRG unable to pay due to budget problems after Baghdad cut payments and bad contracts
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 17 Cabinet complained PM Abadi started reforms without consulting with parties which he
needed to pass changes Sadr only one to fully back Abadi
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 18 Sadr started sit in protests in Baghdad demanding cabinet reforms
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Mar 18 US artillery base in Ninewa hit by IS rockets Killed 1 marine 1st US death since new war in
Iraq
Mar 19 Ruling parties said they would not support PM Abadi’s new technocratic cabinet unless
quotas maintained
Mar 19 PM Abadi Pres Masum Speaker Jabouri and political leaders agreed to form 3
committees to deal with reforms and new cabinet Most reforms actually budget cuts
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 21 Sadr said quotas in govt should be ended
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Mar 21 IS attacked base in Makhmour Ninewa where US providing artillery support for Iraqis US
soldier killed by rocket fire 2 days before US denied there were any combat forces in Iraq
Mar 21 Report Iranian Revolutionary Guard talked with Iraqi govt officials and Hashd about
sending more militiamen to Syria to make up for Russian withdrawal Talked with Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Badr Abu al-Fadhl al-Abbas Hezbollah Harakat Nujaba
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Prime Minister Abadi Continuing Maliki’s Syrian Policy)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
(Musings On Iraq Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Brigade From Fighting In Syria To Iraq)
Mar 21 Report Jan 2016 Interior Min raided Hashd offices in Baghdad accused of attacking Sunnis
Arrested deputy cmdr Hashd surrounded police and got release of cmdr Feb army deployed to force Hashd out of building at military base in Baghdad refused to leave Talks defused confrontation Head of Khorasani Brigade said that the Hashd would be 3rd power in Iraq like the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Sunni officials accused Hashd in Samarra of killing civilians taking over schools forcing people to sell their property near shrine Deputy head of Samarra council claimed 650 people disappeared in city and likely killed by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
Mar 22 Sadr said he had come up with 90 nominations for Abadi’s new cabinet
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Mar 23 Senior Iranian army cmdr said special forces were being sent to Iraq as advisers Also
served as snipers
Mar 24 Most ruling parties refused to send candidates for technocratic cabinet to PM Abadi
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 24 Supreme Council suspended its ministers in govt to protest PM Abadi’s reforms
Mar 24 Head of IS Military Council Anbari killed
Mar 24 Report 200 US soldiers set up artillery at Ain Assad base in Anbar Supposed to shell IS
targets in Anbar Base used for US intel for air strikes
Mar 24 Report 100-200 US marines set up artillery base in Makhmour Ninewa 1 marine killed in IS
attack there
Mar 26 World Bank pledged $250 mil to rebuild freed areas of Iraq PM Abadi said govt would cut
spending Encourage private sector Diversify economy away from oil Only made budget cuts
Mar 26 Turkish soldier killed Another wounded by IS rocket attack upon Turkisg base in Bashiqa
Ninewa Turkey responded with artillery and air strike 2nd IS attack upon base
Mar 26 Report Hashd spokesman said it was not involved in politics Said followed govt
institutions and overseen by PM Abadi Already involved in politics and some factions did not follow Abadi
Mar 26 Makhmour Ninewa op stalled by IEDs and bad weather that blocked air strikes
Mar 26 Report Maliki’s State of Law disagreed with PM Abadi’s cabinet reforms Blocking sending
ministerial candidates to parliament Other lists not sent candidates to Abadi Talk by Supreme Council to come up with new ruling alliance if Abadi failed
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 27 Supreme Council and Kurdish Alliance complained that Abadi not consulted with them
over his reforms Kurds said they would not submit any candidates for ministries unless govt completely changed Said didn’t know why ministers had to be changed in 1st place
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 27 Sadr went into Green Zone to start his own sit in protests Was trying to dictate PM
Abadi’s reforms
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
Mar 28 Report PM Abadi said wanted 9 member cabinet with Electricity and Defense ministers
staying
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 28 Turkey’s PM Oglu said it would not withdraw its troops from Iraq as long as IS a threat
Were there for fighting PKK not IS
Mar 29 Deadline set by Sadr for Abadi to announce new technocratic cabinet
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 30 Kurdish Alliance said they would not give up any of their ministers in PM Abadi’s reform
program
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 30 Report Unaoil paid bribes to Iraqi officials to get its clients contracts Hosted Oil Ministry
official and said ministry should charge inflated prices on products so they could steal the money Oil official agreed Every drum of oil bought by Weatherford Unaoil involved kickbacks to senior officials Officials told Unaoil about upcoming deals so that clients could win them Unaoil made payoffs to Eni and BP Paid $1 mil bribe for Petrofac and SBM to win contract at Gharraf oil field
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen on corruption in Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with anti-graft US official Vincent Foulk)
Mar 31 PM Abadi presented his list of technocratic ministers Sadr called off his protests afterward
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
(Musings On Iraq Abadi’s Reform Plan Leads To Chaos In Iraq’s Parliament)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Mar 31 Dana Gas won lawsuit against KRG for nonpayment Court ordered KRG to pay company
$121 mil for oil production 2015 Dana Gas won 2 cases against KRG for $1.96 bil in unpaid invoices KRG unable to pay due to budget and oil disputes with Baghdad and bad contracts
Mar 31 PUK official said that Kurdish independence was up to the Kurdish people not one party
meaning KDP
(Musings On Iraq Is Kurdistan Serious About Independence From Iraq?)
Apr 1 PM Abadi’s nominee for Oil Minister in new technocratic cabinet withdrew
name saying no consensus on changes to govt
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
(Musings On Iraq Candidates For Iraq Cabinet Reshuffle Withdrawing)
Apr 1 Maliki faction of State of Law said it would only support partial cabinet change
Apr 1 Kurdish Alliance said if Fin Min Zebari was replaced they would not vote
on new cabinet
Apr 1 Higher Educ Min Shahristani and For Minister Jaafari refused to step down for
Abadi’s cabinet changes
Apr 1 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq ran Al-Ahd network Major themes Sunnis killed Ali, Hassan
and Hussein and that was reason why Sunnis were killing Shiites today Portrayed most Sunnis as supporting IS Said world was pro-Shiite Said Iraqi state was corrupt and failing Rejected West Threatened those who criticized Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Apr 2 Kurdish Alliance said it would not vote on Abadi’s new cabinet unless it
got its quota of ministers
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Apr 2 Report US counterterrorism official said IS facing financial crisis Reports of clashes
between IS cmdrs over corruption Reports of pay cuts for fighters IS oil production down 1/3 due to Coalition air strikes Revenue from oil down 50% due to drop in prices and drop in capacity IS Finance Min killed in US air strike Loss of territory meant less tax money
Apr 2 PM Abadi announced investigation into Unaoil after report that it bribed Iraqi officials to get oil contracts Nothing came of it
Apr 2 Babil council said no one could return to Jurf al-Sakhr until IEDs removed Real reason was
along route used by Shiite pilgrims Civilians never allowed back
(Musings On Iraq Babil Government Still Not Allowing Citizens Of Iraq’s Jurf al-Sakhr Return Home)
Apr 4 Kurdish Alliance said it would not vote on any ministers it didn’t nominate
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Apr 4 Salah al-Mutlaq told PM Abadi changing ministers would not lead to real reforms Said other
grades of officials had to be included Parties controlled all the top officials in ministries meaning their control would not be changed if minister removed
Apr 4 Allawi said if new govt was to be nonpartisan than Abadi had to resign too
along with his cabinet
Apr 4 Iran cut off electricity supply to district in Sulaymaniya after KRG failed to pay $27 mil loan
to Tehran
Apr 5 Supreme Council said Abadi’s technocratic cabinet was not serious move
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Apr 5 Sadrists complained ruling parties not supporting reforms even though public
had called for them via protests
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
Apr 5 Report Kurdish official said security deteriorating in Tuz Kharmato due to Turkmen Hashd
killings and kidnappings
Apr 6 Abadi’s nominee for Finance and Planning Minister Ali Allawi withdrew his name Said no
political consensus over changing cabinet
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Candidates For Iraq Cabinet Reshuffle Withdrawing)
Apr 6 Ruling parties said they would submit 3 candidates for new ministers to
undermine Abadi’s candidates
Apr 6 Supreme Council criticized Abadi for trying to determine new cabinet by himself
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Apr 6 Hashd spokesman said Fallujah could be freed in 1 week Blamed foreign countries meaning
US and certain politicians of blocking op
Apr 6 Report Sadrists joined protests in Baghdad and took them over Used them to pressure PM
Abadi Communists who were leaders in protests made alliance with Sadr Hoped to use Sadr’s numbers and power to push reforms
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Interview Sadr-Communist Alliance And Iraq’s 2018 Elections Interview With Benedict Robin)
Apr 7 Committee set up to handle cabinet reform said most ruling parties rejected
changes
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Apr 12 Sit in demonstration began in parliament led by Sadrists over PM Abadi’s technocratic
cabinet
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Apr 12 Report End of Feb PM Abadi announced he would change govt Created 8 committees to
pick new ministers None of them worked Sadr supported reforms When Abadi presented his new cabinet was criticized by ruling parties
Apr 13 Fist fight broke out in parliament over PM Abadi’s technocratic cabinet
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
Apr 14 VP Maliki Allawi and Sadr MPs voted to dismiss Speaker Jabouri but didn’t have
votes Maliki and Allawi wanted to weaken Abadi
Apr 15 Protests in 7 provinces against ethnosectarian quota system in govt
Apr 17 Sadrists restarted protests in Baghdad demanding new cabinet to be voted on
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Complaints About Iraq PM Abadi Undermine His Cabinet Reshuffle)
Apr 17 Report IS’s revenues dropped 30% since mid-2015 Led to new taxes Oil production down
mostly due to US and Russian air strikes
Apr 18 Def Sec Carter said US would send 217 more troops to Iraq Were around 5,000 US troops
in Iraq Would provide $415 mil to help KRG pay peshmerga Said PM Abadi approved using Apache helicopters against IS
Apr 18 US and KRG special forces killed IS commander in charge of operations in Makhmour
Ninewa Was member of military council
Apr 19 Intl Org for Migration counter over 3.4 mil displaced up from 3.3 mil Was due to war with
IS
Apr 20 Report 21 workers including fmr director general of North Oil Company arrested Used
front company to steal money Front company sold equipment to North Oil for millions when only cost thousands Got $6 mil contract in 2014
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector Gen for Iraq Reconstruction Bowen on corruption in Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with fmr anti-graft official Vincent Foulk on corruption in Iraq)
Apr 22 Report IS on the retreat Last major gain May 2015 when took Ramadi Lost footholds in
Diyala and Babil Tikrit Baiji Ramadi Kubaisa liberated Failing at recruiting many new fighters IS has been increasing fees to make up for financial loses
Apr 23 Fighting broke out again between Hashd and Turkmen vs Peshmerga and Kurds in
Tuz Kharmato Was fighting in 2015 and 2014 Started when Hashd threw grenade at a peshmerga’s house Peshmerga then attacked middle of town Peshmerga general killed Badr’s Amiri went to Kirkuk and negotiated ceasefire with PUK Fighting continued Kataib Hezbollah and Kurdish volunteers went to town
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 24 KRG MP on Finance comm said 110,000 ghost Peshmerga 69,000 were with KDP 41,000
with PUK
Apr 25 Fighting started again in Tuz Kharmato between Kurds and Peshmerga vs Hashd and
Turkmen 1 Peshmerga killed
Apr 26 Sadrists protested while parliament voted in 5 new ministers as part of PM Abadi’s
technocratic cabinet Sadr threatened to storm Green Zone if reforms not implemented
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Parliament Confirms Some Of Abadi’s New Cbainet)
Apr 27 Report Oil companies in KRG running into problems Gulf Keystone running out of money
to pay its debts due to low oil prices and irregular payments by KRG
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Apr 29 Protests in Baghdad Basra Najaf Qadisiya Maysan Karbala Dhi Qar Muthanna
against corruption and sectarian quotas in govt
Apr 30 Parliament refused to meet over PM Abadi’s technocratic govt Sadr called for popular
revolution Sadrists stormed Green Zone Chanted anti-Gen Suleimani slogans Entered parliament building Attacked some MPs Sadr withdrew his bloc from parliament Attempt by Sadr to control govt reform process
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Trying To Play Kingmaker In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq A Review Of Iraq Premier Abadi’s Reform Program Interview With Reidar Visser)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
May 1 VP Maliki claimed protests were a threat to govt Said govt could make no reforms because
of the demonstrations Claimed there were death threats against MPs by protesters
May 1 IS launched 4 car bombs in Samawa Muthanna 1 dismantled 1 went missing 2 exploded
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State’s New Spring Bombing Campaign In Iraq)
May 5 3 truck drivers killed at Hashd checkpoint in Diyala Sources said Hashd started stopping
Kurdish drivers harassing and assaulting them
May 5 Report Satellites showed 3000 buildings 400 roads and bridges damaged and destroyed in
Ramadi UN est 57000 buildings damaged/destroyed
May 5 Peshmerga Asayesh Kirkuk police entered Qara Tapa Diyala Arrested 42 people on
terrorism charges Put Xs on 28 homes that were bulldozed Villagers blamed PUK KRG said homes were destroyed by IS Others destroyed because booby trapped KRG official said homes of IS members destroyed
May 5 Son of Pres Barzani wrote OpEd in Wash Post calling for KRG independence from Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iran Says No To Kurds’ Independence From Iraq)
May 6 Maliki met with ISCI to talk about replacing PM Abadi
May 7 Parties split over Speaker Jabouri and Abdi govt Maliki Allawi and others against Badr
Fadhila Kurds for Sadr wanted to be independent of both
May 8 Report Hashd posted videos claiming US dropping supplies to IS Iraq media spread
conspiracy theories that US created IS US tried to counter stories with own information campaign
May 9 Masrour Barzani claimed KRG consulted with Iran and Turkey about independence
referendum Iran and Turkey both against vote
(Musings On Iraq Iran Says No To Kurds’ Independence From Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Is Kurdistan Serious About Independence From Iraq?)
May 9 Feeling backlash from taking over Green Zone Sadrists denied they were responsible
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
May 10 Report Pro-Iran Hashd called PM Abadi puppet of US and ineffective Called for Hashd to
lead war vs IS not ISF Called for alliance with Iran and Russia Wanted a Hashd ministry to have role in govt
May 11 3 suicide car bombs in Baghdad killed 113 wounded 187 Deadliest day in years
in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State’s New Spring Bombing Campaign In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
May 11 Report US Treasury Dept said IS’s oil revenues cut in half due to drop in oil prices air
strikes counter measures Said IS oil revenues went from $500 mil/yr to $250 mil/yr Still made $360 mil from taxation
May 11 Report PKK Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) Shammar tribe working together in Ninewa vs
IS YBS and Shammar funded by govt Hoped to counter KDP
May 12 IS began final assault on Ramadi with 12 suicide car bombs ISF morale broke and began
retreating
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
May 13 IS attacked ISF bases around Ramadi with 20 suicide car bombs
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
May 13 Protests in Wasit Muthanna Babil Basra Dhi Qar Baghdad calling for govt
reform
May 13 Report Oil companies told Oil Ministry development projects would be delayed if
Baghdad insisted on spending cuts Oil Ministry asked companies to cut their budgets for 2nd yr due to low oil prices BP Shell Lukoil all complained about request
May 15 Govt officials said govt reaching bankruptcy due to low oil prices Govt deficit growing
May 15 Gorran-PUK signed 33 point deal to cooperate Said would run together in next election
Gorran once PUK’s biggest rival
May 15 Hashd leader claimed it could free Fallujah in 7 days Said blocked by U.S.
May 17 PUK and Gorran signed power sharing-cooperation deal Gorran would get
Sulaymaniya governor PUK Sulaymaniya city mayor
May 19 ISF freed Rutba Anbar from IS opening road from Baghdad to Jordan
May 19 Iraq got $5.4 bil from IMF to help with economic crisis due to collapse of oil prices and
war vs IS Expected to have $17 bil budget deficit
May 19 Report Ninewa Gov Nujafi’s militia attempted to take Bashiqa from IS and failed Was
supported by Turkish advisers
May 19 Report Khorasani Brigade threatened to fight Sadrists if they attempted to take over the
Green Zone again Accused Sadr of sedition
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
May 20 Sadrists took over Green Zone for second time Led to clash with ISF 4 protesters killed
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Takes Over Protests In Iraq’s Capital But What’s Next)
(Musings On Iraq Power Struggles Amongst Iraq’s Ruling Shiite Parties)
May 20 Report US drone strike killed IS emir of Anbar US bombed minefields and berms
surrounding Rutba to support ISF retaking city Army backed by tribal fighters trained by US
May 22 PM Abadi announced start of attack upon Fallujah to free it from IS US said it would
support operation if Hashd stayed on perimeter Were already US air strikes
(Musings On Iraq New Effort To Liberate Iraq’s Fallujah Underway)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Gains Big Victory Over Islamic State In Fallujah In Record Time)
(Musings On Iraq How Did Fallujah Fall So Quickly To Iraq’s Forces?)
May 22 Report Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah supporting Hashd in Fallujah op Iran
said Basij cmdr killed by a car bomb southeast of city
(Musings On Iraq Hezbollah’s Role In Iraq)
May 23 Abu Fadhl al-Abbas commander posted video saying no civilians or true Muslims left in
Fallujah
(Musings On Iraq Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Brigade From Fighting In Syria To Iraq)
May 23 Golden Div and army attacked Fallujah from south Garma freed
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Gains Big Victory Over Islamic State In Fallujah In Record Time)
May 24 Badr’s Amiri said Hashd would not enter Fallujah Badr did
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
May 25 Iranian media claimed Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani went to Fallujah to command op
Spread pictures of general on social media Part of Iranian info campaign to portray Iran as leading war vs IS in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
May 25 Sheikh in Suleiman Beq Salahaddin accused Hashd of blowing up almost 1,000 homes and
200 kidnappings
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
May 26 PM Abadi called on reform protests to stop due to Fallujah operation Activists criticized
Abdai govt for attacking demonstrators
May 26 Report KRG oil sales went down in Apr Meant could only make partial payments to oil
companies Feb KRG started regular payments to companies to restore confidence after period where couldn’t pay them Hadn’t paid govt workers KRG debt growing Problems started when KRG got into budget and oil dispute with Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
May 27 Sadrists protest in Baghdad Police fired tear gas to break them up Demos in Babil Karbala
Basra Dhi Qar Muthanna too
(Musings On Iraq interview with Cambridge’s Michael Clark on Sadr, protests and PM Abadi’s reforms)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Takes Over Protests In Iraq’s Capital But What’s Next)
May 27 Kataib Hezbollah stopped large group of displaced fleeing Sjar Anbar abducted 643 men
not seen afterward
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
May 27 Human Rights Watch got two videos of abuses by ISF outside Fallujah 1 had truck dragging
corpses 2nd showed pile of beheaded bodies
May 28 Witness claimed Federal Police Badr and Kataib Hezbollah shot civilians fleeing IS held
area in Sjar Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
May 29 Western diplomat said Hashd executed 17 displaced men in Sjar Anbar 3 survivors said
Federal Police found 50 displaced Separated men from families Police shot 17 men Officer then stopped executions 1 policeman arrested for killings Displaced then ran into Hashd
May 30 Hashd and Federal Police stopped displaced fleeing Sjar Anbar Executed 12 men Anbar
official said Hashd executed civilians in Saqlawiya
May 30 Warrant issued for fmr Ninewa Gov Nujafi involved 1.2 bil missing dinars
May 30 Report Iran running info campaign that it and Hashd are leading Fallujah campaign when
they weren’t May 25 Iranian media claimed Iran Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani commanding Fallujah operation He wasn’t Iran also claimed it led Ramadi op After Sadrists took over Green Zone and chanted anti-Iranian slogans Tehran started Thank you Suleimani campaign on social media saying general saved Iraq from IS
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
May 31 Genel Energy found reserves at Taq Taq field in KRG only half what it estimated Company
lost $1 bil as shares dropped
May 31 Fighting between Saraya Salam and Kataib Hezbollah in Musayib Babil 6 wounded Started
when Sayara Salam banned from entering Jurf al-Sakhr
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 1 KRG Chamber of Commerce said 2200 factories closed in Sulaymaniya due to economic
crisis
Jun 1 Speaker Jabouri called for investigating into report 73 disappeared from Garma Anbar
Displaced were kidnapped and executed by Hashd in area
Jun 2 Report Kataib Hezbollah dominated highways in east Anbar Asaib Ahl Al-Haq controlled
highways between Samarra-Tikrit Badr controlled highways in Diyala Charged fees and kidnapped people at checkpoints
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 2 Hashd took 605 men and boys displaced from Saqlawiya Anbar to army base where beaten
and accused of being IS Were never seen again Suspected of being killed by Hashd Hashd executed another 17 displaced men in Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
Jun 3 Govt shut down social media in Baghdad to try to stop organizing protests
Jun 3 Protests in Baghdad Babil Karbala Dhi Qar Qadisiyah Najaf Basra demanding
political reform
Jun 3 Reports Federal Police and Hashd executed 17 displaced fleeing IS from Sjar, Anbar
Jun 3 Large number of displaced from Saqlawiya, Anbar stopped by Kataib Hezbollah 1,300 men
taken away and beaten and tortured 643 men detained by Kataib Hezbollah in Saqlawiya never seen again
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 3 Report US military aid going to Hashd Corrupt ISF distributing US aid to Hashd in Anbar as
well as being stolen
Jun 3 Report Fmr US gen in charge of training ISF said program still flawed Iraqis not sending
enough recruits ISF lacked capacity Oct 2015 US military said only 5 Iraqi Army divisions ready for combat at only 60-65%
Jun 3 Report Hashd looted Baiji refinery after liberated Oct 2016 Govt didn’t have ability to
control liberated areas leaving many places under Hashd control
Jun 4 Hashd spokesman said Hashd wouldn’t enter Fallujah Badr controlled Federal Police already
in city Hashd attacking northern section of city
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jun 4 Anbar council formed committee to investigation abuses in Garma and Fallujah Hashd
accused of abuses Pictures on social media of Hashd beating displaced US led Coalition said reports of kidnappings and killings of civilians Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jun 4 PM Abadi announced human rights committee formed to investigate abuses in Fallujah op
Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jun 4 News site published 21 pictures of buildings damaged and destroyed by Hashd in Garma
Anbar Accused Hashd of robbing and looting
Jun 4 Report ISF logistics inadequate US shipping equipment and spare parts to frontline Buying
ammo for Iraq US pushing Iraq to build repair centers near frontlines US got Coalition partners to give/sell arms to ISF
Jun 5 Anbar govt set up investigating into Hashd abuses in Fallujah op Anbar councilmen went to
army base Said there were signs of people being tortured there
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jun 5 Saqlawiya Anbar councilmen said 650 men from town being held at Camp Tariq
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
Jun 5 605 men and boys released by Kataib Hezbollah and Badr to Anbar council Many were
tortured 4 dead bodies also turned over All were from Saqlawiya Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jun 5 PM Abadi gave TV interview Said Iraqi forces had made mistakes and abuses unacceptable
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jun 5 KDP put sanctions on Sinjar dist Part of power struggle with PKK for control of area
Jun 6 Ayatollah Sistani warned against attacks on innocents revenge attacks destruction
of property in war against IS Came after reports of Hashd abuse in Fallujah op
Jun 6 Member of Anbar council demanded Hashd be withdrawn from Fallujah op for
abuses and PM Abadi hold them responsible
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jun 6 Bodies of 40 displaced found in Amiriya Fallujah killed by Hashd Had fled Garma and
Fallujah
Jun 7 Protests in Dhi Qar and Baghdad calling for reform
Jun 7 PM Abadi said people would be arrested for abusing displaced in Fallujah op
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jun 7 UN called on Baghdad to protect displaced from abuses by govt forces Said reports of
displaced being stopped and abused to get confessions Also executions
Jun 7 Badr’s Amiri and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said abuses in Fallujah were done by
individuals and limited Wasn’t true
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jun 7 Head of Anbar council called on PM Abadi to withdraw Hashd from Fallujah because of
abuses Said people trying to flee IS were tortured and harassed by Hashd Some killed
Jun 7 Report 300 dead bodies found at school Were all from Saqlawiya Anbar Were allegedly
executed by Hashd
Jun 7 Report ISF seized southern Fallujah Led by Golden Div Hadn’t advanced for 2 days due to
disagreements over strategy Police officer said ISF didn’t coordinate ops or share intel
Jun 8 Report displaced from Saqlawiya and Garma in Anbar tortured by Hashd 5 bodies found 200-
300 civilians held by Hashd MP said 800 from Saqlawiya had been detained some tortured and killed Fallujah mayor said Hashd were retaliating against displaced for their losses in Falllujah op Badr controlled Federal Police also accused of abuses and killings
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
Jun 8 Amnesty Intl report Interviewed victims of abuse Jun 5 605 men turned over to Anbar govt
many with signs of abuse by Hashd 4 dead bodies found in Amiriya Fallujah Reports 17 people from Garma killed
Jun 8 Activists hacked into parliament’s website Posted picture of 3 people killed in protests in
Baghdad Said “Idiots are leading the country”
Jun 9 Sadrists sacked and burned Dawa offices in Najaf ISF wounded 3 trying to break
up protests Also attacked ISCI and Badr offices in Basra Amara Kut Nasiriya Najaf
(Musings On Iraq Power Struggles Amongst Iraq’s Ruling Shiite Parties)
Jun 9 Iraqi Forces Coalition blamed Kataib Hezbollah for kidnapping hundreds in Fallujah op Said
murders were happening under watch of PM Abadi Called for Hashd to withdraw from Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 9 Human Rights Watch report 600 men from Saqlawiya abused by Hashd Reports Federal
Police and Hashd executed 17 displaced fleeing Sjar Sheikh said 70 men disappeared from Garma Reports of executions beatings disappearances in Fallujah op PM Abadi promised investigation and arrests Did nothing
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jun 10 Sadrist mobs attacked Dawa ISCI Reform Movement Badr offices in Basra
Maysan Wasit Dhi Qar Najaf Karbala Muthanna Sadr later denied his followers responsible
(Musings On Iraq Power Struggles Amongst Iraq’s Ruling Shiite Parties)
Jun 10 Report Iraqi officer who fought in Fallujah said had to pay $2000 bribe to get M1 tank to
support his unit Didn’t pay Got a Russian tank instead with no driver 2nd officer said cmdrs that didn’t have relationship with Defense Min and didn’t send gifts to officials didn’t get supplies Had to buy ammo and equipment on black market for his unit because got none from Def Min
Jun 10 Foreign Min Jaafari said any abuses in Fallujah done by individuals and Hashd not
responsible
Jun 11 Anbar governor investigation found Hashd killed 49 men from Saqlawiya and
Sjar and 643 others detained not seen again Was Kataib Hezbollah
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 11 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq blamed for looting Baiji refinery after it was liberated
Jun 12 Anbar Governor report Hashd killed 49 displaced in Fallujah op 643 disappeared Beatings
torturing stealing from displaced
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jun 13 US Apache helicopters attacked IS
Jun 13 Report Iraq agreed to economic reforms as part of IMF loan including tax increases higher
electricity fees better banking regulations Didn’t follow through
Jun 13 Sec Gen of Peshmerga said 1466 Peshmerga killed 8610 wounded in war vs IS
Jun 13 Report Hashd ignored agreement with Abadi govt and joined Fallujah battle Entered
southern suburbs Arrested and kidnapped people
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jun 14 Pres Masum said there were violations in Fallujah op but were done by individuals not
systemic
Jun 15 Zankura in Ramadi dist declared freed from IS
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 15-21, 2016)
Jun 16 ISF reached center of Fallujah PM Abadi declared city freed but 20% still under IS control
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 15-21, 2016)
(Musings On Iraq How Did Fallujah Fall So Quickly To Iraq’s Forces?)
Jun 16 20 civilians fleeing Sjar Anbar stopped by Hashd Fired into people killing 17
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jun 16 Report Displaced from Fallujah dist said detained by Hashd Men separated from women and
children taken to Amiriya Fallujah where beaten Were given to Federal Police who interrogated them
Jun 16 Report Freed Ramadi needed $19.5 bil for rebuilding Abadi govt only allocated $1 mil
Jun 17 Golden Div reached center of Fallujah PM Abadi prematurely announced liberation of city
Head of Fallujah Ops Command said Hashd not involved in freeing of Fallujah Was all done by ISF
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Gains Big Victory Over Islamic State In Fallujah In Record Time)
Jun 17 Report Videos posted of Hashd attacking civilians in Fallujah op 1 showed Hashd beating
civilians saying people of Fallujah cowards
Jun 18 Report ISF said taking Fallujah easier than Tikrit and Baiji IS concentrated on perimeter
After broke IS defense got to city center Forced IS to move opening them up to air strikes
Jun 18 IS seized 3 villages in Tuz Kharmato dist When expelled Peshmerga tried entering 2 of the
villages but stopped by Hashd Led to gunfight Iranian official negotiated ceasefire
Jun 18 Amerli police chief killed in ambush Badr raided Amerli jail and killed 7 prisoners in
revenge
Jun 19 Report Interior Min document in 2014 when PM Maliki acting minister ordered stop to
investigation of official who imported fake bomb detectors
Jun 19 Report Up to 50 prisoners executed by Hashd at Amerli prison
Jun 20 Op to free Zankura in Ramadi dist started 5 days after area declared freed
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 15-21, 2016)
Jun 20 Report PM Abadi appointed 14 new inspector generals to ministries and independent
commissions All from Dawa 98% of all inspector generals now Dawa
Jun 20 Parliament human rights comm said media distorting Fallujah op by reporting on abuses
Said found no evidence of displaced abused Then said it did find cases but were not major Hashd and Federal Police detained and killed displaced
Jun 20 Report IS attacked 3 villages in Tuz Kharmato dist Peshmerga tried to enter 2 villages but
stopped by Hashd Led to gunfight IEDs and car bombings afterward blamed on dispute between Peshmerga and Hashd Iranian diplomat tried to negotiate ceasefire between two
Jun 20 Report Political divisions amongst Yazidis in Sinjar Split between pro-KRG and pro-
Baghdad Many mad at KRG for withdrawing from dist when IS attacked in 2014 PKK-YPG set up in dist Opposed by Turkey Baghdad paid YPG as counter to KDP PUK wanted to challenge KDP in dist KDP set up embargo of Sinjar
Jun 21 Report 6 brigades of Badr with around 10,000 men were in Federal Police that were fighting
to free Fallujah Hashd were supposed to stay out of city but operated within ISF
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jun 22 Sadrists threatened no confidence vote against PM Abadi and Speaker Jabouri unless
reforms passed
Jun 23 Report KDP had 2 month blockade of Sinjar dist because it was controlled by PKK Stopped
aid from NGOs and Baghdad
Jun 24 Report 85,000 fled Fallujah Overwhelmed govt and aid agencies Blocked from entering
Baghdad out of fear of IS infiltration Hashd detained men for up to 3 weeks to interrogate them ISF blocked aid from going from Baghdad to Anbar
Jun 25 Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam accused Badr of following Iran to control Samarra Salahaddin
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jun 25 PUK politburo said it supported KRG independence referendum but needed consensus of
all Kurdish parties
(Musings On Iraq Is Kurdistan Serious About Independence From Iraq?)
Jun 25 Hashd said it and Federal Police attacking north Fallujah neighborhood Deputy head of
Anbar council accused Hashd of looting homes and destroying mosques in Fallujah Hashd not supposed to enter city PM Abadi called in Hashd help
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jun 26 Fallujah finally freed of insurgents in just 5 weeks
(Musings On Iraq How Did Fallujah Fall So Quickly To Iraq’s Forces?)
Jun 27 Report Homes burned and looted during end of battle for Fallujah Govt blamed IS Anbar
police blamed Hashd and Federal Police Hashd not supposed to enter city but were there and in Federal Police
Jun 27 Report Badr’s Amiri said 1500 Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces were Hashd and
fought in Battle of Fallujah Cmdr 4th Badr Brigade said it fought alongside Interior Min forces in city PM Abadi said Hashd not supposed to enter Fallujah Other Hashd besides Badr also said to be involved
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jun 28 Anbar council voted to dismiss Gov Rawi from Iraqi Islamic Party Was trying to expand its
base Control reconstruction in Anbar Supported by Solution List of Karbuli Opposed by Sunni Endowment and Sheikh Abu Risha Rawi rejected dismissal
(Musings On Iraq Political Battle For Control of Iraq’s Anbar Province)
Jun 29 US gave Iraq $2.7 bil line of credit to buy military equipment
Jun 29 ISF aviation intercepted convoy of hundreds of IS vehicles fleeing Fallujah US joined in
Destroyed most of the vehicles
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State’s Highway of Death In Iraq’s Anbar)
Jun 30 Abadi govt suppressed losses in war vs IS Sources said 394 ISF killed 3308 wounded in
Fallujah op Others said up to 900 deaths Didn’t include Hashd or civilians
Jul 1 Report Badr’s Amiri claimed Hashd formed by PM Maliki before Sistani’s fatwa calling for
men to defend Iraq Apr 2014 meeting of Natl Alliance where Maliki talked about creating militias to help with security Maliki said Sunni-Turkish conspiracy against Shiites Said if Syria fell to Sunni-Turkish conspiracy Iraq would be next Maliki said US refused to help Led him towards Iran Quds Force Gen Suleimani came up with militia plan PM said ISF unreliable because had Sunnis Shiites Kurds Said 20 militias were operating in Baghdad Babil Salahaddin Karbala already
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Jul 2 Interior Min Ghabban said several police in Basra under investigation for taking part in Quds
Day put on by pro-Iran Hashd
Jul 3 Karrada Baghdad car bomb set off fire in mall killing 324 wounding 200
Jul 3 PM Abadi ordered withdrawal of fake bomb detectors at checkpoints in Baghdad Said he would re-open investigation into their purchases Didn’t happen Detectors still used in rest of Iraq
Jul 5 Report PUK-Gorran formed alliance against KDP Felt Barzani acting unilaterally KDP tried to
take over KRG KDP dismissed 5 Gorran ministers from cabinet Closed parliament KDP pushing KRG independence referendum
Jul 5 Kirkuk council gave Baghdad 1 month to remove displaced or they would be forced out
Jul 5 UN called on Abadi govt to protect civilians from Hashd who were preying on displaced Were
revenge attacks after Baghdad car bomb 1500 displaced detained by Kataib Hezbollah in Fallujah 4 men beheaded Some beaten to death 600 released 840 missing 50 killed
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Jul 5 PM Abadi ordered investigation into Dep Hashd Comm head Abu Muhandis cutting off pay to
pro-Najaf Abbas Combat Brigade and Christian Ninewa Plans Hashd units
Jul 5 Badr’s Amiri praised Maliki for creating Hashd Downplayed Ayatollah Sistani’s role Maliki
had created militia forces before Sistani’s fatwa that created Hashd
Jul 7 Human Rights Watch Jun PM Abadi said investigating abuses in Fallujah op Abuses continued
afterward Person said Hashd burning houses and shops in central Fallujah Had photos 2 Anbar officials said Hashd and Federal Police killed more than a dozen Jumail tribesmen that fled Sjar Kataib Hezbollah took over 600 men Killed 3 Beat rest and let them go Took another 643 men from Saqlawiya not seen again
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 9 Report Hashd took part in Fallujah battle Weren’t supposed to Spokesman for Emergency
Response Brigades said they were first in city then Badr and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq followed
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jul 9 Head of Anbar council said 6 mosques burned in Fallujah after city liberated Demanded
investigation
Jul 10 US airstrike killed IS War Minister Shishani near Mosul
Jul 11 Sadr said his followers would protest in Baghdad on Friday to demand reforms
(Musings On Iraq Rough Alliance Between Iraq’s Protest Movement And Sadrists)
Jul 12 PM Abadi and cabinet asked Sadr to postpone his protests claiming it would cause chaos in
the country
(Musings On Iraq Rough Alliance Between Iraq’s Protest Movement And Sadrists)
Jul 12 US got Interior and Peshmerga Ministries to sign military cooperation agreement against IS
Got KRG to agree to help in Mosul op Included US paying salaries of Peshmerga
Jul 12 Report Every op Hashd involved in led to reports of abuse Also didn’t follow agreements
Hashd said it wouldn’t enter Fallujah 6 brigades of Federal Police that helped take city were Badr PM Abadi also forced to call in Hashd to help clear northern Fallujah Hashd said they wouldn’t leave Fallujah
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2016)
Jul 13 Report Baghdad car bombing became part of Shiite political rivalry PM Abadi went to site
and had bottles thrown at him by crowd Said only ISF would have control of security and no parties should try to exploit event Badr’s Amiri visited Said IS members should be hung on streets of Baghdad Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said Hashd would get revenge and that Hashd should cleanse Baghdad belts of IS because ISF had failed Sadr went to area and called for shrine to be erected there
Jul 14 Pres Barzani said he would not run in KRG presidential elections
Jul 14 Report MP said south Iraq like Wasit and Maysan still using fake bomb detectors Called on
PM Abadi to withdraw them from all of Iraq
Jul 15 1000s of Sadrists marched in Baghdad Called govt thieves and demanded reform
(Musings On Iraq Rough Alliance Between Iraq’s Protest Movement And Sadrists)
Jul 15 100s of activists protested in Babil Maysan Diwaniya Najaf Karbala Dhi Qar Muthanna
demanding reforms end to sectarian quotas better services Sadr met with activists about coordination protests but nothing came of it
Jul 18 Report Ruling parties complained about PM Abadi merging ministries Included Human
Rights Women’s Affairs Provincial Affairs Science Environment ministries Meant loss of positions and patronage
Jul 19 Oil Transportation Housing Water ministers resigned PM Abadi said he would replace them
with technocrats
Jul 20 Report 18 Turkish military and intel bases in Dohuk 500 Turkish soldiers in province There
to fight PKK
Jul 21 Tribal council accused Anbar governor of blocking displaced returns Said Anbar govt stealing
money for displaced
Jul 21 Spokesman for Sadr’s Saraya Salam said they would target Americans Said thirsty for US
blood Said Mosul would’ve been liberated if not for US interference
Jul 22 Report Sadr rejected US intervention in Iraq Said US wanted to be savior of Iraq by bringing
IS to Iraq
Jul 22 Protest in Dhi Qar vs Higher Educ Min Adeeb who wanted to end free education Protest in
Najaf against Electricity Min Protests in Baghdad Diwaniya Maysan Muthanna for reforms
Jul 23 Report Mayor of Sadiya worried about future of town with joblessness corruption lack of
services sectarian rivalries Taken by IS Aug 2014 Freed by Peshmerga Hashd ISF Nov 2014 Never rebuilt More than half of residents not returned Aid agencies done most of rebuilding Kurds built ditch outside town to separate it from Jalawla Amnesty Intl documented Peshmerga forcing Arabs out of areas in 2016 UN recorded 4 Sunni mosques destroyed by Hashd in Sadiya State Dept found Hashd destroyed homes and fields in Sadiya and surrounding area Human Rights Watch found similar destruction by Hashd in rest of Diyala Fear of IS sleeper cells
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 24 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said consequences if Peshmerga took part in Mosul Battle Said Hashd
would take part
Jul 24 KRG said it would not withdraw from areas it took after ISF fled after Mosul fell Defense
Min said part of agreement between US Baghdad Irbil included Peshmerga withdrawing
Jul 24 IS banned Internet in Mosul to try to isolate population from outside world
Jul 25 KRG Pres Barzani said independence only way forward for Kurds Said accepting status quo
unacceptable Said Kurds neglected by Baghdad
Jul 28 Report Loss of territory cost IS most of its oil economy Used to truck 50 tankers/day in
Ninewa Down to around 5/day May 2016 US est IS oil revenue dropped $250 mil/yr Apr 2015 IS lost Ajeel and Hamrin fields in Salahaddin IS cut prices to try to keep sales going
Jul 29 Atheel Nujafi called for Ninewa to be autonomous region after freed by IS
Jul 31 Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam fought Jaish al-Moumal breakaway faction in west Baghdad 1 dead
13 wounded Group broke away after gained support of Maliki Was against Sadr joining protests Wanted to be more involved in Syria
Jul 31 Human Rights Watch Badr Kataib Hezbollah Federal Police beat hundreds of displaced
Sunni men during Fallujah op Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Jund al-Imam rounded up families fleeing Jazeera Salahaddin and put them in warehouse in Tikrit 1 report groups executed men in families After IS bombed café in Diyala in Jan Badr and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq attacked civilians in town Badr Ali Akbar Brigades Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Saraya Khorasan Jund al-Imam looted and destroyed homes in Dour Ajeel parts of Tikrit Mar-Apr 2015 Sunni Hashd destroyed property in Alam Salahddin in 2015 Apr 2015 Hashd and Federal Police executed people in Tikrit Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq accused of taking away 160 people from Dour Salahaddin Never seen again Oct 2014 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Badr Saraya Khorasan Kataib Hezbollah destroyed around 30 villages around Amerli Salahaddin Also kidnapped Sunnis from Amerli
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
Jul 31 Report Sadr tried to join Baghdad protest movement in Jul
Aug 1 Def Min Obeidi accused senior MPs of corruption Accused Speaker Jabouri and Solution
bloc head Karbuli of corruption in armaments and HUMVEE contracts Also accused MPs of appointing officers in army
Aug 1 Anbar councilman said 70% of Ramadi infrastructure destroyed Said Anbar didn’t have
much budget to pay for it
Aug 3 Report Peshmerga commander in Sinjar said he withdrew his men when he heard IS were
approaching dist in 2014
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Government Tries to Create New Narrative Of What Happened To Iraq’s Yazidis)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AUIS’s Christine van den Toorn on what happened to Yazidis when IS invaded Sinjar)
Aug 5 Oil traders cut advances to KRG from $127 mil in Jun to $35 mil in Jul Cut payments to oil
companies from $30.3 mil in Jun to $18.1 mil in Jul KRG made $461 mil in Jul Needed $460 mil just to pay govt salaries
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 5 Report Unpublished KRG report said 18,000 KDP peshmerga fled Sinjar without a fight in
Aug 2014 Peshmerga in Sinjar under command of Masrour Barzani
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Government Tries to Create New Narrative Of What Happened To Iraq’s Yazidis)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AUIS’s Christine van den Toorn on what happened to Yazidis when IS invaded Sinjar)
Aug 7 Defense Min set up committee to recruit former Saddam soldiers into army Only had one
month to sign up
Aug 7 Harakat al-Nujaba said it was sending 2000 men to southern Aleppo to support Assad
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Aug 11 Report CENTCOM official changed intel reports to make them more positive about war vs
IS Congress blamed senior intel officers
Aug 11 Report Military intel officer said IS laundered money and invested in regular businesses in
Iraq like car dealerships shopping malls farms hospitals Manipulated Central Bank of Iraq dollar auction Bought and sold medicine Used middlemen who are regular businessmen
Aug 11 Report Jul-Aug Iraq reached deals with BP Shell Lukoil to restart investments in oil fields
to boost oil production 2015 Iraq asked oil companies to cut investment due to economic crisis caused by IS Couldn’t pay companies for work
Aug 11 Report Dhuluiya police in Salahaddin under orders from Samarra Ops Command started
exiling IS families 56 families deported for 7 yrs
Aug 13 Sadr called for boycott of cafes that employed women Badr member in Basra made similar
call
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Aug 13 Journalist who wrote for pro-PKK news site threatened by Asayesh Kidnapped and found
dead in Dohuk
Aug 13 Hashd blamed for forcing out around 90 families accused of being IS supporters from
Dhuluiya Salahaddin Also seized land and distribute it to fighters
Aug 14 Report Salahaddin govt said ISF and Hashd stopped people returning to Yathrib Accused
them of burning homes and farms Dep Speaker said deal made with Samarra Ops Command and security leaders to allow displaced back
Aug 15 Report State Dep Congress Obama White House all wanted reduced US presence in Iraq
after 2011 withdrawal PM Maliki also objected to continuing some US programs Sec State Clinton wanted to maintain many programs Keep stay behind force Clinton warned Iraq may not be able to maintain security and ISI still a threat State Dept couldn’t maintain many programs due to lack of money and personnel VP Biden and White House officials pushed for bigger cuts in US spending and programs in Iraq When insurgency started rebuilding Clinton pushed PM Maliki to accept new US security programs Maliki didn’t take up offer
Aug 15 Parliament began voting on PM Abadi’s new technocratic cabinet
Aug 16 Abadi govt said Russia could use Iraqi airspace for strikes in Syria
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Prime Minister Abadi Continuing Maliki’s Syrian Policy)
Aug 17 6th café bombed in Basra city All had hired female waiters Religious parties suspected of
responsibility Came after Sadr called for boycott of cafes that employed women
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Aug 18 North Oil Company resumed sending oil to Turkey via KRG pipeline Stopped 5 months ago
New Oil Minister confirmed with backing of Kurds Part of US-Baghdad-KRG deal
Aug 18 Local official said Hashd burned and looting 40- homes and govt offices and mosques in
Khalidiya Anbar
Aug 19 Report Jul Khalidiya Island in Anbar freed by Hashd Looted and burned homes Executed
people accused of being IS sympathizers
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Aug 21 Tribal council in Anbar blamed Hashd for burning houses and orchards east of Ramadi and
in Albu Shihad and another town
Aug 21 Report Peshmerga Min said it would not withdraw from disputed areas after defeat of IS
Said needed territory for defense
Aug 22 Report Swiss police arrested Iraqi officials at UN mission for smuggling cigarettes
Aug 22 Report Maliki and aides met with foreign businessmen in Jordan about energy project Said
whoever won contract would have to pay 45% of deal to an Iraqi firm connected to Maliki Company would then give kickbacks to Iraqi politicians mostly in Dawa but also some Kurds Foreign companies often told to take on Iraqi partners in business deals Judge complained in 2014 that Maliki and aide threatened to kill him if didn't stop investigation into ISF assassinating Maliki’s political and business opponents Parliament committee said Defense Min spent $150 bil on weapons over 10 yrs and only got $20 bil worth of equipment Much of equipment was surplus and not new 2015 shipment of US sniper rifles were taken by corrupt officials and sold to IS Kurds bought weapons and ammo from corrupt officials in Baghdad Unaoil used as middleman for Western companies to win contracts Paid millions in bribes Emails implied that Dep PM Shahristani and Oil Min Luaibi got bribes from Unaoil Also gave money to Maliki’s oil adviser 2013 Swiss company got $6 bil deal to build refinery Was a law firm and didn’t fulfill contract but was reaffirmed in 2016 with 50 yr concession on refinery Whole deal was to give bribes to officials for other contracts Integrity Comm said $6 bil was found in Lebanon $14 bil sent to UAE Turkey Iran US Europe Trade Min official assassinated in 2015 before handed over docs about corruption to Integrity Comm Brother in law of Defense Min got rich off kickbacks from US companies working in Baghdad Contract for 520 Humvees only delivered 170
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Aug 22 Report Korea National Oil Corp pulled out of oil field in KRG Invested $204 mil from 08-16
Returns were too low
Aug 23 Report More than 700 Sunni men missing for 2 months after Fallujah op Hashd blamed
Hashd killed 66 men and abused 1500 others during op Abadi govt said there were a few incidents but most were exaggerated 1st abuse reported May 2016 in Sjar Hashd and ISF stopped displaced and took 73-95 men according to Anbar governor Never seen again Later Hashd took 20 displaced men and killed them Police showed up when only 3 left and took them away Federal Police found 50 men hiding in house and executed 17 of them Jun Kataib Hezbollah rounded up around 1500 displaced in Saqlawiya Were beaten Kataib Hezbollah said it was taking revenge for Speicher massacre Killed 49 Another 643 never seen again Jun Anbar governor said 100s of men were missing
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Abuses Of Iraq’s Hashd In Fallujah Operation)
Aug 24 Amnesty Intl investigator said lots of displaced had been detained and disappeared fleeing
IS Considered IS sympathizers Hashd main perpetrators Checkpoints in Karbala and Fallujah blamed for abductions
Aug 25 Basra police chief said drug use skyrocketed in Iraq
Aug 25 Parliament voted to dismiss Defense Min Obeidi Done by Sunni rivals Speaker Jabouri and
MP Mohammed al-Halbusi and Maliki’s State of Law
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Fires Its Defense Minister)
Aug 27 Iraqi forces freed Qayara Ninewa
Aug 27 Integrity Comm said ruling parties should end their economic committees that coordination
deals between ministries and businessmen and charged commissions in corruption schemes
Aug 28 Report Sadr said Hashd would run in next election Said would militarize govt Said they had
no experience in politics Claimed it would be suicidal for parties to accept Hashd
Aug 28 Election Commission said Hashd part of security forces and couldn’t register as parties for
upcoming election
Aug 28 KRG said Peshmerga would start being paid via US aid KRG didn’t have money because of
oil/budget dispute with Baghdad and debts
Aug 29 KDP-PUK delegation went to Baghdad Talked about Kurdish independence and Battle of
Mosul Pres Barzani said status quo couldn’t continue and Kurds needed independence
Aug 29 Anbar govt dismissed Anbar Governor Rawi for corruption Rawi said dismissal illegal
(Musings On Iraq Political Battle For Control of Iraq’s Anbar Province)
Aug 31 Report 6 cafes bombed in Basra All had female waiters Religious parties blamed Flyer near
one bombing said women should stay at home Sadr called for boycott of cafes that employed women
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Aug 31 Salahaddin govt said it would exile IS families for up to 10 yrs
Sep 1 KRG delivered oil to State Marketing Organization for Baghdad to sell In return North Oil
Company could export oil through KRG pipeline to Turkey
Sep 1 PUK Dep Sec Gens Rasul and Salah announced new decision making body within PUK
Rejected by PUK leader Hero Ahmed Part of power struggle within PUK after Pres Talabani fell ill
Sep 2 PUK leader Hero Ibrahim said there would be no changes to the PUK as long as Pres Talabani
was alive Iranian delegation arrived in Sulaymaniya to mediate between PUK factions
Sep 3 Imam Ali Brigade said it would attack Kirkuk if it was annexed to KRG
Sep 3 Kirkuk Gov Najm denied story that he wanted Turkmen and Arabs expelled from province
after KRG independence referendum TV station aired recording of Najm saying “We will expel them later on, right?”
Sep 4 Report Jan 3 US contractors for General Dynamics in Baghdad kidnapped by Sadr’s Saraya
al-Salam unit Held for 1 month
Sep 4 Sadrists govt workers held strike in Baghdad Demanded new govt
Sep 6 Report Turkey shelled IS in Bashiqa Ninewa for months Trained Hashd al-Watani of ex-
Ninewa Gov Nujafi Peshmerga general said Kurds would seize area around Mosul and Hashd al-Watani could take city
Sep 7 Banking officers and traffic police in Sulaymaniya went on strike over KRG not paying them
KRG in financial crisis after cut off from monthly budget payments by Baghdad over dispute over oil
Sep 7 Report Harakt Nujaba spokesman said it sent 1000 fighters to Syria Group’s Twitter showed
its fighters in Syria with Gen Suleimani
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Prime Minister Abadi Continuing Maliki’s Syrian Policy)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Sep 7 Report Anbar govt said 1500 civilians held in Amiriya Fallujah for 4 months Called for their
release
Sep 8 Report Intl Center for Development Studies est $120 bil disappeared during Maliki govt
Sep 8 PUK leader Hero Ibrahim wrote PM Abadi asking him to end new KRG-Baghdad oil deal
where Baghdad would use KRG’s Turkish pipeline and KRG would export oil for Baghdad Benefited KDP more than PUK
Sep 8 MP from KRG natural resource comm said 30,000 bar/oil smuggled by PUK out of Kirkuk to
Iran
Sep 8 Harakat al-Nujaba got into gun battle with police in Baghdad Claimed police were working
with IS Claimed it was trying to stop an IS terrorist attack Police said they freed man kidnapped by Nujaba and arrested 9 Nujaba members in process
Sep 8 Iran hit KDPI camp with missiles in KRG after KDPI killed some Iranian border guards
Sep 9 Report Foreign fighters to IS declined Used to be 2,000/month US intel said down to
50/month
Sep 9 Report More than 10% of KRG lived in poverty Unemployment up from 4.8% in 2010 to
13.% in 2016 Labor Ministry said real numbers higher Around 680,000 out of 5.5 mil lived below poverty line Fall in oil prices and war with IS causes
Sep 9 Report IS families in Dhuluiya Salahaddin told to leave 52 houses emptied Samarra Ops
Command marked houses of expelled families Interior Ministry condemned move UN warned IS families being expelled across Iraq 170 families in Hit Anbar told they had to leave
Sep 9 Ex-Gov Nujafi said Ninewa should be broken up into 6-8 provinces KRG Pres Barzani said
Ninewa should be made into 3 provinces after a referendum KDP MP said Ninewa should be broken up into 8 provinces half of which would be allied with KRG All plans for KRG to take disputed areas
Sep 10 PUK and Gorran announced alliance Part of Gorran going from opposition to joining
Kurdish establishment
Sep 10 4 Gorran ministers resigned from KRG cabinet Were fired by PM Barzani in Oct 2015
Speaker of KRG parliament from Gorran blocked from entering Irbil by KDP
Sep 10 Sadr launched new anti-corruption campaign Did nothing
Sep 11 Report Hashd spokesman warned Peshmerga about entering Mosul Said KRG would be
stopped from annexing Sinjar Makhmour Bashiqa in Ninewa Peshmerga commander said Kurds would liberate all the Kurdish areas in annex them to KRG
Sep 12 Teachers in Sulaymaniya protested over govt not paying them Due to KRG-Baghdad oil and
budget dispute
Sep 14 Report Splits within PUK since Pres Talabani became ill Kosrat Rasul and Barham Salah
created decision making body to share power amongst leaders Talabani’s wife Hero Ibrahim and others rejected body Critics said Hero controlled PUK’s finances and abused power Leadership accused of stealing money cutting salaries of peshmerga and govt workers controlling decisions
Sep 15 Report IMF wanted Iraq to reform budget to get $5.3 bil in aid Wanted intl auditor of
finances Fix budget deficit Iraq got loan and made no changes
Sep 15 Report Turkey wanted to take part in Mosul campaign Backed KDP Peshmerga and Nujafi’s
militias Didn’t happen
Sep 16 Sadrists protested in Baghdad demanding political reform and end of corruption
Sep 19 Govt workers in Sulaymaniya went on strike for not getting paid KRG not paying workers
due to budget/oil dispute with Baghdad
Sep 19 Car drove through Peshmerga checkpoint in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Shots fired and 1
passenger wounded Peshmerga arrested 2 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq leaders and closed their officers in district afterward
Sep 19 Report Parliament added corruption crimes to Amnesty Law so that officials who stole from
state could be released
Sep 21 Report Cafes in Basra bombed for hiring women One had flyer posted saying “house of the
devil” Attacks started Jul Casinos also attacked Religious parties blamed
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Sep 21 Parliament voted out Finance Min Zebari Was opposed by PM Abadi Split between KDP
PUK Gorran meant Kurds couldn’t stop vote Maliki led vote against Zebari
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Sacks Its Finance Minister)
Sep 21 Amnesty Intl sent PM Abadi details on 105 disappearances of people from 2012-16 in Anbar
Baghdad Diyala Salahaddin Govt did nothing
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Sep 21 2 women from Salahaddin village said Hashd had destroyed 100s of homes in area
Sep 22 Report Gulf Keystone not paid by KRG for Jul and Aug oil sales
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Sep 22 Aid worker said Kirkuk authorities expelled 64 Arab families and made them return to
Diyala Destroyed their homes afterwards Another 115 people expelled from displaced camp by Asayesh
Sep 23 Sunni tribal Hashd began destroyed 220 homes in Aithah Salahaddin belonging
to IS sympathizers
Sep 23 Report Dismissed Foreign Min Zebari objected to Dawa taking money from budget to
finance party Was talking about auditing expenses PM Abadi tried to manipulate salaries and pensions
Sep 23 MP said Hashd turned Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr district into secret prison Said around 3,000
people from Anbar held there Complained district emptied of civilians and no on allowed back 2 yrs after freed from IS
Sep 24 Armed men tried to kidnap 2 teachers and attacked a third in Sulaymaniya Were on strike
for not being paid by KRG 2 activists released after being kidnapped
Sep 25 Teachers across KRG went on strike for not being paid KRG in financial problems due to
oil/budget dispute with Baghdad
Sep 26 Report 6 of 7 oil companies working in KRG owed money Gulf Keystone said non-payment
and oil prices biggest concern of working in KRG Genel Energy and Oryx Petroleum not paid Jul-Aug DNO not paid for Jun oil sales Gas Plus Kalakhan only company paid in Jul but not paid in Aug Was big drop in oil prices and KRG revenue which led to non-payments Feb Natural Resource Min said it would make regular payments to companies plus 5% for past debts Didn’t happen As ran into problems ministry reported less on oil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Sep 27 Report IS may be making more money from agriculture as other revenue sources dry up
Farming provided food and taxes IS charged taxes on irrigation and crops Estimated to have made $56 mil from wheat and barley tax Also taxes livestock
Sep 27 Protests across Sulaymaniya against corruption withdrawing confidence from govt early
elections getting paid govt salaries
Sep 28 Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy said journalists had been arrested
equipment taken beaten by security forces in Sulaymaniya and Irbil for covering protests
Sep 29 Report Kurdish MP said budget covered all of Iraq so Baghdad should pay KRG govt
workers KRG had 1.3 mil govt workers Hadn’t been paid since Feb 2014 due to budget/oil dispute with Baghdad drop in oil prices and war vs IS
Oct 1 100 of 136 principals in Halabja joined strike over not being paid by KRG
Oct 3 US envoy to Iraq McGurk helped negotiate Baghdad-KRG oil deal Allowed for cooperation
in war vs IS KRG was to export 150,000 bar/day for Baghdad and revenues split
Oct 5 Report Judges investigating money laundering said millions taken out of Iraq by money
traders and banks using fake companies and money transfers Central Bank dollar auctions manipulated Some bought dollars and then re-sold them on black market Fake companies made to buy dollars and then sent money out of Iraq Money laundering only misdemeanor so no real punishment for these actions
Oct 5 Teachers and govt workers marched in Sulaymaniya over delayed and cut salaries by KRG
Oct 5 Report KRG cut govt salaries by 50% in Sep 2015 Not paid them since Jul
Oct 5 Hashd were sending fighters to Syria to help Assad in battle for Aleppo Since Sep more than
100 Iraqis went to Syria Were 4000 already in Aleppo area Al-Nujaba commander said his group sent 1000 fighters
Oct 5 Report Amnesty Law allowed criminals and corrupt officials to get off Was passed as
reconciliation move towards Sunnis Before law passed PM Abadi warned changes would let criminals go 1 article said kidnappers could apply for pardons if didn’t kill 1 said prisoners could be released with consent of victims Terrorists that didn’t kill could be pardoned Corrupt officials could be released if paid back stolen money Those that attacked Coalition before 2011 could be pardoned
Oct 6 Report Oil traders stopped giving advances to KRG for its oil exports KRG exports up
because of new deal with Baghdad Jun-Sep traders advanced KRG $272 mil Aug KRG paid oil traders $188 mil more than 30% of its oil revenue KRG started getting advances from traders in 2014 KRG cut govt payrolls 1/3 Fell behind paying oil companies
Oct 10 Report 2014 IS took Zummar Ninewa Quickly recaptured by Peshmerga Town is now
mostly Kurds who seized homes Destroyed others Residents claimed Kurds forced out 100s of people from town accusing them of being IS Amnesty International est tens of 1000s of Arabs forced out of disputed areas by Kurds Kurdish man said he occupied house that belonged to IS Kurdish commander in Zummar said 80% of Arabs supported IS After fall of Mosul Kurds added 40% to territory KRG talked about reversing Arabization in seized areas KRG wanted ot take as much land as possible for independence referendum Aug 2014 Pres Barzani claimed Sunnis were using IS to seize territory
Oct 10 Report Supreme Court ruled that PM Abadi’s order to abolish VPs unconstitutional Were in
constitution Said number of VPs could be reduced
Oct 11 Pres Erdogan said Turkey didn’t need to ask for Iraqi permission to operate in its territory
Told PM Abadi he needed to stay in his place
Oct 11 Report McGurk US envoy to anti-IS Coalition Was in KRG when Mosul fell Told PM
Maliki Mosul under serious threat Wanted him to move army units to city Maliki wasn’t concerned After Mosul many were afraid Baghdad would fall to insurgents Are reports US didn’t provide Iraq with military aid until Maliki removed US did provide aid Tikrit op led by Hashd and Iran got bogged down PM Abadi asked for US help to free city US said it would help but ISF had to be in lead Sunni tribes Hashd ISF all took part in revenge attacks after Tikrit freed
Oct 13 Report Tribes going after IS sympathizers in Ramadi Houses blown up
Oct 14 Report Turkey’s Pres Erdogan told PM Abadi “You are not on my level You are not my
equivalent You are not of the same quality as me” Said Turkey would do what it wanted in Iraq Erdogan said that Turkey would take part in Mosul op Turkish parliament extended deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq Has around 2000 in KRG and 500 in Ninewa
Oct 16 Integrity Comm said it received £2.3 mil in compensation in UK for fake bomb detectors
Came after bomb detector maker found guilty of fraud Court seized his money and gave out compensation
Oct 16 Abu Fadhl Abbas Brigade said its primary fight was in Syria Said talk about Hashd groups
sending more forces to Syria after Mosul freed Hashd spokesman said that only govt could send forces to Syria
Oct 17 Mosul campaign started with joint operations between Iraqi forces and Peshmerga Kurds
freed 2 towns 9th Div freed 6 villages Ex-Ninewa Gov Nujafi’s militia said it would take part in op with Peshmerga Attacked Mosul Dam
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day One, Oct 17, 2016)
(Musings On Iraq Interview with Ret. Col Witty on the Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Horizon Client Access’ Alex Mello on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Amnesty International’s Donatella Rovera on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with International Center for Study of Radicalization’s Charlie Winter on how IS media dealt with its defeat in Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with BBC’s Quentin Sommerville on the Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Niqash’s Mustafa Habib on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Reuters’ Stephen Kalin on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AFP’s Ahmad Mousa on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with journalist Florian Neuhof on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 18 Report Drug gangs moved into Basra Smuggled drugs in from Iran Police only arrested drug
users and middlemen rather than gang Drugs led to increased violence Zubayr hub of drug trade in Basra
Oct 19 Report Sadr met with pro-Iran Hashd leaders Amiri Abu Muhandis Khazali Kaabi to try to
reconcile Didn’t work
Oct 19 Report Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam kidnapped 3 US contractors in Jan Held them for 31 days
Saraya al-Salam acts independently of Hashd Sadr called Hashd brazen militias Iran still supported Sadr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and Sadrists carried out tit for tat killings Sadr froze his militia several times to try to control them Nov 2015 froze Saraya al-Salam in Diyala Claimed involved in crimes Sadrists fought in Syria even though he denied it
Oct 19 Report KRG made deal with PM Abadi to take part in Battle of Mosul from four axes
Oct 20 PM Abadi announced govt would not allow human rights violations during Mosul
campaign and investigative committee created to look into any Did nothing
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Oct 21 Iraqi forces freed Bartella Ninewa
Oct 21 IS attacked Kirkuk city Afterward Kurdish forces forced out 100s of displaced Sunni Arabs
Kurds also expelled Arabs from nearby town
Oct 21 Peshmerga said had deal with PM Abadi to keep all the territory they cleared during Mosul
op
Oct 23 IS spokesman Adnani before killed said group was going to lose its state but wouldn’t end
Said it would go to the deserts and revive 08 US and Iraq drove IS underground Demise due to losing Sunni support Killed tribesmen created tribal feuds harassed civilians imposed religious rule cut into tribes business Comeback based upon winning back some tribes Proselytized amongst them Took sides in disputes Bribed sheikhs Killed those that didn’t cooperate Played carrot and stick with tribes Rebuilt manpower Jailbreaks helped free members Carried out dramatic attacks on govt Took advantage of 2011 US military withdrawal and Syria Used ideas of Maoist revolution
Oct 23 Human rights workers said Kirkuk authorities expelled 250 displaced families in retaliation
for IS attack on city
Oct 24 UN said Kirkuk security comm and Asayesh ordered displaced to leave city Arab residents
said Asayesh trucks drove through neighborhood telling people to leave or their homes would be destroyed Came after IS attack
Oct 24 Report Turkish officials said Turkish forces were in Ninewa to stop Hashd from taking
Mosul Pres Erdogan did TV interview where he asked what ethnosectarian group would control Mosul after it was freed
Oct 24 IS emptied villages southeast of Mosul and marched people towards Mosul Rounded up
local police Feared they were executed
Oct 25 Report 07 ISI was pushed out of Anbar and relocated in Diyala 2014 Diyala not a priority
for IS Captured docs showed IS cells were running deficit Was fighting Ansar al-Sunna and Naqshibandi in summer 2014 5th Div Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Saraya al-Salam Sayid al-Shuhada all in Diyala Jun 2014 PM Maliki made Badr’s Amiri head of Diyala security Iran provided support to Iraqi forces and Peshmerga Iran set up 50 km security zone in east Diyala and conducted air strikes to support Hashd Summer 2014 IS threatened Baquba Police executed 40 prisoners at police station fearing city would fall Insurgents took Burhiz but forced out by Hashd backed by attack helicopters Afterwards Hashd burned homes and mosques 30 men executed Most people forced out IS focused on Muqdadiya and Khanaqin dist in center and NE Aug took Jalawla from Peshmerga IS made deals with tribes Jun 2014-Jan 2015 Hashd and army worked to recapture province Jan 2015 Tigris Ops Command declared all of Diyala liberated IS fell back to rural areas Oct 2016 IS worked to isolate towns 2015 areas in north under de facto IS control Used Diyala to attack Baghdad Badr took over Diyala govt Badr co-opted some Sunni tribes Allowed displaced returns
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Oct 25 MP from Kirkuk said 170 Arab homes in Ghosh and Dibs destroyed by security forces Gov
Karim said no effort to kick out displaced Kirkuk was kicking them out
Oct 25 Southern front in Mosul battle came from Qayara airbase Under command of Ninewa Ops
Command US artillery at Qayara base provided fire support East front came from Khazir led by Peshmerga and Golden Div Southeast front came from Gwar led by Peshmerga and army Backed by French artillery in Makhmour Northeast front came from Bashiqa led by army Golden Div Peshmerga Hashd and police Western front was to be led by Hashd towards Tal Afar Didn’t come until after Mosul freed
Oct 25 Human rights group said Asayesh and Peshmerga came to area in south Kirkuk City with
bulldozers and excavators to destroy Arab homes
Oct 26 Early 2015 IS was producing 50,000 bar/day in oil Earned $40-$50 mil/mo Industry now
devastated by Coalition air strikes and lost territory Jun 2016 US destroyed IS’s oil ministry HQ in Mosul Aug Peshmerga killed IS oil minister in raid with US Oil professionals quitting working for IS Oct 2015 US started Op Tidal Wave II to conduct air strikes on oil industry Went after production areas and middlemen that bought and sold IS oil IS had to lower prices as a result to attract new middlemen IS tried to spread out network to avoid attacks Buried pipelines and storage tanks underground
Oct 26 KRG paid Gulf Keystone $15 mil for Aug exports Natural Resource Min tried to pay
invoices from oil companies for May Jun Jul Aug Gulf Keystone had to restructure financing to stay in business due to lack of KRG payments
Oct 26 Parliament passed Hashd law that made it part of ISF
Oct 27 KDP compared VP Maliki to Ali Hassan al-Majid Came after Maliki said KRG would
become another Palestine and Barzani worked with Israel Said Kurds were why Turkish troops were in Iraq
Oct 27 Report Abu Fadhl al-Abbas Brigade went into Rutba Anbar after it was freed Blew up largest
mosque in city Took away 20 people ISF did nothing Destroyed cars Looted homes Brigade claimed they were acting against IS sympathizers
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Brigade From Fighting In Syria To Iraq)
Oct 28 KRG PM Barzani replaced 4 Gorran ministers with 4 KDP politicians in dispute over Pres
Barzani’s term
Oct 29 Report Turkish Pres Erdogan said Tal Afar Ninewa sensitive area and if Hashd tried to free
it Turkey would respond Tal Afar Turkmen town
Oct 29 Hashd started op to free Tal Afar Ninewa Wouldn’t be freed until after Mosul in 2017
Oct 29 Natil Sec Adv Fayad said Syria and Iraq wars overlapped and Iraqi forces might have to
enter Syria to fight IS
Oct 29 Anbar govt said Fallujah residents blocking IS sympathizers from returning Marked their
houses Have refused mediation from tribal and religious leaders
Oct 29 Report Oct 21 IS attacked Kirkuk city Came from Hawija in 7 trucks Attacked Emergency
Police HQ PUK sent counterterrorism forces from Sulaymaniya to secure city IS set up ambush to intercept them IS hoped to start revolt by Arabs in city
Oct 31 Iraqi forces attacked Gogjali eastern suburb of Mosul
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day Sixteen, Nov 1, 2016)
Oct 31 Report Head of Karbala Real Estate Registration Dir sentenced for tampering with real estate records Another real estate corruption case in Babil Gangs involved in illegal real estate deals esp in Baghdad Forced people to sell property Property also used by political parties as patronage
Oct 31 Report KRG MP said 90% of disputed areas taken by Kurds fighting IS Pres Bargain said
KRG would not withdraw from any area it liberated
Nov 1 Mosul entered by Iraqi forces for first time starting with eastern neighborhoods
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day Seventeen, Nov 2, 2016)
Nov 1 Mosul entered by Iraqi forces for first time starting with eastern neighborhoods Took
Gogiali outside city in east Nov 1 Teachers in Sulaymaniyah restarted protests in 7 areas over KRG not paying salaries
Nov 1 Report Nov Naqshibandi called for people of Mosul to rise up against IS Warned Hashd to
stay out of city IS formed alliance with Naqshibandi to take Mosul in 2014 After Mosul fell committee created to run city that included fmr officers Baathists insurgents Asked IS foreign fighters to leave It refused Told everyone that didn’t give it allegiance to leave Mosul or be killed IS started attacking other insurgent groups like Naqshibandi Ansar al-Sunna to drive them from Mosul
Nov 1 Report IS killed 40 fmr soldiers in town south of Mosul Rounded up civilians from
southern town and moved them to Mosul for human shields
Nov 2 Amnesty Intl Tribal Hashd carried out revenge attacks in 3 villages southeast of Mosul Accused people of being IS sympathizers Beat and electrocuted people
Nov 3 Report Peshmerga ordered to force Sunnis out of town in Tuz Kharmato dist Salahaddin
Nov 3 Human Rights Watch Kurds forced Arabs out of Kirkuk after IS attacked Kirkuk City in
Oct Kicked Arabs out of neighborhood in city Blew up their homes Kirkuk govt ordered all displaced not in camps to leave Forced out around 250 families Destroyed around 100 homes
Nov 3 Report Integrity Comm said Displacement Min stealing aid for displaced Food missing
from food parcels Supplies were expired Found generators and other supplies held in warehouses for more than 2 yrs
Nov 3 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi released statement Said those that fought would be venerated
forever and said fight for Mosul was like the Prophet in battle of Medina in 627
Nov 4 Human Rights Watch IS emptied villages and made residents march towards Mosul
Rounded up fmr ISF members Afraid they were killed
Nov 5 Sheikh said Hashd stopped displaced from returning to Suleiman Beq Salahaddin
Nov 5 Hashd leader Abu Muhandis said freeing Mosul would take time because US helped IS
Nov 6 Iraqi forces freed Hamama al-Alil Ninewa
Nov 7 Report US Apache helicopters were destroying car bombs in Mosul campaign
Nov 7 Amnesty Intl After IS attacked Kirkuk city on Oct 21 Asayesh and local police forced Arabs
out Around 250 families expelled from Kirkuk and 190 from Dibs 75 families from Qotan Threatened to destroy people’s homes in Kirkuk Asayesh entered 5 towns and told displaced Arabs they had to return to their home areas
Nov 7 Mass grave found in Hamam al-Alil Ninewa Thought to contain 300 former police killed by
IS
Nov 8 Peshmerga freed Bashiqa Ninewa
Nov 8 UN said IS abducted 300 fmr soldiers in Ninewa 100 were taken to villages west of Mosul
195 taken to Tal Afar in western Ninewa Also forced 1500 families out of Hamam al-Alil and drove them to Mosul Were used as human shields
Nov 8 Report IS ordered people out of Abu Saif south of Mosul into city
Nov 9 Report IS forced 25,000 people from Shirqat Salahaddin into Hawija Kirkuk to be used as
human shields Forced out 80 families from town west of Mosul to set up defenses there
Nov 9 People in Hamam al-Alil Ninewa began carrying out revenge attacks on IS sympathizers and
families Burned around 20 homes Kicked out 8 families
Nov 12 Report UN found around 100 bodies in mass grave in Hamam al-Alil Ninewa Victims of IS
Could be as many as 300 bodies
Nov 13 Iraqi forces freed Nimrod Ninewa
Nov 13 Human Rights Watch Found evidence Kurds destroyed Arab homes in 83 towns in Kirkuk
Ninewa Irbil 7 villages were empty of people 83 towns were completely or partially destroyed In Daquq Kirkuk Peshmerga said they blew up homes that were booby trapped 3 towns could not have been booby trapped because never taken by IS 2 towns IS only controlled for 2 days residents said IS didn’t leave behind any IEDs Peshmerga bulldozed homes when retaken Some towns destroyed weeks/months after Peshmerga liberated them Pres Barzani’s chief of staff blamed individuals
Nov 13 Sinjar mayor said PKK stopped displaced Yazidis from returning Claimed Baghdad backed
PKK
Nov 14 2 Kurdish MPs said they had evidence that officials stole millions since 2013 Said 5 bil
dinars taken from disabled 40 bil dinars taken from Peshmerga 7 bil dinars taken from Board of Environment and Educ Min 4 bil dinars taken from Women’s Council and Human Rights Comm
Nov 14 Report People in Qayara Ninewa were marking homes belonging to IS sympathizers Man
said tribal fighters and police destroyed home of an IS member
Nov 16 KDP official visited Russia Said KRG was going to hold independence referendum after IS
defeated Mar Pres Barzani said KRG would hold referendum in Oct Didn’t Happen
Nov 16 Human Rights Watch Mass grave found in Hamam al-Alil with around 300 fmr police killed
by IS Think were killed in Oct Were being held prisoner beforehand IS forced people out of town south of Mosul Then took men and boys away Took fmr policemen and drove them to Hamam al-Alil where executed
Nov 17 Report Canadian trainers took part in combat Canadian Special Forces used anti-tank
missiles to destroy IS car bombs while working with Peshmerga
Nov 19 100s of teachers govt workers and other protested in 4 parts of Sulaymaniya over austerity
measures
Nov 20 Salahaddin officials forced out people accused of being IS collaborators from town
Nov 22 PM Abadi held press conference Said Iraq not interfering in Syrian War Hashd units were
fighting in Syria for years helping Iran and Assad
Nov 22 Hashd started op to surround Tal Afar Ninewa
Nov 23 2006 Al Qaeda leader al-Iraqi went from Afghanistan to Iraq to talk with Zarqawi Al-Iraqi
had backed Zarqawi in Afghanistan in 90s 03-04 Zarqawi often asked for aid from Al Qaeda in return for giving it allegiance Al-Iraqi was who Zarqawi usually talked to Al-Iraqi was against Zarqawi’s plan to attack Shiites and start sectarian war Al-Iraqi said shouldn’t attack fellow Muslims Al-Iraqi wanted to send more Al Qaeda men to Iraq to assess situation Jul 05 Zawahiri sent letter to Zarqawi said not to kill Iraqis because would alienate public Nov 05 Zarqawi bombed 3 hotels in Jordan which angered Al Qaeda It ordered Zarqawi to stop attacks outside Iraq Jan 06 Zarqawi formed Mujahadeen Shura Council to expand base and include more Iraqis Jan 06 Zawahiri told Ansar al-Sunna to join Zarqawi twice Al-Iraqi went to Iraq to work out deal between 2 groups Zarqawi was killed and then successor Baghdadi announced Islamic State of Iraq without telling Al Qaeda Al-Iraqi arrested in Turkey trying to go to Iraq Al Qaeda sent another operative who tried to repair relations with ISI
Nov 23 VP Maliki went to Karbala shrine where people called him a murderer thief corrupt and
sectarian
Nov 24 Report Some Sunnis may be permanently displaced from war vs IS Towns have been
destroyed for being pro-IS Went to town where Arabs had to get permission from Peshmerga to leave or come Surrounding towns were off limits to Arabs and displaced blocked from returning Town in Sinjar dist destroyed for being pro-IS Yazidi Peshmerga cpt said people would never be allowed to go back
Nov 24 Abadi govt told civilians to stay in homes during Mosul campaign Led to high rate of
civilians casualties during fighting
Nov 24 Pres Barzani said Peshmerga would not withdraw from any area it took before Mosul
campaign Areas taken during campaign would be negotiated
Nov 24 Iraqi Turkmen Front said Hashd should not enter Tal Afar Ninewa
Nov 26 Parliament made Hashd an independent military force under the commander and chief
Nov 26 Human Rights Watch ISF abused protesters it arrested PM Abadi said he would investigate
matter Nothing happened
Nov 28 Report Shell was thinking of withdrawing from oil deals in Iraq Low oil prices meant profits
were down Shell paid in oil and told to cut production Said it was still interested in natural gas
Nov 28 Report Aug US killed IS spokesman Adnani in airstrike Jul IS War Min Shishani killed in
airstrike in Ninewa Sep IS head of security in Mosul killed in airstrike Nov al-Iraqi head of IS western ops killed by US
Nov 30 Report Interviewed survivor from IS massacre in Hamam al-Alil Ninewa Saw IS kill 8
buses worth of people Said was around 300 victims Afterward IS moved 100s of people from nearby town into Hamam al-Alil for human shields Pulled out ex-ISF from group and killed them
Nov 30 Report Aug 06-Aug 07 more than 600 foreign fighters went from Syria into Iraq Syrian govt
facilitated foreign fighters Promoted insurgency in Iraq to deter US from striking Syria Ex-Syrian intel officer est 5000 foreign fighters went from Syria to Iraq
Nov 30 Iranian jet filmed bombing IS in Diyala
Dec 1 Peshmerga Min said 1,614 Peshmerga killed 9,515 wounded in war vs IS
Dec 1 KRG Educ Min said it would take legal action against teachers on strike in Sulaymaniya over
KRG not paying salaries
Dec 1 Op started to clear Balad and Dhuluiya Salahaddin and road from Samarra to Baghdad
Dec 3 Joint Ops Command said UN exaggerated casualty figures UN used open source news reports
Led UN to stop reporting casualties for a period Was attempt by Abadi govt to stop bad news about war vs IS
Dec 3 Report Kurdish forces destroyed at least 100 Arab homes in Kirkuk city neighborhood after IS
attack Displaced 300 families Kirkuk governor denied story
Dec 4 Human Rights Watch KRG restricted food water and business in Sinjar dist to hurt PKK 90%
of Yazidis displaced in district Only a few returned Some tried to return and stopped by KRG forces
Dec 4 Parliament accepted Baghdad-KRG deal KRG would export 550,000 bar/day of oil in return
for paying KRG salaries
Dec 5 KRG Natural Resource Min Hawrami said KRG wouldn’t follow OPEC production quotas set
for Iraq
Dec 6 6th Annual Kurdistan-Iraq Oil and Gas Conference in UK DNO head said had been high profile
misses and disappointments for KRG Said realities of KRG oil industry didn’t meet expectations Said working in KRG more difficult than thought Said too many risks with security and economic crises Said KRG had to make regular payments to energy companies Natural Resource Min Hawrami angered that DNO was publicly criticizing KRG
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Dec 6 Report Exxon was going to leave 3 of its 6 blocks in KRG Since 2014 oil companies have left
19 blocks in KRG
Dec 7 Report Original Mosul plan was to leave outlet for IS fighters to flee to Syria Iran lobbied and
got plan changed Didn’t want IS fighters going to Syria to fight its ally Assad Iran got Hashd to move into west Ninewa and block outlet
Dec 7 Report Saqlawiya Anbar freed from IS found IS had executed scores of men ISF then did
screenings of all men in town Around 1250 men taken away Not heard of 6 months later UN condemned abduction Found 40 men at Hashd base who’d been tortured because accused of being IS Told they were being punished for Camp Speicher massacre Not interrogated Just beaten Another 643 men were abducted by Hashd during Anbar fighting Still disappeared
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
Dec 7 Report IS forced civilians from 3 neighborhoods in Mosul into eastern side of city to be used
as human shields
Dec 10 Turkey’s PM called PM Abadi Said Turkish troops would withdraw from Ninewa after
Mosul freed
Dec 11 VP Maliki went to meeting in Basra Stormed by protesters Forced Maliki to leave
Dec 12 Report Protests in Dhi Qar Maysan Basra against VP Maliki visiting Blamed him for attacks
on activists and return of IS
Dec 12 Report IS took 250 people from town south of Mosul and forced them into city to be used as
human shields
Dec 14 Peshmerga commander in Ninewa said Kurds had split blood taking territory from IS and
wouldn’t listen to order from parliament to leave disputed areas
Dec 16 9th Div entered north Mosul Seized al-Salam hospital which became command post
Dec 16 Masrour Barzani said KRG independence was risky but needed to happen Chief of Staff of
Pres Barzani’s office said independence would start with agreement with Baghdad and then with Iran and Turkey
Dec 16 Report Anti-corruption agencies are hampered by how structured Each ministry has
inspector general but under control of ministers Ministers have used anti-corruption investigations against enemies Inspector generals rarely work with each other Usually wait for instructions from others Integrity Comm heads constantly replaced 08 PM Maliki forced out head of Integrity Comm Few convictions in corruption cases US provides training for anti-corruption agencies UN assisted with cases World Bank did training for govt procurement
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Dec 17 Report Diyala govt said IS setting up checkpoints in Kanaan Diyala again esp at night in
rural areas Sleeper cells operating in province
Dec 20 Report 5 yrs after Exxon signed oil deal with KRG didn’t find what it hoped for 3 oil and gas
projects didn’t have large reserves Adviser hired by Exxon promised Kirkuk size oil field Exxon left 3 contracts Still 3 contracts in fields that only had modest prospects
Dec 20 Iranian Rev Guard blamed for bombing of Kurdistan Democratic Party Iran office in Irbil
Killed 7
Dec 22 Report Heavy fighting in Mosul led up to 100 wounded civilians a day being sent to Irbil
hospital Irbil hospitals said treated 7,595 wounded from Mosul last 65 days
Dec 22 Report Some Hashd leaders talked with Syria about supporting Syrian govt 1 Hashd leader
said 2000 fighters had gone to Syria over last week
Dec 23 KRG Trade Min said dealings with foreign business down 35% in last 3 yrs due to KRG
financial crisis Most investment projects halted
Dec 25 PM Barzani said KRG could use force to expel PKK from Ninewa Accused PKK of stopping
people from returning to Sinjar District used to be under KDP control now contested by PKK
Dec 26 Report 90 Iraqi companies accused of working with IS Dec US Treasury froze assets of 2
money exchanges for helping IS Central Bank of Iraq said companies in Baghdad Salahaddin Anbar Kirkuk all suspected of involvement with IS
Dec 26 Report US began shelling sections of Mosul to help with campaign to free city
Dec 27 Report PKK KRG Turkey argued over Sinjar Ninewa Turkey said it would force PKK out of
district if KRG didn’t Said wouldn’t allow PKK to set up another base like in Syria KRG PM Barzani accused PKK of blocking reconstruction and told it to leave Threatened force PKK said PM Barzani just repeating Turkey Said KRG allowed Turkish forces in Kurdistan
Dec 27 Report Hashd set up 5 secret prisons in Salahaddin Accused of abducting people at
checkpoints Some detainees ransomed off by Hashd
Dec 28 Last bridge crossing Tigris in Mosul destroyed by Coalition airstrike to prevent
IS retreating from eastern to western section of city
Dec 28 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said that his forces would fight IS in Syria Said Iraq and Syria
would cooperate PM Abadi said any Iraqi forces in Syria didn’t represent Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq had been fighting in Syria for years
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 29 2nd phase of Battle of Mosul officially began attacking east side of city Attack actually
began Dec 24 Supported by US artillery
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 74, Dec 29, 2016)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
Dec 29 MP on displacement comm said corruption affected UN aid to Iraq Said displaced only got
25% of aid Claimed some UN agencies were spending 75% of their money on staff
2017
Jan 1 Golden Div freed Garma, Anbar from IS
Jan 4 Report US advisers working with ISF inside Mosul
Jan 4 Salahaddin govt said Hashd were stopping displaced from returning to Baiji Yathrib
Suleiman Beq Criticized PM Abadi and ISF for not doing anything
(Musings On Iraq 1/3 of Iraqi Voters Excluded From 2023 Elections Largely Due To Sectarian Cleansing)
Jan 4 Report UN said 1959 ISF died in Nov 2016 Joint Ops Command criticized figure UN said
couldn’t verify all its casualties Led to criticism by govt UN asked ministries for numbers None responded Abadi govt claimed inaccurate casualty figures helped IS Govt was trying to keep down casualty figures during war
Jan 4 Amnesty Intl Hashd not paid by govt July 2015 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazlai claimed no media
able to accuse Hashd of killing innocent civilians Jan 2015 and Jul 2016 Ayatollah Sistani warned against attacks on civilians Sep PM Abadi said Iraqi forces that committed crimes would face justice Hashd had history of systemic abuses Hashd stopped displaced from returning Jan Diyala café bombed Hashd rampaged through town kidnapping and killing Sunnis Burned and destroyed mosques shops Drove police cars through town Told Sunnis to leave ISF did nothing Jan Hashd accused of killing 56 Sunnis in Baghdad Abadi ordered investigation Nothing happened May 12 displaced men from Sjar Anbar executed 73 other displaced disappeared Kataib Hezbollah blamed Jun large group of displaced in Anbar stopped by Hashd 1300 taken away 605 later released Were tortured and beaten Anbar investigations into two cases found 49 killed 643 disappeared Blamed Kataib Hezbollah Oct Ninewa Hashd detained and tortured men southeast of Mosul Villages south of Mosul said Hashd looted and destroyed homes Hashd arrested and tortured displaced Kataib Heabollah accused of abducting 2200 people at Anbar-Karbala checkpoint
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Missing 600 From Anbar’s Saqlawiya Finally Found Dead?)
(Musings On Iraq Crimes And Misdemeanors Of Kataib Hezbollah During War Vs ISIS Interview With Free Lance Journalist Jonathan Lee Krohn)
Jan 5 Report Dec VP Maliki made tour of Maysan Basra Dhi Qar Was met by protests organized
by Sadrists In Basra people stormed site Maliki was to visit and Maliki had to leave Maliki threatened new Charge of Knights against Basra protesters Baghdad govt called for questioning Sadrist governor in revenge Sadrists called for questioning State of Law governing in Karbala
Jan 5 Kirkuk govt issued warrants for Hashd trying to recruit Kurds Said it would not allow Shiite
Hashd into central Kirkuk
Jan 7 Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate report 45 cases of violations against media in KRG Included
2 killed and another survived a bombing 44 journalists banned from covering a story
Jan 9 Report Exxon made big gamble investing in KRG US was opposed State Dept told Exxon it
should wait until oil law passed Baghdad threatened to end deal with Exxon Company unhappy with small profits it was making in Basra End of 2011 Baghdad owed it $1 bil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jan 10 Report IS was executing civilians and fighters in Mosul Hadn’t paid members for months
IS accused people of treason
Jan 11 Pres Barzani said committee would be formed to decide future of disputed areas Also
independence referendum would be held
Jan 13 VP Maliki said Iran was only country that helped Iraq with weapons after Mosul fell to IS
Accusing other countries of holding up aid for months Wasn’t true
Jan 13 KRG borrowed $500 mil at 12% interest without telling parliament Dep PM Q Talabani got
10% signing bonus from deal Sources said $50 mil from loan sent to private account Was to cover KRG economic crisis due to oil/budget dispute with Baghdad
Jan 14 Report Went with Christians to look at their homes in Qaraqosh Ninewa Many buildings
burned destroyed looted Many said they wanted to leave Iraq Didn’t trust either ISF or peshmerga to protect them Ninewa Plains Protection Unit in charge of Qaraqosh Worked with Baghdad and US Baqofa Assyrian Christian military was under KRG Peshmerga blocked them from retaking their town Some Christians wanted own province or autonomous region
Jan 18 Report ISF captured IS docs in Mosul Said some members didn’t want to fight anymore Some
asked to be sent to Syria
Jan 20 When Trump took office as president told Def Sec Mattis to come up with plan to increase
war vs IS
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Jan 21 Report Trump gave speech at CIA HQ Said if US had taken Iraq’s oil IS might not have been
created because oil is what funded IS Said US might have another chance to take Iraq’s oil Trump said US should’ve taken Iraq’s oil several times during his campaign
Jan 23 Report Head of South Gas Company said wanted to triple exports of liquified petroleum gas
(LGP) and double export of gas condensates LGP exports supposed to go from 30,000 tons to 100,000 tons in 2017 Gas condensates from 200,000 cubic meters to 400,000 cubic meters Iraq started exporting gas liquids in 2016 Most gas is still flared
Jan 23 Report PM Abadi ordered investigation into ISF and Hashd for kidnapping and abusing
civilians during Mosul campaign Al Jazeera showed video of police executing 3 men Amnesty Intl said Hashd carried out systemic abuse Nothing happened
Jan 24 East Mosul officially declared liberated by PM Abadi
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
Jan 24 Pres Barzani said 1,668 Peshmerga killed 9,725 wounded fighting IS
Jan 24 UN IS continued to kill civilians in liberated parts of east Mosul Attacked civilians trying to
escape Airstrikes in Mosul also causing civilian casualties Video released of ISF beating 4 IS and then executing them in east Mosul Said govt had to deal with violations
Jan 24 Report Trump called PM Abadi Said US should’ve taken Iraq’s oil Abadi said Iraqi oil Iraqi
property Trump said US would increase support for Iraq to fight IS
Jan 26 All of east Mosul freed by Iraqi forces after PM Abadi declared it cleared already
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
Jan 26 Report Gen Martin head of ground forces in Coalition said 5000 civilian and 1600 ISF
casualties since start of Mosul op
Jan 26 Report Original Mosul plan was to attack city from multiple directions Golden Div reached
east Mosul while southern and northern fronts stalled due to 2 new army divisions that had never seen combat being used Golden Div took part in every major battle vs IS Some ISF unfit for combat Some cmdrs given jobs without experience Led to heavier fighting against Golden Div
Jan 26 NRT showed video of Hashd evicting families from Shirqat Salahaddin accusing them of
being IS sympathizers
Jan 26 Report 2008 Provincial Powers Law supposed to decentralize power Had been amended PM
Abadi said he supported decentralization and would push it in 12 months Nothing happened Law didn’t deal with other laws that block decentralization including Civil Service Law of 1960 Public Sector Employees Law of 1991 Some MPs wanted to reduce powers of provincial councils or end them Some wanted to maintain centralized power Ministers didn’t want to lose powers to provinces
Jan 26 Report Trump signed executive order banning refugees from Muslim countries including
Iraq Iraqis would not be allowed into US even if had visa or relatives in US All refugees would be blocked for 120 days
Jan 27 Hashd spokesman from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq threatened to attack Peshmerga if didn’t withdraw
from all areas it freed in Ninewa Said Peshmerga had to follow agreement made with PM Abadi Said Peshmerga could be removed which would be easier than fighting IS
Jan 28 Gorran demanded that KRG parliament be brought back and political crisis ended before
KRG elections
Jan 28 KRG Planning Min said 3700 projects suspended in region due to economic crisis
Jan 29 Report At least 345 families expelled from Tikrit for IS ties ISF evicted family and sent it to
displaced camp Salahaddin Dep Gov said expulsions were message to IS families PM Abadi criticized expulsions Head of Salahaddin Ops Command said critics should not interfere in expulsions
Jan 29 Report Trump’s order banning immigration from Iraq shocked Iraqi officials Learned about
it from media not US Embassy Order blocked Iraqis from entering US for 90 days
Jan 30 Foreign Min Jaafari surprised by Trump’s decision to ban Iraqis from entering US Said
Iraqis were victims of terrorism not terrorists US Amb to Iraq said it was working on releasing Iraqis detained at US airports after Trump’s travel ban
Jan 31 Report 2012 around ¼ of Iraqi children lived in poverty Children had highest rate of poverty
of any age group Undermined future of youth Poor households didn’t get many social benefits from govt 34% of rural children poor vs 17% in urban areas South Iraq had most poverty Illiteracy major factor in poverty 1 in 3 kids lacked full access to education 30% of kids under 5 suffered food deprivation Only 12% of poor got services 82% of govt expenditures on social services went to the rich
Jan 31 Report Parliament restarted investigation into oil corruption Australian paper reported
billions in bribes made by Unaoil Group High level officials in Oil Min VP Shahristani and Oil Min Luaibi implicated
Jan 31 Report Auditing firm found corruption in KRG ministries in 2015 Nothing done
Feb 1 KRG set up electronic payment system for govt workers Uncovered widespread fraud Were
people getting up to 5 wages KRG said 1.4 mil govt workers Only around 740,000 actually worked Rest ghost workers or those that get more than 1 salary Took around 70% of KRG budget
Feb 1 Report Production at Taq Taq oil field down 75% in 2 yrs Sign of problems with KRG oil
industry Taq Taq used to be #1 producer in KRG Now down to #3 Companies cut back investment in KRG because not paid Feb 2016 Natural Resource Min said companies would get monthly payments Didn’t happen Jan 2017 Genel Energy said it was owed $57 mil for 2016 production
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 3 Human Rights Watch went to displaced camp in Salahaddin Families said Hashd forced them
out of their town
Feb 4 Report German media said weapons it supplied to Peshmerga were being sold on black market
2 sets of reporters found German weapons being sold in Irbil and Sulaymaniya
Feb 5 Report MP said 100,000-300,000 bar/day of oil stolen from Basra by fixing meters VP Maliki
formed commission on smuggling in Basra Never reported anything
Feb 5 Report Sources said 2 sons of Electricity Min Fahadawi ran appointments in ministry
Fahadawi and sons might have stolen $30-$40 mil from contracts Projects were sent to company associated with Fahadawi and he got commissions
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Feb 6 Trump had first briefing on war vs IS Asked if US should’ve taken Iraq’s oil to pay for US
occupation
Feb 8 Report Head of Christian Hashd told Arabs they had to leave Tal Keif in Ninewa because
town belonged to Christians
Feb 9 Sec Gen of Kataib Hezbollah assassinated in Basra Was fmr head of Basra security committee
Feb 9 Report Army found 2 mass graves of people killed by IS in Rutba Anbar Were mix of
civilians and ISF Looked like they were killed in 2014
Feb 9 PM Abadi criticized Human Rights Watch report on Hashd abuses in Ninewa Said report full
of fallacies Coalition surprised by Abadi’s comments and said it would encourage abuses
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Feb 11 Sadrist protest in Baghdad broken up by ISF using tear gas and live bullets when moved on
Green Zone 5 killed Baghdad Ops Command claimed some Sadrists were armed
Feb 13 Report 40 bombings a month in Basra 12 music stores were bombed
Feb 14 Report Dana Gas won case against KRG in London court over right to be paid for liquid gas
production Court ordered KRG to pay $12 mil for production from 2015-16 KRG refused pay saying project behind schedule Jul 2015 Dana Gas won contractual case against KRG for $1.96 bil in unpaid invoices
Feb 14 Report IS devastated farming in Ninewa plains Farmers missing equipment IEDs still around
Fields damaged Ninewa used to be leading farm province in Iraq Est 70% of farmers fled Ninewa during IS rule Farmers needed seeds fertilizer fuel electricity equipment irrigation to rebuild Govt said it started program to help farmers
Feb 15 Report Spike in violence in Basra Sec Gen of Hezbollah Iraq assassinated in Feb Next wk 6
IEDs went off 1 outside home of Dawa official Pro-Iran Hashd held press conference saying they would be in charge of security Deployment of ISF to fight IS left Basra mostly unprotected
Feb 15 Report Up to $300,000/day charged illegally at checkpoints north of Baghdad
Feb 16 Human Rights Watch Hashd destroyed and looted homes during Mosul op from Nov 2016-
Feb 2017 At least 350 buildings in Ashwa Ninewa destroyed Asaib Al Al-Haq and Ali Akhbar Brigades blamed IS Homes were destroyed after town freed Satellites showed destruction of homes in surrounding villages as well Christian town of Qaraqosh and Sunni-Christian town of Khidir were looted and houses burned after freed Qaraqosh saw fighting between Ninewa Protection Unit and Babylon Brigades Afterward homes were looted 2 other towns had homes destroyed by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 16 Report As many as 28,000 injured in Mosul battle treated in Irbil 14000 civilians and ISF
injured during fighting 14000 suffered illnesses due to lack of health services
Feb 17 Report Intl Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence released report on IS
finance Said since IS lost territory its finances went from $1.9 bil in 2014 to $870 mil in 2016 IS came to rely on taxes fees oil ransom looting extortion for money Those relied upon holding territory
Feb 19 Attack on West Mosul began by Iraqi forces
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
Feb 21 Report Planning Min said 1.2 mil people almost 50% of population 15 or over was not working
or not looking for work Only 187,000 aged 15-64 were unemployed and looking for work In KRG est 1.2 mil were not participating in workforce Women most likely not to work due to tradition and discrimination
Feb 21 Report KRG looked for $500 mil loan to help oil sector and deal with economic crisis New
biometric registration for govt workers led to 30,000 being fired 1600 were senior officials
Feb 23 Report Feb PM Abadi talked about natl reconciliation Said IS families should not be punished
No official policy on families Were being evicted from Qayara Ninewa and Shirqat Salahaddin Aug 2016 Salahaddin govt voted to evict IS families Special comm was formed to go through files of families Comm said families would be kicked out for no less than 10 yrs Hit Anbar decided to evict IS families
Feb 24 Report Iraqi air force hit IS positions in Syria PM Abadi said Iraq would chase down IS
everywhere US provided intel for strike
Feb 24 Report ISF found mass grave south of Mosul Called horror hole Residents said IS executed
hundreds of people and dropped them into sink hole Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said up to 5000 could’ve been killed there
Feb 24 Sadr called protest in Baghdad to demand dismissing Election Commission before vote
Feb 28 Sadrists protested and rioted during PM Abadi visit to Kut Wasit Threw stones and water
bottles ISF fired tear gas and live bullets into crowd Injured 3 Sadr apologized to Abadi afterward
Feb 28 Genel Energy reduced its est reserves at KRG’s Taq Taq field from 172 mil/bar down to 59
mil/bar
Feb 28 Report IS used to control 3 oil fields in northern Iraq Had 600 small refineries that produced
millions of dollars worth of oil products for group Brought in hundreds of experts from around world and even offered competitive salaries to them according to captured IS records Took oil equipment from Syria and moved it to Iraq Used many former Oil Min workers 2nd half of 2015 US picked up attacks on IS oil industry
Mar 1 50 civilian casualties from ISF shelling of Old City in Mosul Air strikes blamed for another
84 dead and 14 wounded
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 136, Mar 1, 2017)
Mar 2 Report PUK forces entered North Oil Company offices in Kirkuk Head of PUK office in
Kirkuk said was sign to PM Abadi that Kirkuk’s oil was for Kirkuk Gave Baghdad ultimatum to stop exporting oil from province
Mar 2 Rojava peshmerga tried to enter area in Sinjar dist controlled by Sinjar Protection Units (YBS)
who stopped peshmerga at checkpoints Led to arguments Peshmerga officer said area was part of KRG and YBS/PKK had no right to stop them PKK leader accused KDP of trying to provoke them PKK claimed KRG Pres Barzani had meeting with Turkey’s Pres Erdogan and led to confrontation
Mar 3 Fighting broke out between Sinjar Protection Units (YBS) and Rojava Peshmerga 7 killed
Started over YBS blocking peshmerga at checkpoint which led to argument
Mar 5 Report Spokesman for KRG Pres Barzani said all the forces in Sinjar were PKK Said PKK
should be under authority of KRG but wasn’t Said Yazidis didn’t accept the PKK Peshmerga cmdr called on PKK to leave Sinjar Came after Sinjar Protection units fought KDP backed force
Mar 6 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq spokesman claimed US dropped supplies to IS in Mosul and
evacuated senior leaders out of city Claimed Hashd stopped US from rescuing IS members in Tal Far Part of pro-Iran Hashd info campaign vs US
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 141-142, Mar 6-7, 2017)
Mar 6 Report Iraq taken off Trump’s Muslim travel ban after intense lobbying PM Abadi called Trump
and talked with VP Pence and Sec State Tillerson Iraq agreed to allow US to deport Iraqis in return
Mar 7 Airstrikes blamed for deaths of 116 civilians and 140 wounded in Mosul IS executed 35
people Mass grave with 50 victims of IS found in east Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 141-142, Mar 6-7, 2017)
Mar 8 Report Mar meeting of Sunni politicians in Turkey Included VP Nujafi Ex-Ninewa Gov Nujafi
Ex-Finance Min Issawi Businessman Khanjar Head of Assoc of Muslim Scholars Dhari Were arrest warrants for 3 of them Meeting sponsored by Turkey Saudi Arabia Qatar Jordan UAE Abadi govt condemned meeting Showed Sunni elite divorced from political reality Thought meeting would lead to unity Didn’t think people would be offended and oppose it Sunni marginalization most often discussed in Iraq Misleading because Sunnis part of govt Thought marginalization really lack of united Sunni identity Sunnis divided between Arab nationalism and Islamists Didn’t participate in identity politics before 03 Sunnis didn’t identify as group before Thought were majority and Iraq belonged to them Some Sunni politicians tried to be involved in govt while having ties with insurgents but didn’t work Thought repeating old politics would maintain divisions
Mar 8 Iranian official said 2100 Iranians died fighting in Iraq and Syria Was more than double number
he gave in Nov when only talked about losses in Syria
Mar 9 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq spokesman claimed US had taken IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdad out of
Mosul Part of pro-Iran Hashd info campaign vs US
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 144, Mar 9, 2017)
Mar 10 Report Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said 700 civilians had been killed in fighting to
free west Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 145, Mar 10, 2017)
Mar 11 Golden Div and Federal Police attacked Old City Mosul from 3 axes
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 146, Mar 11, 2017)
Mar 11 Pres Barzani said Kurdish independence would come about via dialogue Said disputed
areas Kurds had occupied during war vs IS had to determine their own future Said since Iraq created had abused Kurds and that continued since 2003
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Mar 11 Hashd found mass grave near Badush prison Ninewa with 100s of bodies IS reportedly
killed 600 prisoners when it took prison in 2014
Mar 12 Najaf Dhi Qar Muthanna Wasit Qadisiya all objected to plan to privatize electricity
Baghdad wanted to privatize distribution to provinces Bill passed 2012 Only implemented 5 yrs later Attempt to control usage and deal with power shortages
Mar 13 Mass grave with 160 bodies found in Mosul Mostly former ISF executed by IS after take
over of city in 2014
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 148, March 13, 2017)
Mar 14 Report Captured IS document said it knew it would lose Mosul and Raqqa Said loss of
territory wouldn’t end Caliphate
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 149, March 14, 2017)
Mar 14 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights reported 439 civilians killed in battle to take West
Mosul from IS Thought 700 more had died but couldn’t confirm
Mar 14 Mass grave found near Al Houd 118 people disappeared from town under IS rule
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 150, March 15, 2017)
Mar 16 US deployed Apache helicopters to support Iraqi forces due to heavy fighting in Old City
Mosul ISF advanced stopped due to bad weather
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 151, March 16, 2017)
Mar 16 Report 320 schools reopened in east Mosul and nearby towns 258,000 kids back in school
Mar 19 Report Iraqi using more air strikes and artillery to free west Mosul from IS resulting in
more civilian casualties Hospitals reported 1,600 dead and wounded in east Mosul fighting Media said more than 750 civilians killed in west Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 154, March 19, 2017)
Mar 19 Iraq Observatory for Human Rights said heavy civilian casualties clearing west Mosul Said
ISF ignoring civilians trapped in city while shelling residential areas
Mar 20 Report Continued claims IS using gas attacks in Mosul 45 people brought in chocking after
suspicious mortar shells used in 5 neighborhoods
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 155-56, March 20-21, 2017)
Mar 20 Mosul mayor said more than 150 civilians killed in airstrikes last three days Iraqi Civil
Defense pulled 136 bodies from bombed buildings
Mar 20 IS forced 38 families out of their homes to be used as human shields in west Mosul IS shot
at people trying to flee
Mar 21 Report ISF looting Mosul Took several tons of wheat and generators
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 155-56, March 20-21, 2017)
Mar 22 Def Sec Mattis said US troops would remain in Iraq after IS defeated to help Iraqi forces
Mar 22 Building hit by US air strike in west Mosul Civil Defense teams and Iraqi general said 100-
108 bodies found in rubble Ended up being over 200 dead
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 158, March 23, 2017)
Mar 22 Report 254 civilians dead and wounded in Mosul from IS mortar fire and Coalition and
Iraqi air strikes
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 157, March 22, 2017)
Mar 22 IS seized Rajm al-Hadid neighborhood in west Mosul 1st time IS seized territory since
start of battle for city
(Musings On Iraq Mosul campaign Day 166-167 March 31-April 1, 2017)
Mar 23 Sadr interview Said he thought Hashd law would give it more power Said only army should
be in charge of security Sadr called for Hashd to be dissolved after IS defeated Said Hashd wanted to fight in Syria and Yemen Feared they would harm Iraq Was because Hashd led by his rivals
Mar 23 Report 230 civilians killed in 3 buildings hit in airstrike in west Mosul Mar 22 Original
count was 100 IS was using building with human shields Defense Min claimed casualty reports came from IS Said ISF was protecting civilians Threatened legal action against media
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 158, March 23, 2017)
Mar 23 Security source said 3,864 civilians killed in months worth of fighting to free west Mosul
from IS Another 22,579 wounded
Mar 23 Report while visiting US PM Abadi said Hashd would not run in elections They did
Mar 23 Defense Min said reports of high civilian casualties in Mosul came from IS Part of govt
info campaign to deny civilian deaths during battle Threatened to sue media for defamation
Mar 25 KRG PM Barzani said Kurdish referendum on independence would happen in 2017
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Mar 25 US admitted it carried out airstrike in Mosul day house hit and over 200 civilians killed
Civil Defense force said it pulled 136 bodies from rubble and thought another 150 still buried in building
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 160, March 25, 2017)
Mar 25 Golden Div Gen Saadi said Coalition airstrike responsible for destroying building in West
Mosul where civilians killed Defense Min opened investigation into bombing Iraqi general said car bomb responsible for casualties Civil Defense force said no sign of a car bomb
Mar 25 Report Trump asked Pentagon to rethink rules of engagement for airstrikes in Iraq to make
them easier to approve
(Musings On Iraq review Airpower in the War Against ISIS)
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Mar 26 ISF denied air strike led to civilian deaths in west Mosul Claimed IS car bomb destroyed
building Then said this happened in different neighborhood US airstrike did destroy building leaving over 200 dead
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 161, March 26, 2017)
Mar 26 Joint Ops Command said reports of civilian deaths in Mosul being exaggerated
Mar 26 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said 3,846 civilians killed in Battle for Mosul Called
on Iraq and US to show restraint Said IS had taken 197 civilians to Grand Mosque in Mosul to be used as human shields
Mar 27 Mass grave found in Jalawla Diyala Thought to be peshmerga executed by IS Another mass
grave found in Sadiya where 100 civilians went missing
Mar 27 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said that US should be excluded from Mosul battle because committed
crimes Came after US airstrike killed over 200 civilians
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 27 Joint Ops Command said investigation into Mosul bombing found IS responsible Put 130
people into house and car bomb went off outside False story Over 200 civilians killed in US airstrike
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 162, March 27, 2017)
Mar 28 Kirkuk council voted to fly the Kurdish flag over government buildings in
province Led to protest by Turkmen in Kirkuk city
Mar 29 Report Sec State Tillerson told anti-IS conference US was not into nation building or
reconstruction Tillerson wanted US to withdraw from Iraq after war with IS ended Def Sec Mattis and National Sec Adv McMaster wanted continued US presence
Mar 29 Ninewa health official said 250 bodies had been pulled from building hit in US airstrike in
Mosul
Mar 29 US Gen Votel said 490 ISF killed and 3,000 wounded taking East Mosul from IS
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 164-65, March 29-30, 2017)
Mar 29 Report Battles of Fallujah Ramadi Tikrit Baiji Iraqi forces allowed escape route for IS to
flee When east Mosul attacked allowed IS to retreat to west Mosul Now during assault on west Mosul not happening Iranians and Hashd allies didn’t want IS to escape to Syria
Mar 29 Report PM Abadi said any group that used arms outside the govt were outlaws Warning
to Hashd Hezbollah al-Nujaba created Golan Liberation Brigade Said it would fight Israel and Turkey Said it would never give up its weapons as long as region threatened
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Mar 30 KRG spokesman told newspaper it was time for KRG to divorce from rest of Iraq
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Mar 31 Turkey said against holding referendum on Kurdish independence
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Mar 31 Report Iraqi govt dropped flyers over Mosul telling people to stay in their homes and
shelter during fighting Now civilians were being killed in air strikes as a result
Apr 1 Ayad Jumaili aka Abu Yahiya IS war minister killed in Iraqi air force strike in Qaim Anbar
Apr 1 IS seized control of neighborhood in west Mosul 1st time it had taken any area since battle
for west Mosul began
(Musings On Iraq Mosul campaign Day 166-167 March 31-April 1, 2017)
Apr 2 PUK and KDP held meeting over independence referendum Agreed to create a committee
and hold vote soon
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 2 Kirkuk Gov Karim said he would not follow parliamentary vote to remove KRG flag from
govt buildings
Apr 2 Kirkuk councilman moved to have Kirkuk joined to KRG
Apr 2 Kataib Hezbollah said US trying to stay in Iraq and resistance factions were ready to fight it
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 3 Turkish PM Yildirim said Kurdish independence referendum was unacceptable
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 3 IS shelling of 4 neighborhoods in east Mosul killed 32 IS mortar fire into Badush which it
recently lost killed 32 Bodies of 81 people found in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 169, Apri 3, 2017)
Apr 4 Kirkuk council called for referendum to integrate province into KRG
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 4 IS spokesman Abu Hussan released audio tape calling Trump an idiot who didn’t know what
Syria Iraq or Islam was
Apr 5 Iraqi air force dropped leaflets over west Mosul again telling civilians to stay in their homes
during battle to free city
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 170-171, Apr 4-5, 2017)
Apr 5 Head of Ninewa Ops Command said Iraqis using fewer airstrikes in west Mosul due to
civilian casualties
Apr 5 Civil Defense officer said 278 bodies had been taken from building hit by US air strike in
west Mosul Spokesman for Golden Div said only 61 bodies had been recovered Defense Min claimed air strike not responsible
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 172-173, Apr 6-7, 2017)
Apr 6 Report Health Min bought plastic insoles for $27/ea when they cost less than $10/ea Deal
was for 600 mil dinars
Apr 6 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights obtained army paper Said Hit Haditha Baghdadi
Barwana in Anbar told not to accept any new displaced from IS areas and told them to return to their homes Was partly due to lack of money and personnel for displaced
Apr 7 Report Rosneft agreed to pay KRG $1 bil in advance to buy KRG oil from 2017-19 KRG
desperate for cash due to oil and budget dispute with Baghdad Would increase KRG’s debts
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Apr 7 Report IS released video of Ninewa sheikhs giving it allegiance Included Hamadi governor
of Ninewa’s brother
Apr 8 Iraqi Observatory for Human rights called on Anbar to stop expelling displaced from Hit
District Got copy of order from Jazeera Ops Cmd to expel people Head of Hit council said there was no money to help displaced Order made to relieve economic stress on district
Apr 10 Around 100 MPs signed petition to have parliament dismiss Kirkuk Governor
Najm Karim over raising Kurdish flag over government buildings in province
Apr 10 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq beat up and fired shots at students protesting against it at Qadisiya Univ
Students threw rocks at them Leader Qais Khazali had to be escorted out of school by police Khazali said there was an attempt to keep Hashd out of politics and accuse it of working for Iran
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Apr 10 KDP and PUK met to discuss independence referendum Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani
met with PUK and Pres Barzani to try to stop referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 10 Report KRG PM Barzani said unified Iraq no longer existed Said independence referendum
would tell world what Kurds wanted Jan Pres Barzani set up committee to decide on disputed areas and that referendum would be held PUK was skeptical Gorran accused Barzani of using referendum for next election
Apr 10 World Food Programme reported survey found more than half of Iraqi families at risk of
food insecurity Was increasing as food prices rose 2.5% of Iraqis food insecure 75% of children under 15 working to support family instead of going to school Food insecurity twice as high amongst displaced
Apr 10 Sinjar mayor said 31 mass graves in district with 1,646 bodies Thought there were 50
graves in district Victims of IS
Apr 11 Report Federal Police and Rapid Reaction Div doing more fighting in Mosul Whenever ran
into resistance would shell area Leading to more damage to city
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 177, Apr 11, 2017)
Apr 11 Hashd spokesman accused US and Turkey of pressing PM Abadi to stop liberation of Tal
Afar from IS Claimed US helping IS leaders escape area Part of pro-Iran Hashd info campaign vs US
Apr 13 KRG said independence referendum would happen in fall 2017
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 13 Report UN tracking battle damage in Mosul by satellite More than 1,140 housing sites
destroyed Damage in west Mosul two and half-times greater than in east
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 179, Apr 13, 2017)
Apr 14 Report KDP and PUK have agreed on independence referendum Turkey and Iran against
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 14 Report 26 members of Qatari royal family kidnapped in south Iraq by pro-Iran group in
2015 Supposed to be released after Qatar helped negotiate moving Sunnis and Shiites from towns in Syria Done by Kataib Hezbollah
Apr 15 Qatari delegation arrived with $360 mil as ransom for members of Qatari royal family
kidnapped in south Iraq by Kataib Hezbollah in 2015
Apr 18 Gorran MP said KRG not ready for Kurdish referendum Said it was just part of election
campaign
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 18 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq claimed US dropped aid to IS in Tal Afar Part of pro-Iran Hashd info
campaign vs US
Apr 18 Hashd commander said that battle of Mosul would have been over in record time if Hashd
allowed to participate Said it had special skills in street fighting
Apr 18 IS admitted to using chlorine gas in Battle of Mosul
Apr 19 Report Peshmerga Min signed memo of understanding with US which would provide $20.3
mil/mo for Peshermga for salaries and equipment
Apr 19 PUK said KRG parliament had to meet before independence referendum held
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 19 Kirkuk Gov Najm said KRG independence referendum would include province
Apr 19 Report New Iranian ambassador to Iraq from Revolutionary Guard as usual Was advisor to
Gen Suleimani Was commander of Ramazan base that gave aid to Iraqi opposition during Saddam
Apr 20 Turkey’s Pres Erdogan called Hashd terrorist group Said Iran working in region to become
main power Said Hashd tool of Iran
Apr 20 Report Bodies turning up in Tigris River in Qayara south Ninewa Officials said people
killed by IS Others said revenge murders Some accused ISF Some bodies showed signs of execution
Apr 20 IS fighters fled into house in Mosul and then exited Was hit by airstrike 2 civilians killed
102 wounded
Apr 21 Report Coalition carried out 20,205 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria 2014-17 Admitted to killing
229 civilians Airwars counted 552 strikes that killed 3,111 people Were another 610 strikes that were contested or single sourced that claimed deaths Sharp increase in deaths suggested change of rules in engagement by Trump admin
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Apr 21 Report Qatar hunting party included members of royal family kidnapped by Kataib
Hezbollah Dec 2015 released Were used to bargain population transfer in 4 Syrian towns Talks included Qatar Syria pro-Iran Hashd Hezbollah Iran Qatar also paid millions in ransom PM Abadi said kidnapping was an insult to Iraq
Apr 21 PM Abadi responded to Abbas Combat Div complaint that Hashd office removed 153 of its
members from payroll July 2017 doc published from Hashd leader Abu Muhandis ordered salary cuts for 5 Hashd brigades loyal to Najaf
Apr 22 Gorran and PUK joint statement Said KRG independence referendum had to be approved
by KRG parliament Had been closed since 2015 KDP rejected idea
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 22 Hashd unit raided PUK Peshmerga HQ in Bartella Ninewa Took down Kurdish flag
Apr 22 House with 90 people in it hit by airstrike in Mosul 88 trapped in rubble IS had used house
3-4 days before 2 houses hit by rockets by ISF IS were in house next door
Apr 23 Foreign Min Jaafari asked US representative McGurk for a Marshall Plan effort to rebuild
Iraq after war vs IS
Apr 23 PUK-KDP met over independence referendum PUK said KRG parliament needed to pass
referendum KDP rejected that idea
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 23 Chief of Staff of Iranian armed forces said Revolutionary Guard and Islamic resistance
groups in Iraq were a shield protecting Iran Meant pro-Iran Hashd
Apr 24 Gorran said it wouldn’t join independence referendum committee Said KRG parliament
had to be brought back and pass referendum first
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 24 KDP official said KRG independence referendum would include Kirkuk and all disputed
areas
Apr 25 Yazidi leader and head of Peshmerga Ministry’s Media Dept called for PKK to leave Sinjar
Leader said PKK co-opting Yazidis
Apr 25 Report NGOs Human Rights Observatory Norwegian Refugee Council all complained about
corruption in aid to displaced within Migration Ministry and Ninewa Council
Apr 25 Report Investigation found extrajudicial killings of IS members Soldiers said foreign
fighters were interrogated and then killed ISF cmdr said IS captives were being shot in Mosul
Apr 25 Hashd began new campaign to free Hatra in Ninewa IS was collecting civilians in west
Mosul to be used as human shields
Apr 25 Hashd cmdr blamed international and internal political pressure from stopping Hashd from
taking Tal Afar Kataib Hezbollah called on PM Abadi not to give into U.S. pressure and let it seize town Turkey threatened to intervene if Hashd took Tal Afar
Apr 26 Hashd took Hatra Ninewa from IS
Apr 26 Hashd cmdr claimed he had film to prove US planes dropped aid to IS in Baiji and Tal Afar
Part of pro-Iran Hashd info campaign vs US
Apr 27 PM Abadi said KRG independence referendum needed approval of Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Apr 27 National Alliance MP said Turkey sent message to PM Abadi that it would military
intervene if Tal Afar attacked by Hashd
Apr 28 Report Kataib Hezbollah accused of displacing 3,000 from Amiriya Fallujah Looted city
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Apr 29 Report PUK leadership split over independence referendum Gorran refused to talk with
KDP over referendum Accused KDP of abusing power
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
May 1 IS executed 51 in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 197, May 1, 2017)
May 1 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq complained international and regional pressure stopped Hashd from
taking Tal Afar
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 1 Report Federal Police indiscriminately shelling areas of Old City Mosul causing civilian
casualties and property damage
May 2 Report Interviewed people from Jadida Mosul about US bombing of house that killed
around 280 US claimed IS was using house 1 survivor rejected that ISF said IS explosion destroyed house People said not true
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 198, May 2, 2017)
May 3 Report Sallyport Global paid almost $700 mil in bribes to secure contract to service Balad
Air Base Investigated for misconduct
May 3 Ninewa admitted no plans to rebuild province or Mosul Jan when east Mosul freed some
residents complained they were getting little help to rebuild Ninewa official said province and Baghdad had plan for reconstruction They didn’t
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 199, May 3, 2017)
May 4 Report April PM Abadi had meeting with cmdrs on Mosul Battle Demanded pace be
increased because taking too long Decided army’s 9th Div would attack from west Plan was to stretch IS defenders by attacking from 2 directions
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 200, May 4, 2017)
May 4 Army’s 9th Div attacked Mosul from northwest Supported by US advisers
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
May 4 US official said 775 ISF killed and 4,600 wounded in Mosul Battle
May 5 Report No plan to rebuild Mosul due to politics and budget deficit Groups filling void left
by govt Hashd groups working in east Mosul competing for power and resources
May 5 War Media Cell denied that it killed any civilians when destroyed house in Mosul Said it
was used by IS to build car bombs Media reported building full of displaced families Cell said media repeating IS
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 201, May 5, 2017)
May 7 Gorran member said independence referendum would only benefit KDP and its attempt to
control KRG politics
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
May 7 Human Rights Watch Kurds forced displaced Turkmen to leave Kirkuk Asayesh confiscated
IDs and harassed them After IS attack in Oct 2016 Kirkuk forced out 1000s of displaced Sunni Arabs
May 8 Report Interior Min Araji arrested twice in 03 and 07 by US Charged with smuggling
weapons used to attack US and assassinations Was trained by Iran’s Quds Force Fought in Iran-Iraq War for Iran with Badr
May 8 Report People asked PM Abadi to free 700 families held by Kataib Hezbollah and Badr
since 2014 in Babil from Jurf al-Sakhr Were suspected IS sympathizers
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
May 9 Report Didn’t think Hashd would become like Hezbollah Too many factions Iran broke off
parts of Sadrists and Badr Few breakaway groups provided social services nor created large political base Hashd could become like Iranian Revolutionary Guard Part of ISF Have own budget Hashd commission Wanted to expand into Iraqi society
May 9 7 student anti-corruption activists kidnapped and tortured in Baghdad before released
May 12 3 mass graves found outside Saqlawiya Anbar Contained ISF executed by IS
May 12 Hashd op to free west Ninewa started
May 15 Tunisian paper published interview with Naqshibandi leader Izzat al-Dhuri Apr 2015
Hashd claimed Dhuri dead
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Resurgent Insurgency Interview With Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi)
May 15 PUK official said Turkey had set up checkpoints in northern Dohuk Sent in more troops
into KRG
May 15 Hashd attacked 2 Yazidi villages Pres Barzani said Hashd should not enter area
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 211 May 15 2017)
May 15 Secretary Gen Kataib Hezbollah said people couldn’t return to Jurf al-Sakhr in Babil
because of security Said if allowed back terrorism would return Said area threatens Karbala and Najaf Area turned into large Kataib Hezbollah base Banned people returning to protect pilgrimage routes
May 17 May activists in Baghdad kidnapped and released Some were Communists Apr Communist
HQ in Diwaniya attacked Asaib Ahl Al-Haq accused of attack
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 17 PUK-KDP controlled their own peshmerga and security forces in their areas of KRG Didn’t
coordinate Peshmerga Min had 12 mixed brigades but those still controlled by KDP-PUK
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Divided Kurds, Political Divisions Amongst The Peshmerga Interview With Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 17 Masrour Barzani said KRG independence referendum could happen by end of yr Said
would include Kirkuk Said 1707 Peshmerga killed 9997 wounded in war vs IS
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
May 17 Abadi govt said Hashd would not enter KDP areas during clearance of west Ninewa Hashd
went into Sinjar PM Abadi then said he didn’t know KDP wanted Hashd out of area
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 213 May 17 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Sinjar Dispute Between The Hashd and Kurdistan Democratic Party Interview With Journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 17 Kurdish MP heading to Mosul stopped at checkpoint and beaten by Hashd unit
May 18 Clash between Federal Police and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in east Baghdad after car stopped and
passengers started shooting
May 18 Report Video leaked of head of Shiite Endowment saying non-Muslims only had 3 options
take up jihad convert to Islam or pay tax Christians filed lawsuit against head
May 19 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq claimed it had better capabilities than US or NATO to train ISF after
Mosul freed Said Iraq didn’t need foreign trainers State of Law MP said decision on trainers would be made by PM Abadi not Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 19 Nawshirwan Mustafa founder of Gorran died Fmr KDP Was 1 of founders of PUK Gorran
1st large opposition party in KRG Gorran came in 2nd in 2013 elections Then joined ruling parties
May 22 Report 2009 Iraq bought 88 armored personnel carriers from Ukraine for $475.7 mil Only
34 worked Engines broken cracks in armor broken weapons 2014 Iraq returned 42 of the APCs Head of Ukrainian company that sold APCs under investigation for stealing $30 mil from deal
May 22 Human Rights Watch Report Apr Hashd arrested 100 men in Ninewa Some were tortured
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 218 May 22 2017)
May 22 Report 1800 soldiers from 82nd Airborne advising ISF in Mosul battle Joint Chiefs head
Gen Dunford said 980 ISF killed 6000 wounded in Mosul
May 22 Sinjar council asked Hashd to leave district Hashd were supposed to stay out of Kurdish
areas during clearing op in Ninewa but ignored deal
(Musings On Iraq Sinjar Dispute Between The Hashd and Kurdistan Democratic Party Interview With Journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 22 Sadr accused Hashd of kidnapping and killing civilians
May 22 Shabak Hashd blamed for kidnapping director of Nimrod dist and two of his staff 4 Hashd
arrested for beating MP in checkpoint outside of Mosul
May 22 Diyala MP said IS rebuilding in center of province
May 23 Der Spiegel ran article documenting abuses by Rapid Reaction unit during Mosul
campaign Tortured and killed prisoners Raped woman while husband beat Unit denied story released video of its victims denying that they had been abused and then attacked author of article Joint Operations Command also claimed author was making up story and if any torture had taken part he was partly responsible since he witnessed it
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 220 May 24 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 221 May 25 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 222 May 26 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 223 May 27 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 224 May 28 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
May 23 Hashd freed Qairawan subdistrict of Sinjar Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Sinjar Dispute Between The Hashd and Kurdistan Democratic Party Interview With Journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 23 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq registered to run in elections
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 24 Interior Min announced investigation into abuses by Iraqi forces during Mosul
campaign in response to Der Spiegel article Nothing came of it
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 220 May 24 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 221 May 25 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 222 May 26 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 223 May 27 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 224 May 28 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
May 24 Report Amnesty Intl found Pentagon audit of US military aid to Iraq Lost track of over $1
bil in equipment Poor bookkeeping meant once aid delivered didn’t know where it went Hashd ended up with some US aid when shouldn’t have
May 24 KRG Election Comm called on parties to prepare for Nov 2017 independence referendum
KRG told UN it would hold vote
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
May 24 Planning Min said estimated $100 bil needed to rebuild freed areas
May 24 Diyala politicians complained about deteriorating security in Abu Saida Called on PM
Abadi to intervene Also IS cells in Baladrooz and Hamrin Mts
May 25 Kataib Hezbollah threatened Bahrain if Shiite leader there harmed Blamed terrorism on
Saudis Group declared itself part of the Axis of Resistance
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
May 25 ABC followed up Der Spiegel article on abuses of Iraqi forces during Mosul campaign Had
video of ISF killing prisoners Talked with officer in Rapid Reaction Div who didn’t dispute video but said tactics were justified because prisoners were IS members Said unit didn’t take prisoners Said abuse was to get confessions Had video of officer beating prisoner to get him to reject pledge to IS Afterward told cameraman to edit video so looked like prisoner rejected pledge on his own Rapid Reaction Div said the video was faked and made by IS Officer in video told ABC he was proud of abusing prisoners
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 220 May 24 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 221 May 25 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
May 25 Report Rapid Reaction Div released its own video to counter Der Spiegel article on abuses
done by unit Interviewed people it tortured and had them say nothing happened
May 25 US CENTCOM said air strike on Mosul building killed 105 civilians Claimed bomb
detonated explosive inside building 4 civilians in another building also killed Witnesses said another 36 died but US couldn’t confirm that Said ISF called airstrike but didn’t know civilians inside building
May 25 Mayor of Khalis Diyala said IS moving into Diyala-Salahaddin border area Said IS in 4
towns which had been empty of people for 3 yrs No ISF presence
May 26 Report KDP Zebari said independence referendum would happen in 2017 Gorran
Kurdistan Islamic Union Kurdistan Islamic Group said KRG parliament had to approve referendum 1st
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
May 26 IS executed 27 people trying to flee Mosul
May 26 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq cmdr said it could enter Sinjar and control areas it took Didn’t need ok
of KRG Said Hashd worked for govt Barzani under foreign influence
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 222 May 26 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Sinjar Dispute Between The Hashd and Kurdistan Democratic Party Interview With Journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 26 Report Member of Baghdad Security Council said Der Spiegel article on abuses of Rapid
Reaction Div in Mosul was spreading IS propaganda Said footage Spiegel had was from Syria not Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
May 26 Report Family that lived next door to building destroyed by US bombing in Mosul refuted
US claim that it was filled with explosives Head of Civil Defense in Mosul said when excavating building didn’t see any signs of explosives either US pilot said US was playing down potential of bomb to destroy building
May 26 Badr’s Amiri said Coalition only gave modest support to Iraq and that was why it was
taking so long to free Mosul
May 26 Maliki said IS part of US plot vs Iraq Claimed Obama planned fall of Mosul from KRG
Blamed Speicher massacre upon army division withdrawing on orders from a political party
May 27 Army’s 9th 15th 16th Div Rapid Reaction Div Golden Div began last attack upon west
Mosul
May 27 Toronto Star printed story by Der Spiegel author providing more information on
abuses by Rapid Reaction unit during Mosul battle
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 220 May 24 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 221 May 25 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 222 May 26 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 223 May 27 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 224 May 28 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
May 27 Gen Nasiri of Iran Revolutionary Guard killed fighting in Baaj WNinewa while fighting
with Hashd Nasiri helped found Badr Brigade in 1980s
(Musings On Iraq interview with Naval Postgraduate School’s Ostovar on history of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard)
(Musings On Iraq review Vanguard of the Imam, Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard)
May 27 Peshmerga Min said new plan to unify KDP and PUK peshmerga Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Divided Kurds, Political Divisions Amongst The Peshmerga Interview With Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 29 Real estate value in KRG collapsing Built luxury apartments and gated communities that
didn’t sell People lost huge sums in investments
May 29 Iran’s Foreign Min denied it was supporting Hashd offensive in west Ninewa Then said
advisers were with Hashd
May 29 Report Hashd offensive in Ninewa reached Syrian border Feared Hashd would use it as
new route to Syria to support Assad It did
May 30 10 mass graves found in Sinjar with IS victims
May 30 Peshmerga command said Hashd broke Irbil-Baghdad agreement during op to free west
Ninewa by entering Sinjar dist
(Musings On Iraq Sinjar Dispute Between The Hashd and Kurdistan Democratic Party Interview With Journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
May 30 Report France providing intel to Iraq to hunt down French nationals that joined IS Up to 30
French nationals killed Around 1700 French joined IS France had 1200 troops in Iraq as part of Coalition
May 31 ABC News story offered more information on Rapid Reaction unit abuses first Reported in
Der Spiegel during Mosul campaign Rapid Reaction Div blacklisted by US in Mar 2015 for human rights abuses US praised unit for its fighting in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 220 May 24 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 221 May 25 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 222 May 26 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 223 May 27 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 224 May 28 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 228 Jun 1 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
May 31 Dana Gas seeking $26.5 bil in damages from KRG due to delayed projects Filed papers in
US court
May 31 VP Maliki said force might be needed to stop Pres Barzani declaring KRG independence
KRG condemned statement Said KRG would defend itself
May 31 VP Maliki interview Said fighting against IS going well despite US Claimed he bought all
the weapons for Iraq no PM Abadi Criticized Abadi for replacing all his ministers Said he wouldn’t be PM again Said he wanted a majority govt Said he objected to KRG independence referendum Said Kurds backed by Israel
Jun 1 During Ninewa op Hashd went 10km into Syria and took 2 villages after IS withdrew Hashd
later denied it went into Syria
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 228 Jun 1 2017)
Jun 1 Report 30 mass graves found in Sinjar with over 1500 bodies of people killed by IS
Jun 1 Report Residents in Old Mosul said streets and yards were full of dead civilians from artillery
and air strikes
Jun 1 Around 200 people tried to escape Mosul Fired upon by IS snipers Wounded left on street for
2 days UN said 163 killed
Jun 3 Report Abadi govt suppressed losses in war vs IS because could hurt morale
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jun 3 IS killed 41 civilians trying to flee Mosul
Jun 4 Hashd freed Baaj west Ninewa Emptied it of civilians and started creating security zone
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 231 Jun 4 2017)
Jun 4 Hashd leader Abu Muhandis said after IS defeated Hashd would march on Saudi Arabia Said
hoped Houthis would join the fight
Jun 4 1,760 Peshmerga killed 9000 wounded fighting IS
Jun 4 Head of Diyala Ops Command said no part of province under IS control Said stories of IS
activity were exaggerated
Jun 4 Human Rights Watch report 26 bodies of men blindfolded and handcuffed in and around
Mosul Report were killed by ISF after being detained Foreign journalist said Hashd unit killed 25 prisoners and dumped bodies in Tigris May reports ISF executed men near checkpoint
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017)
Jun 5 Joint Ops Command claimed reporter that wrote story on abuse by Rapid Reaction Div during
Mosul battle made up events Said reporter tortured civilians Said if there was any torture reporter was complicit since he was there
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
Jun 6 Human Rights Watch report Found 7 Iraqi and US attacks in Mosul that killed at least 44
civilians Civilians said couldn’t leave due to IS threats IS killed and wounded people trying to flee
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 234 Jun 7 2017)
Jun 6 Report May 29 Hashd reached Iraq-Syrian border in Ninewa Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani
took pictures at border to take credit for success
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
Jun 6 KRG Pres Barzani said Hashd presence in Kurdish area meaning Sinjar was unacceptable and
violated agreement with Baghdad over keeping Hashd out of district
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 233 Jun 6 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Sinjar Dispute Between The Hashd and Kurdistan Democratic Party Interview With Journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg)
Jun 7 KRG announced independence referendum would take place 9/25/17
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Jun 7 Fmr Finance Min Issawi given 7 yrs for corruption
Jun 7 Report Kirkuk threatened to cut off power to national grid if electricity generated in province
sent to Ninewa Said not enough power for Kirkuk to spare
Jun 8 Germany’s Foreign Min said concerned about KRG independence referendum and tensions it
could cause
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 8 State Dept said KRG independence referendum distraction from bigger issues in Iraq Said US
stood for united Iraq
Jun 8 PM Barzani said disputed territories no longer existed during meeting with political parties
Jun 8 Report 15 men shot dead on side of road outside Mosul Feared executed by govt forces Some
were IS suspects
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 235 Jun 8 2017)
Jun 9 Report Iraq wanted to triple refining capacity by 2021 from 500,000 bar/day to 1.5 Previous
attempts failed 2012 Iraq said it would be processing 760,000 bar/day by start of 2013 Didn’t happen
Jun 9 Iraqi Turkmen Front said KRG independence referendum violated constitution
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 9 Hoshyar Zebari of KDP said no democratic country could oppose KRG independence
referendum Said no going back on vote
Jun 9 Report Abadi govt spokesman said KRG couldn’t declare independence Turkey’s PM said
referendum was irresponsible
Jun 9 Russian Foreign Min said it supported unity of Iraq Said differences between KRG and
Baghdad should be worked out
Jun 9 Univ of Mosul began classes again West Mosul still not
freed
Jun 9 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said wanted to run in elections Hashd
spokesman said Hashd
couldn’t talk about elections
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 10 IS launched counterattack with suicide car bombs vs Federal Police on edge of Old City in
Mosul while 150 fighters floated down Tigris to join with other fights to attack police from rear Hoped to cause distraction so IS fighters could escape Old City but was defeated
Jun 10 Iran said it was against KRG independence referendum and wanted a united Iraq
Jun 10 Gorran said wanted KRG independence but referendum was illegal Said parliament had to
pass referendum Parliament closed by KDP since Oct 2015
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 10 Mosul govt ruled that IS families not allowed to return to city
Jun 10 Army’s 15th Div started new operation to free Tal Afar district in Ninewa Took 6 villages
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 237 Jun 10 2017)
Jun 10 Hashd cmdr Abu Muhandis said Hashd waiting for Baghdad’s okay to take Tal Afar Turkey
warned not to allow Hashd into city
Jun 11 KDP’s Hoshyar Zebari said KRG independence referendum would just be first step in
process followed by negotiations with Baghdad Said vote didn’t need any law by KRG parliament Parliament had been closed by KDP since Oct 2015
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 11 Report Ransom Qatar paid for kidnapped hunting group ended up in Iran PM Abadi claimed
that Iraq kept the money
Jun 11 Report 11 men found executed south of Mosul Some said IS members Others they were
civilians May group posted on Facebook names and addresses of IS families saying they should be killed imprisoned and houses burned
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 238 Jun 11 2017)
Jun 12 Report PM Abadi agreed to allow US to deport Iraqis In return Iraq removed from Muslim
travel ban list by Trump admin US immigration began arresting Iraqis for deportation for serious crimes Dozens of Chaldeans arrested in Detroit Kurds in Nashville
Jun 12 UK Amb to Iraq said not right time for KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 12 Report Fmr head of Ninewa Ops Command Gen Gharawi said there was order to withdraw
from Mosul Jun 2014 when IS attacked Didn’t know who it came from Blamed police and residents for fall of Mosul Claimed majority of residents welcomed IS Said Gov Nujafi pro-IS Said he wasn’t responsible for fall of Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 239 Jun 12 2017)
Jun 12 Report Baaj Ninewa emptied of people by Hashd Set up security zone and emptied entire
dist
Jun 12 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said IS killed more than 2000 at Camp Speicher
massacre not 1700 it claimed Said govt identified 350 bodies then stopped Complained 100s of families were waiting for info about their relatives
Jun 12 Iranian news agency published pictures of Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani on Iraq-Syrian
border With Afghan militiamen Said they had reached border despite US air strikes trying to stop them
(Musings On Iraq Iran’s Propaganda Work In Iraq Interview With Tel Aviv Univ’s Dr Raz Zimmt)
(Musings On Iraq What Was Behind Iran’s Social Media Campaign Promoting Gen Suleimani In Iraq?)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Jun 13 Turkish Pres Erdogan criticized KRG independence referendum Said it was a threat to
integrity of Iraq
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 13 ISF began attack upon Old City in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 240 Jun 13 2017)
Jun 13 Most Mosul Univ students took exams for 1st time since IS seized city in 2014
Jun 13 Report Hashd emptying villages in Baaj west Ninewa Backed by UN that said 14,000 people
displaced from Baaj start of Jun Few displaced beforehand
Jun 14 IS counterattacked in Old City Mosul with 7 car bombs 25 suicide bombers Federal Police
withdrew
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 241 Jun 14 2017)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Jun 14 Report Warrant for Badr cmdr in charge of Taza Kirkuk for oil smuggling
Jun 15 Report Liwa al-Shabak Hashd unit affiliated with Badr controlled east Mosul From Ninewa
Plains Christian areas of Qaraqosh being secured by Ninewa Plains Protection Unit and Kataib Babilyun both Christian groups Kataib Babilyun connected to pro-Iran Hashd Fmr Ninewa Gov Nujafi’s Ninewa Guards in Mosul Rapid Reaction Div and Federal Police full of men from Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Dawa Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 243 Jun 16 2017)
Jun 15 Report 16th Div suffered heavy casualties in west Mosul ISF relied on more air strikes as a
result Led to more destruction in city and higher civilian casualties
Jun 15 Report Ex-Syrian general said that land route from Iran through Iraq to Syria would be easier
to send Iranian supplies to support Assad Came after pro-Iran Hashd cleared west Ninewa neighboring Syria
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 242 Jun 15 2017)
Jun 16 KRG Pres Barzani said he wouldn’t run for re-election in Nov 2017 vote
Jun 16 After 2 meetings with KDP PUK said it wanted parliament to pass law on KRG
independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 16 Report Hashd building roads through Baaj in western Ninewa to Syria Would be part of road
network from Iran to Syria to allow Tehran to aid Assad
Jun 17 Barzani held meeting and announced that referendum would happen 9/25/17
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Jun 17 Chief of staff of KRG president’s office said US asked for KRG independence referendum to
be delayed KRG said no
Jun 17 Syrian General Command said hooking up with Hashd and Syrian-Ninewa border was
turning point in war Cut IS supply lines Also allowed new land route for Iranian supplies to Syria
Jun 17 Facebook video showed residents going door to door in Qayara Ninewa threatening IS
families Told them to leave or else ISF said mobs attacked people 25 families fled
Jun 18 Syrian army met Hashd at Ninewa-Syria border 2 Kataib Hezbollah brigades met at Anbar-
Syria border 1 in Syria 1 in Anbar Pro-Iran Hashd would use border crossings to move men and material into Syria to support Assad
Jun 18 PM Abadi said Hashd refused his orders
Jun 19 Hashd spokesman again talked about liberating Tal Afar Said intl pressure would not stop it
Turkey warned Iraq not to allow Hashd into city
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 246-47 Jun 19-20 2017)
Jun 19 EU said Kurds had to work with rest of Iraq Said against unilateral actions meaning KRG
independence referendum
Jun 19 KRG Pres Barzani said no turning back on KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 19 Mosul council issued ordinance that IS families be sent to camps
Jun 20 Report Ayatollah Khamenei told PM Abadi not to trust US Said US troops should leave Iraq
Said had to maintain Hashd to pressure US
Jun 22 Member of KDP leadership council said KRG independence referendum was going to
happen whether Iran liked it or not Said Ayatollah Khamenei should not interfere after he said he opposed vote
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 21 Mosul govt passed ordinance banning IS families from returning to city
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 249 Jun 22 2017)
Jun 21 IS blew up the historical Nouri Mosque and al-Hadbaa minaret in west Mosul as ISF
was advancing on them
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 248 Jun 21 2017)
Jun 21 Report Documented 7 houses hit by Coalition air strikes in Mosul that killed civilians US
claimed plenty of checks before airstrikes approved but they increased under Trump US only had 2 people investigating deadly attacks
Jun 23 IS suicide bomber amongst displaced in west Mosul killed 12 wounded 20 3 suicide bombers
at Muthanna Market in east Mosul killed 15 wounded 30 5th suicide bomber killed
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 250 Jun 23 2017)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Jun 24 Parliament’s integrity comm said courts suffered blackmail threats political pressure to stop
corruption cases
Jun 24 Report Oil Min filing lawsuits against KRG independent oil exports
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 25 ISF claimed it would liberate all of Mosul by this day but didn’t
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 252 Jun 25 2017)
Jun 25 IS attacked three neighborhoods of Mosul that had been freed Set cars and buildings on fire
Civilians fled Army withdrew Golden Div stopped attack
Jun 26 Report Abadi govt planning 10 yr $100 bil rebuilding plan Wanted to counter IS ideology
Wanted to rebuild Mosul Set up education and religious program Set up security in Ninewa Govt never implemented plan Never allocated much money
Jun 26 Badr’s Amiri said PM Abadi had double standards Disrupted Hashd by not allowing it to
operate
Jun 28 KRG Pres Barzani wrote OpEd in Wash Post to lobby US to support KRG independence
referendum Said referendum would be binding Said not a threat to Mideast Would strengthen relationship between Arabs and Kurds in Iraq Went through Kurdish victimization in Iraq since its creation Said post-03 political system failed Said independence would be negotiated with Baghdad after vote
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jun 28 Report UN began rebuilding east Mosul Had 200 projects
Jun 29 Nouri Mosque Mosul liberated by Iraqi forces where IS’s Baghdadi declared the
caliphate in 2014
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 256 Jun 29 2017)
Jun 29 Golden Div claimed 60 IS fighters killed taking Nuri Mosque in Mosul Golden Div cmdr Gen
Asadi then claimed 600 IS fighters killed Before ISF claimed only 300-400 IS fighters left in city Golden Div spokesman claimed all of Mosul freed with only sporadic fighting Battle for city would continue for few more weeks
Jun 29 Doctor working with ISF said over 200 civilians killed in last weeks of fighting for Old City
in Mosul
Jun 29 1st protest of summer over services led by Sadrists in Najaf Burned building Led to
police shooting at crowd 4 dead 20 wounded
Jun 29 Report IS lost 80% of its revenue over last 2 yrs Went from $81 mil/mo in 2015 to $16
mil/mo in 2017 Lost oil fields in Syria Lost cities and populations
Jun 29 Canadian court issued warrant to seize tanker with KRG oil after lawsuit by Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 30 People in Hilla Babil blocked Baghdad-Babil highway protesting lack of
drinking water
Jun 30 Sheikh Saghir left ISCI Abdul Mahdi and Baqir Zubaidi also left Complained about
leadership
Jun 30 UN called on Abadi govt to stop forcing out IS families from Mosul and other areas Said
100s of families threatened in Salahaddin Anbar Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campagn Day 257 Jun 30 2017)
Jun 30 Human Rights Watch IS killed people fleeing Mosul ISF executed people they thought were
IS members in Mosul
Jul 1 Report Trump admin deployed US forward observers with ISF in Mosul Tried to coordinate
different ISF units Called in air strikes
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 259 Jul 1 2017)
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Jul 1 Gorran MP accused Pres Barzani and KDP of monopolizing KRG independence referendum
for their political gain
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 1 Hashd leader said 6500 Hashd died last 3 yrs fighting IS
Jul 1 Report Salahaddin Gov Jabouri asked PM Abadi to deploy pro-Sistani Abbas Combat Brigade
Most of Salaahddin had pro-Iran Hashd accused of abuses Blocked returns of displaced
Jul 1 Hashd cmdr said Mukhaisa Qara Tapa Hamrin Mts IS bases in Diyala Said ISF submitted false
reports claiming things secure
Jul 2 Protest in Karbala Demanded Electricity Min Fahadawi be dismissed for shortages
Jul 2 Report US cmdrs knew IS would be defeated soon Trump admin had no plans for afterward
Talks were happening within govt over what to do Final plan was to do nothing after war vs IS Was because Trump wanted out of MidEast
(Musings On Iraq review Degrade And Destroy, The Inside Story Of The War Against the Islamic State, From Barack Obama To Donald Trump)
Jul 2 Dep Cmdr in chief of Iranian army Gen Pudestan said IS operating in Diyala Said if got within
40km of Iranian border Tehran would attack them Said Iranian troops were in Diyala Had been there since 2014
Jul 2 Hashd leader said US helicopters constantly seen over IS areas and probably helping them Part
of pro-Iran Hashd propaganda
Jul 2 Anbar councilman said Hashd humiliating people of Anbar Said carried out collective
punishment
Jul 2 Report Golden Div officer said called around 20 airstrikes/day in Mosul Human rights groups
and UN warned of high civilian casualties from airstrikes and artillery used in city Airwars est 900-1200 civilians killed by airstrikes and artillery during battle of Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 259 Jul 2 2017)
Jul 3 Protest in Baghdad and Najaf over lack of electricity Night march in Karbala
demanding services
Jul 3 Hashd leader Abu Muhandis said those that criticized Hashd were aligned with US Said Hashd
would take part in elections
Jul 3 Canadian court issued order to seize oil tanker with KRG oil off its coast Was due to lawsuit
filed by Iraq against KRG for independent exports being illegal
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jul 4 Sadr called on Pres Barzani to postpone KRG independence referendum and eventually cancel
it
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 4 PM Abadi press conference Congratulated ISF on its victory in Mosul even though fighting
continued Said he issued orders to rebuild Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 261 Jul 4 2017)
Jul 4 PM Abadi said some Hashd asked to move into Syria Said Iraq had no interest in that
Jul 5 Gorran MP said KRG independence referendum illegal Said Pres Barzani only represented
KDP not all Kurds Said Barzani pushing independence vote to boost his standing
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 5 Ammar Hakim said he would work to stop KRG independence referendum Said unity of Iraq
most important thing Said vote unconstitutional
Jul 5 Report UN official est rebuilding Mosul would cost $1 bil Said Mosul was most damaged area
during entire war vs IS
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 262 Jul 5 2017)
Jul 5 Report Local and tribal notables in Anbar threatened to make province autonomous region to
protest checkpoints along route to Baghdad Said Baghdad had been closed off
Jul 5 Report Most govt officials and schools re-opened in east Mosul while fighting still going on in
east Services restarted People returning drove up costs Most people didn’t have money
Jul 6 UN rep in Iraq said out of 44 neighborhoods in west Mosul 6 completely destroyed 22
moderately damaged 16 lightly damaged
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 263 Jul 6 2017)
Jul 7 Protesters seized power plant in Babil due to electricity shortages
Jul 7 Report Hashd accused of kidnapping people for ransom in Tuz Kharmato
Jul 7 Report Abadi govt was supposed to form committee with KRG and US led Coalition for
rebuilding Mosul Never happened
Jul 9 State TV claimed Mosul liberated while PM Abadi visited city Fighting continued
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 266 Jul 9 2017)
Jul 9 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali claimed Mosul would have ended sooner if Hashd involved Said
Anbar proved excluding Hashd made battles harder Hashd derailed govt liberation plan for Anbar
Jul 9 Human Rights Watch KRG punishing Yazidis for joining Hashd in Sinjar dist Threatened
families Kicked some out
Jul 9 Ninewa opened 1st camp for IS families
Jul 10 PM Abadi declared Mosul liberated after 9 month long campaign Was told city freed but
arrived to find fighting on going
(Musings On Iraq Mosul Campaign Day 267 Jul 10 2017)
(Musings On Iraq Interview with Ret. Col Witty on the Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Horizon Client Access’ Alex Mello on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Amnesty International’s Donatella Rovera on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with International Center for Study of Radicalization’s Charlie Winter on how IS media dealt with its defeat in Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with BBC’s Quentin Sommerville on the Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Niqash’s Mustafa Habib on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Reuters’ Stephen Kalin on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with AFP’s Ahmad Mousa on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq interview with journalist Florian Neuhof on Battle of Mosul)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
(Musings On Iraq Review Shatter the Nations, ISIS and the War for the Caliphate)
Jul 10 Sadr said those responsible for fall of Mosul should be punished
Jul 10 Turkish Pres Erdogan said Iraq should stay one country Said KRG independence referendum
should not happen
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 10 MP accused Federal Police cmdr Gen Jawadat of poor leadership that led to excessive deaths
of his men in Mosul battle Said general only cared about being in media Also accused him of corruption
Jul 10 Report Yazidis claimed around 200 families expelled from displaced camp in Dohuk for
members joining Hashd Said Asayesh threatened them
Jul 10 Amnesty Intl IS kicked people out of homes in Mosul to use them as fighting positions
Threatened people if tried to leave Executed people who fled Took over hospitals and denied civilians medical care Denied food and water as well ISF used indiscriminate shelling in heavily populated areas of city Coalition airstrikes likely killed 1000s of civilians
Jul 11 Trump called PM Abadi to congratulate him on freeing Mosul Abadi said more aid would be
needed because IS was still in places like Hawija Kirkuk Trump said he wanted Iraq’s oil in return for aid Also said Iraq smuggling oil to Iran White House released fake transcript of conversation that didn’t say what actually happened
Jul 11 Report When PM Abadi arrived in Mosul was to give victory speech Got false info that city
freed when fighting continued ISF units were competing to declare victory and sent reports to Baghdad that combat over Abadi didn’t give his actual speech but still declared city freed
Jul 11 Assoc of Muslim Scholars accused Kataib Hezbollah of kidnapping 16 people in Latifiya
Baghdad to try to change demographics of area
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 11 2nd video posted on Facebook Claimed it showed Iraqi Army’s 16h Div executing IS members
in Old Mosul
Jul 12 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq members arrested in Musayib Babil for kidnapping 28 Sunnis and killing
20 of them
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Terrorism And Hashd Intimidation Returns To Babil)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 12 Report People being abducted and executed as suspected IS members IS families also
threatened and attacked in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 2 Jul 12 2017)
Jul 13 KRG official wrote OpEd in NY Times Said US needed to end call for unified Iraq Said US
should help negotiate KRG independence
Jul 13 Report Death squads operating in Mosul assassinating IS suspects
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 3 Jul 13 2017)
Jul 13 Video posted on social media of ISF and Hashd beating and executing IS suspects in Mosul
Jul 13 Human Rights Watch 170 IS families sent to rehabilitation camp in Ninewa Govt demanded
more people be sent to camp Jun Mosul council said IS families should be sent to camps Jul camp opened People not allowed to leave IS families threatened and attacked in Ninewa
Jul 14 Peshmerga Health Agency said 1745 Peshmerga killed fighting IS 10,069 wounded
Jul 15 Babylon Brigades was stealing weapons and supplies from Ninewa Plains Protection Units in
Qaraqosh Ninewa Led to gun battle
Jul 15 PM Abadi held military parade to mark victory in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 5 Jul 15 2017)
Jul 15 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said Abadi govt disregarded civilian casualties during
war Killings and attacks on civilians by ISF and Hashd had been recorded and posted on social media and govt did nothing Included attacks on protesters
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Jul 16 Report Member of Organization of Fayli Kurds held press conference Said community
threatened over KRG independence referendum Said 3 recently killed Blamed Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Said State of Law member of Baghdad govt threatened to kick all Kurds out of capital over referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 16 Shirqat Salahaddin began deporting IS families
Jul 16 Report Tribes refusing to allow IS families back to Fallujah Supported by local officials
Jul 16 Report Babil police said Khorasani Brigade Imam Ali Brigade Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl
Al-Haq handed out flyers telling Sunnis they had 24 hrs to leave north Babil or be killed
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Terrorism And Hashd Intimidation Returns To Babil)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 16 Association of Muslim Scholars accused Abadi govt of trying to change demographics of
Baghdad province Accused Baghdad Ops Command of forcing families out of Radwaniya Abu Ghraib Yusifya
Jul 16 Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam closed its military academy Said it was done to strengthen the state
Jul 17 Chief of Staff of Iranian armed forces said during war vs IS wrong time for Kurds to hold
independence referendum Said would lead to new problems in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 17 Head of Rapid Reaction Div said no more fighting in Mosul Just clearing ops IS surprise
attack in 2 sections of Old City Mosul Came out of basements and tunnels
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 7 Jul 17 2017)
Jul 17 Report ISF member said they were executing IS prisoners because afraid they would be
released People said IS members had been detained and then set free and were back in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 17 UN called for Abadi govt to stop collective punishment of IS families Called for law and
order May and Jun flyers handed out in Anbar Diyala Ninewa Salahaddin threatening IS families if didn’t leave 100s of families fled Hit Ramadi Fallujah Mosul
Jul 17 Sadrist spokesman Obeidi said Saraya al-Salam was purely Iraqi and never went to other
countries to fight Sadr sent fighters to Syria
Jul 18 PM Abadi acknowledged Iraqi forces had committed human rights violations during Mosul
battle but said they were individual acts and they would be punished Said any abuses committed was either due to ignorance of consequences or working with IS to make govt look bad Said budget for Hashd would be increased and that political parties should not exploit Hashd for their own gain
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 8 Jul 18 2017)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
(Musings On Iraq Review They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate)
Jul 18 PM Abadi rejected UN report that said IS families facing collective punishment with threats
and expulsions
Jul 18 PM Abadi said KRG independence referendum unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 19 Salahaddin Gov Ahmad al-Jabouri arrested over corruption charges
Jul 19 Report 40,000 civilians killed in Mosul Fmr Foreign Min Zebari criticized Federal Police for
indiscriminate shelling of west Mosul Said ISF were charging money to get through checkpoints for people to return to their homes in city
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 9 Jul 19 2017)
Jul 19 Joint Ops Command criticized report that said 40,000 civilians killed in Mosul battle Said
Civil Defense only recovered 1429 bodies in city
Jul 19 Report 4 Iraqi officers said their men killed IS suspects 1 said ISF regularly killing prisoners
in Hamam al-Alil main screening center for displaced in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 19 Human Rights Watch Said Abadi govt did nothing about executions in west Mosul in Jul
Jul 19 UN Rep to Iraq Grande said east Mosul doing well Schools and businesses open Displaced
returning Services being restored 38 of 54 residential areas of WMosul heavily to moderately damaged Est $470 mil to restore services to most damaged parts of city and $237 mil for rest of WMosul UN had plan to create community groups for rebuilding
Jul 19 UN said Displacement Min had no plan to return displaced to their homes
Jul 19 Parliament’s displacement comm demanded PM Abadi announce results of investigations
into killings and abuse of civilians captured in videos in Mosul Diyala Salahaddin Anbar Nothing happened
Jul 19 Badr’s Amiri Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali and Hashd leader Muhandis met and said Hashd
would take part in Tal Afar op Turkey warned Iraq not to allow Hashd to participate in op
Jul 20 Golden Div colonel admitted there were still clashes going on in Old City Mosul Reported
250 families trapped in area because of gunfire
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 10 Jul 20 2017)
Jul 20 Report Hashd put IS families in camp north of Tikrit Human Rights Watch called it an open
air prison Not allowed to leave Aug 2016 Salahaddin govt ordered IS families expelled from province Hashd commander said families sent to camp for protection Was only temporary and would go through rehabilitation program
Jul 20 Ninewa Guard and Kataib Sayid al-Shuhada got into gun fight in Mosul Shuhada accused of
robbing store Led to argument and shooting
Jul 20 Pro-Najaf Al Abbas Combat Div added to Defense Min Took direct orders from PM Abadi
Jul 21 3rd time Anbar council attempted to remove Governor Rawi on corruption charges
Each time taken to court and overturned After most of Anbar freed from IS Anbar council split into two factions pro and anti-Governor Rawi Completely undermined governance and rebuilding
Jul 21 Former Salahaddin Governor Ahmed al-Jabouri received 2 years in prison for
corruption
Jul 21 Joint Ops Command denied article that 1000 civilians trapped in Old City Mosul due to
gunfire
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 11 Jul 21 2017)
Jul 21 Report Ninewa officials complained about ad hoc security forces in province Ninewa govt
asked Abadi govt to restore all police from 2014 but didn’t happen Ninewa govt created volunteers that became tribal Hashd Around 9 in Mosul and 30 in Ninewa
Jul 21 PM Abadi claimed more ISF died than civilians in Mosul battle VP Maliki said 20,000 ISF
casualties Maliki blamed Baathists Gov Nujafi Pres Barzani and tribes for fall of Mosul Said Obama admin didn’t help Iraq and was therefore responsible for rise of IS Said Barzani wanted to expand into Mosul and seize Ninewa’s oil Accused Turkey of spreading sectarianism amongst Sunnis
Jul 21 Report Holding land biggest achievement of IS May 2016 IS spokesman Adnani said IS could
survive loss of Mosul 2014 said it would never lose territory Were differences over strategy and goals Leader in Raqqa thought expansion cost too many men and couldn’t fight whole world
Jul 21 Interview with Maliki Claimed Kurds against Mosul battle Said Pres Barzani would cause
problems because wanted to expand Said Kurds couldn’t have state Said people of Ninewa Salahaddin Anbar manipulated by politicians with foreign agendas Led to sectarian politics Said Mosul conspired with Baathists Barzani and tribes and led IS to seize city Claimed Obama admin didn’t help Iraq when Mosul fell Blamed Obama for rise of IS Said Trump tried to take responsibility for victories vs IS Said Russia was only reason Assad hadn’t fallen and terrorism hadn’t spread throughout Mideast Said if Assad fell Iraq would fall Turkey stoked sectarianism Said he wanted a majority govt
Jul 21 Report KRG closest to independence with Peshmerga oil exports govt Didn’t have plan what
to do after independence referendum Opposition parties against vote
Jul 21 Report Kataib Hezbollah holding 7000 Sunni prisoners in Jurf al-Sakhr Babil
Jul 21 Ninewa govt wanted dismissed police brought back to duty Around 30 Hashd units in
Ninewa doing security
Jul 22 Anbar council voted for 3rd time to dismiss Governor Rawi on corruption charges
Jul 22 Ayatollah Sistani’s representative during Friday sermon called on ISF to stop extra judicial
killings and abuses of IS suspects Came after 4 videos posted on Facebook of ISF beating and executing IS prisoners in Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 12 Jul 22 2017)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 22 Gunfight between Ninewa Guards and Kataib Sayid al-Shuhada in Mosul Army called in to
stop fighting Sayid al-Shuhada demanded that Guards leave area or suffer retaliation
Jul 22 Ex-Ninewa Gov Nujafi attacked VP Maliki for blaming him for fall of Mosul Nujafi said
Maliki responsible
Jul 22 PUK politburo member called for KRG independence referendum to be postponed Said all
gains by Kurds would be overturned if vote held
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 22 Interior Min Araji said Saudi Arabia agreed to work on security drug trafficking border
control and religious pilgrims
Jul 22 PM Abadi met with Hashd leaders Said state had to control security Badr’s Amiri and Harakt
al-Nujaba’s Kaabi rejected any accusations of abuse by Hashd
Jul 23 Iran-Iraq signed military cooperation agreement to counter terrorism
Jul 24 Ammar Hakim announced he was leaving Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and
Forming new Hikma Party
Jul 24 Protesters in Babil cut Babil-Baghdad highway over lack of water due to drought
Jul 24 Mass grave of 60 bodies found in Old City Mosul Around 40 were ex-police executed by IS 6
mass graves found in Sinjar dist
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 14 Jul 24 2017)
Jul 24 Badr’s Amiri said KRG independence (Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
dum would divide Iraq and lead to civil war
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 24 Report Sheikh Bidayri was one of clerics who consulted with Ayatollah Sistani in June 2014
over his fatwa that created Hashd Said Najaf knew fatwa would increase Iran’s role but had no other choice Said Hashd should be disbanded eventually
Jul 24 Hashd spokesman said it would take part in Tal Afar op Said other countries had no say in
matter Reference to Turkey that warned Baghdad not to include Hashd in op
Jul 26 Court issued arrest warrant for head of Salahaddin council Ahmed Abdul Gabbar
for corruption
Jul 26 Report Around 40 ISF accused of smuggling IS members out of Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 16 Jul 26 2017)
Jul 26 Report Army major said order given to kill all IS captives during Mosul battle
Jul 27 Protesters in Babil cut Babil-Baghdad highway over lack of water due to drought
Jul 27 Human Rights Watch accused Iraqi army 16th Div of extra judicial killings in Mosul
Witnesses saw beatings shootings decapitated bodies of suspected IS Came with series of videos posted of ISF beating and executing IS suspects
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 17 Jul 27 2017)
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Jul 27 Report Imam Ali Brigade took over several oil wells and smuggling petroleum from them in
Qayara Ninewa
Jul 27 Interview with Kirkuk Govt Karim Said no Arabs brought to Kirkuk under Arabization
should be allowed to vote in KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Jul 28 Protest in Baghdad Governor said demos legitimate and trying to improve services
Also demo in Muthanna over electricity
Jul 29 Ex-Ninewa Gov Nujafi blamed Baghdad for IS taking Mosul in 2014 and allowing massacres
Said ISF destroyed Mosul when liberating city Part of recriminations over who was responsible
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 19 Jul 29 2017)
Jul 30 Ex-Ninewa Gov Nujafi said Maliki surrendered Mosul to IS and worked with Iran to promote
Hashd and occupy city after it was liberated Said if his National Guard were used in Mosul Battle would have gone better Part of recriminations over who was responsible
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 20 Jul 30 2017)
Jul 30 Pres Barzani KRG PM N Barzani PUK’s Rasul met and agreed to bring back KRG parliament
suspended over Pres Barzani getting term extended again
(Musings On Iraq KDP Offers To Bring Back KRG Parliament 2nd Time Before Independence Referendum)
Jul 31 Report Saudis attempting new role in Iraq to counter Iran Saudis decided just backing Sunni
parties failed Wanted to back Shiites not aligned with Iran Saudis wanted to restore diplomatic relations open border ease religious and media rhetoric on Iraq Reached out to Sadr
Jul 31 16 families fled Qara Tapa in NEDiyala after threats by IS
Aug 1 Report Towards end of Mosul Battle Hashd got into argument with PM Abadi and stopped
op to clear Iraq-Syrian border in Anbar Army was supposed to complete op but didn’t Clearing border put on hold
Aug 1 Ninewa govt said 85% of infrastructure and govt buildings in WMosul destroyed 65-70% in
EMosul Old City over 90%
Aug 2 Kirkuk govt filed lawsuit against Maliki and PM Abdi for not implementing Art 140 over
disputed areas
Aug 2 PM Abadi said return of displaced was his top priority Govt had no plan to help
Aug 2 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said it would run in next elections
Aug 3 Sadr called for mass demonstrations over passage of provincial council law
Aug 3 Iraq Human Rights Observatory said Fallujah blocked IS families from returning Said tribes
and locals wanted revenge
Aug 3 Report Hashd emptied Jurf al-Sakhr dist in Babil of people and wouldn’t allow anyone back
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Terrorism And Hashd Intimidation Returns To Babil)
Aug 4 Thousands protested in Baghdad over corruption called for by Sadr
Aug 4 UN study Most foreign fighters novices Didn’t know much about Islam Didn’t regularly
pray Most saw Islam in terms of justice/injustice Most from poor families Lacked education Jihad gave them direction and friends
Aug 4 UN said nothing done to punish those responsible for Yazidi massacre in Sinjar 1000s still
missing 3000 women used as slaves in Syria Around 9900 Yazidis killed by IS when took Sinjar Aug 2014
Aug 6 Report US Embassy in Baghdad sent letter to KRG requesting independence referendum be
postponed
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Aug 6 Report Ninewa Plains Protection Unit took stolen artifacts from Babylon Brigade and
arrested 6 members 6 given to Qaraqosh police Babylon Brigade stormed Ninewa Plain office Took weapons and vehicles Freed 6 suspects PM Abadi ordered Babylon Brigades to leave Qaraqosh afterward Refused order
Aug 7 Parliament delayed September 2017 provincial elections until 2018 Voted to use
1.7% divisor to decide how many votes necessary to gain seat on provincial council
Aug 8 Report Sayid Shuhada brigade went 14km into Syria Didn’t tell Abadi govt about op Hit by
IS artillery Suffered 80 casualties
Aug 9 Civil Defense official est 3000 corpses still in west Mosul Found 839 bodies last 3 days
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 29-30 Aug 8-9 2017)
Aug 9 Dep head of Babil council said it would sue any MP who demanded return of displaced to
Jurf al-Sakhr Hashd emptied entire district of civilians and refused to allow any back
Aug 10 ISCI’s Basra Gov Majid al-Nasrawi resigned over corruption charges Parliament’s integrity
committee banned travel for former Basra Gov to stop him from fleeing country
Aug 10 Shootout between Bdar and Khorasani Brigade in east Mosul 3 wounded Argued over how
to distribute aid
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 31 Aug 10 2017)
Aug 11 IS still smuggling oil and refined products Had 1600 makeshift refineries in north Iraq 2014
IS seized large oil fields in Iraq and Syria US Op Tidal Wave II targeted IS oil industry Was largely successful 2014 IS exporting oil from Ajeel field Aug Coalition airstrikes hit pumping station at field Limited use Mar 2015 Hashd took Ajeel field IS set fire to 9 wells as retreated Oct 2016 Peshmerga and ISF took Qayara oil field in Ninewa IS set fire to 20 oil wells Burned for 8 months Aug 2016-Jul 2017 IS attacked Bai Hassan field in Kirkuk and Ajeel to deny it to govt Airstrikes forced IS to use small refineries and sell to locals
Aug 11 Sec of State Tillerson called KRG Pres Barzani Asked him to postpone KRG independence
referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Aug 12 Former Basra Gov Nasrawi fled to Iran to escape corruption charges
Aug 12 Sadr said Hashd needed to be integrated into ISF said Iraq couldn’t have 2 armies Said
Hashd caused problems Aimed at his rivals
Aug 12 Fmr Ninewa Gov Nujafi released details of his calls with Def Min Asadi during fall of
Mosul in 2014 Jun 9 all ISF in west Mosul retreated Nujafi had to move to police station in east Mosul Def Min Asadi called Nujafi and ordered him to ask Peshmerga for help Nujafi said Kurds wouldn’t act without direct order of PM Maliki PM refused to call Pres Barzani Said one of his aides would Nujafi told Def Min Asadi army had retreated from west Mosul Jun 10 Nujafi fled Mosul
(Musings On Iraq Post Mosul Liberation Day 34 Aug 13 2017)
Aug 12 Babil govt voted to block returns to Jurf al-Sakhr Hashd emptied district of people and
wouldn’t let any return
Aug 13 IS rocket attack on base in Tal Afar dist Ninewa killed 2 US soldiers Wounded 5 Hashd
leader claimed US evacuated IS leaders from area
Aug 14 Asayesh broke into anti-KRG independence referendum office in Irbil Took documents
Head of group went into hiding afterward due to threats
Aug 14 Hashd spokesman said 90% of Hashd would take part in Tal Afar op Said Turkey’s
opposition to Hashd didn’t matter
Aug 14 Kataib Hezbollah said it would be watching US during Tal Afar op Said US was helping IS
Aug 14 Report ISF burned farmland destroyed homes tried to force people out and displaced in
Tarmiya north Baghdad
Aug 15 Report 25,000 tribal Hashd in Anbar Each unit different leader Different ties with ISF and
Hashd but not part of govt forces Some want to become part of ISF Kataib Hezbollah controlled area south of Fallujah Albu Issa main tribal Hashd inside Fallujah
Aug 15 Report Tribal Hashd accused of crime in Mosul Revenge attacks Blackmail Accused people
of being IS Ninewa councilman accused Hashd of acting like gangs robbing kidnapping killing people in Mosul ISF drove some tribal Hashd out of city
Aug 15 Report Christians in Ninewa split over politics Some connected to Shiite parties other to
Kurds Ninewa Plains Protection Unit accused of taking smuggled artifacts from Babylon Brigades and turned over some members to police in Qaraqosh Babylon Brigades then stormed Ninewa Plains Unit office PM Abadi ordered Babylon Brigades to leave Qaraqosh but refused Other Christian hashd include Chaldean Assyrian Popular Council Assyrian National Party Brigades Ninewa Plains Force Lions of Babylon Brigades Kataib Issa Ibn Maryam Brigades 12 Christian political parties Jun meeting to try to unite Christian parties and militias Failed
Aug 16 Abadi govt told Turkey Hashd would have limited role in Tal Afar op Would stay outside
city
Aug 17 PM Abadi’s office acknowledged that Emergency Response Division unit did commit
abuses during Mosul campaign as originally reported in Der Spiegel Govt ran info campaign to discredit Der Spiegel over story
(Musings On Iraq on Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch called for investigation into Der Spiegel article)
(Musings On Iraq ABC News had follow up to Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Toronto Star added more to story about abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq reactions to Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Joint Operations Command attacked Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Der Spiegel Reporting On Abuse By Iraqi Forces During Mosul Battle Was True)
Aug 17 Iraqi authorities announced members of Emergency Response Division were sent to court
No specifics given
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Aug 17 Iraqi court ruled that Kurdish flag be lowered from government buildings in
Kirkuk Governor Najm rejected ruling
Aug 17 PM Abadi said he would launch anti-corruption campaign after IS defeated and take people
to court Didn’t happen
Aug 17 KRG referendum delegation met with National Alliance in Baghdad Said open to delaying
vote
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Aug 18 Kirkuk Governor Karim rejected court order to remove Kurdish flag from
government buildings in province
Aug 18 Report US Embassy official said 1400 ISF killed 7000 wounded in Mosul battle
Aug 19 Report Investigation into abuses in Mosul found Rapid Reaction Div beat and abused
civilians Verified Der Spiegel article about abuses which Abadi govt and ISF attacked and denied
(Musings On Iraq on Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch called for investigation into Der Spiegel article)
(Musings On Iraq ABC News had follow up to Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Toronto Star added more to story about abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq reactions to Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Joint Operations Command attacked Der Spiegel article on abuses by Rapid Reaction Division during Mosul battle)
Aug 19 Operation to free Tal Afar Ninewa began
(Musings On Iraq Start Of The Tal Afar Battle)
Aug 20 Report KRG had $10-$12 bil debt Hadn’t paid govt workers and Peshmerga for months
Offered to postpone KRG independence referendum if got financial help from Baghdad
Aug 22 KDP shut down NRT TV station over comments about KRG independence referendum
Aug 23 Oil Min approved Shell selling its share of Majnoon oil field Shell couldn’t work out details
over investment budget and production Part of major oil companies withdrawing from Iraq
Aug 23 Report Tuz Kharmato was traditional producer of concrete blocks After freed by Hashd
brigades set up checkpoints and charged taxes on truckers Made selling blocks unprofitable and factories stopped selling them Each Hashd unit in area charged taxes which stifled business and trade Hashd have checkpoints across country
(Musings On Iraq Expansion of the Hashd al-Shaabi’s influence In Iraq, Interview With Clingendael’s Erwin van Veen)
Aug 24 DNO and Genel Energy reached agreement with KRG over outstanding debt and oil export
payments DNO got larger stake in Tawke field Genel Energy would receive more revenues
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 26 Mass grave in Tal Afar discovered by Iraqi forces Had bodies of 80 civilians and ISF killed by
IS
(Musings On Iraq Tal Afar Battle Day 7)
Aug 27 Tal Afar Ninewa liberated by Iraqi forces
(Musings On Iraq Tal Afar Battle Day 8 – Completed)
Aug 27 Report Hashd in Balad Yathrib Juwerzat in Salahddin forcing people out while setting up
security zone Accused of burning and blowing up homes
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Aug 27 Report Army’s 55th Brigade was stopping displaced from returning to Azm in Abu Ghraib
dist west Baghdad
Aug 27 Dep head of Babil council claimed 3000 people from Jurf al-Sakrh wanted on terrorism
charges Was excuse to not allow entire population of district from returning Were expelled by Hashd and not allowed back
Aug 27 Hashd took over Diyala govt building to stop firing of governor from Badr
Aug 28 Court upheld dismissal of Anbar Gov Rawi on corruption after he escaped
similar charges 2 other times by opponents within the Anbar council
Aug 28 Report Babil govt denied it made any decision on displaced returning to Jurf al-Sakhr Did
say it would sue anyone who called for displaced to return Showed docs that 100 families involved in terrorism UN criticized decision Hashd emptied Jurf al-Sakhr Wouldn’t allow anyone back because along pilgrimage routes
Aug 29 Anbar council elected Halbusi new governor
Aug 29 Kirkuk council voted to be included in Kurdistan independence referendum to
widespread condemnation from Arab and Turkmen politicians PM Abadi denounced decision
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Aug 29 Report Turkmen Hashd accused of looting homes and govt buildings Retaliatory attacks in
Tal Afar
(Musings On Iraq Tal Afar Battle Day 10)
Aug 29 KDP shut down NRT TV for a week because of its reporting on KRG independence
referendum
Aug 30 Salahaddin govt ruled that IS families should not be allowed to return and should be exiled
from province for at least 10 yrs
Aug 30 Report Jurf al-Sakhr liberated in 2014 Completely empty of 30,000 residents because of pro-
Iran Hashd Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah who occupied it Some members of Babil govt said they didn’t want people back Babil govt controlled by State of Law said they would sue anyone who called for returns Located along route used by Shiite pilgrims
Aug 31 Report Kurds settled debt to oil companies over natural gas Would pay $1 bil to Pearl
Petroleum Company would drop claims for $26.5 bil in damages Said it would triple gas production in 2 yrs UK court of Intl Arbitration granted Pearl $2.239 bil in damages in 2015 and 2017
Aug 31 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq called for no confidence vote vs Kirkuk govt and have Gov Karim sent to
court for voting to participate in KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 1 During Friday prayers in Najaf Asaib Ahl Al-Haq head Khazali said merging Kirkuk with
Kurdistan was dangerous and threatened to use force to stop it
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Sep 2 Kurdish Asayesh accused of executing up to 375 IS suspects that just surrendered to
them in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Human Rights Watch Reports Kurds Executed Hundreds Of IS Prisoners)
Sep 4 KRG official went to Iran Told Tehran opposed KRG independence referendum Gorran and
Kurdistan Islamic Group called for vote to be delayed
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 4 Hashd leader said that Kurds couldn’t dictate terms of Hawija Kirkuk op and keep Hashd out
(Musings On Iraq Arguing Over The Upcoming Hawija Operation)
Sep 5 Badr MP said ISF should intervene to stop KRG independence referendum from happening
outside of Kurdistan
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 6 Report KDP proposed another 2 yr extension for Pres Barzani in return for delaying KRG
independence referendum
Sep 6 Reporter attacked after wrote article about corruption in KRG
Sep 6 Report UN rebuilt 78% of 15,000 homes damaged in Fallujah during war vs IS People
complained govt wasn’t helping no jobs no compensation no services
Sep 6 Report KRG told PM Abadi Peshmerga would take part in Hawija op Didn’t want Hashd
involved
(Musings On Iraq Arguing Over The Upcoming Hawija Operation)
Sep 8 Civil Defense forces said 2100 bodies pulled from west Mosul Est 400-500 bodies still in
rubble
Sep 8 Iran hit KDPI camp with missiles in KRG after KDPI killed some Iranian border guards
Sep 10 Diyala governor fired mayor of Mandali Happened after Asaib Ahl Al-Haq stormed govt
building Took down KRG flag Threatened officials not to support KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 10 Arab League secretary general called KRG Pres Barzani to delay KRG independence
referendum Barzani said no
Sep 10 National Reform List MP threatened to dismiss Pres Masum cut off KRG from budget
payments exclude Kurds from govt posts and parliament if KRG held independence referendum
Sep 10 Report KDP tried to expel Yazidis from Sheikhan Ninewa Forced people off land Bulldozed
buildings Gave land to Kurds from Dohuk and KRG officials
Sep 11 Report IS still held Ajeel and Alas Dome oil fields Smuggled some oil to Turkey and Syria
Sep 11 Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani went to Sulaymaniya to talk with PUK about KRG
independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 11 Ninewa govt complained about arbitrary and sectarian arrests by Hashd
Sep 11 Report Hashd and tribal Hashd arresting people and holding them for ransom in Mosul
Sep 12 Shell said it would focus on Basra Gas Company after decision to withdraw from Majnoon
oil field May Oil Ministry penalized Shell for not reaching production target Shell said that impacted business and decided to withdraw
Sep 12 Parliament rejected KRG independence referendum Kurdish MPs boycotted session Pres
Barzani went to Kirkuk Said referendum legal Said wouldn’t compromise on Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 12 Diyala govt voted against KRG independence referendum Kurds boycotted vote
Sep 12 Report 2 imams in Chamchamal attacked for opposing KRG independence referendum Aug
2 members of group opposed to referendum kidnapped PUK blamed Aug 2011 Founder of Awene newspaper attacked Oct 2013 owner of NRT shot and wounded Dec 2013 journalist killed Jul 2017 cleric killed and fmr KDP member beaten for criticizing party
Sep 12 Report KRG independence referendum opposed by Turkey Syria Iran US Came after power
struggle with Pres Barzani Summer 2015 Barzani refused to step down Barred KRG parliament speaker from Gorran from entering Irbil Closed parliament Barzani then announced referendum and called for parliamentary and presidential elections Barzani said he wouldn’t run but not believed Tried to use referendum to stay in power Gorran and Kurdistan Islamic Group against referendum
Sep 13 Salahaddin govt voted not to hold KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 14 Parliament voted to dismiss Kirkuk Governor Karim over his support for KRG
Independence referendum Kirkuk Governor Karim said he would not step down after parliament voted to remove him Said Iraqi law didn’t allow parliament to dismiss him
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 14 Report Iranian officials were visiting Iraqi Shiite parties Told them to stay unified before
next elections Sadr refused meeting
Sep 14 KDP and PUK agreed to bring back KRG parliament after dismissed by Pres Barzani to
discuss KRG independence referendum
Sep 14 Report US rep to Iraq McGurk suggested KRG discuss issues with Baghdad rather than hold
KRG independence referendum US opposed vote McGurk said no intl support for referendum
Sep 14 Fatah’s Amiri said he tried all means to stop KRG independence referendum Said there
could be civil war if vote held
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
Sep 14 Report US and Iran tried to stop KRG independence referendum Quds Force cmdr Gen
Suleimani US Iraq rep McGurk US Ambassador all met with Kurds trying to talk them out of vote Source said Suleimani threatened to unleash the Hashd vs Kurds if vote held Pres Barzani rejected pressure
Sep 15 Turkey threatened to use force if KRG held independence referendum Said waiting to see
what US did about KRG vote
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 15 KRG parliament met after being dismissed by Pres Barzani Voted to back KRG
independence referendum Opposition parties said they would abstain Pres Barzani said he’d gotten no alternatives to referendum
Sep 15 Report Dismissed Kirkuk Gov Karim said Peshmerga would stop any Hashd move against
Kirkuk city after KRG independence referendum
Sep 15 9 Tribal Hashd arrested in Ninewa for kidnapped and released a banking official 17th Hashd
Bgd arrested 5 relatives and associates of Ninewa governor
Sep 16 PM Abadi said that Iraqi forces that carried out abuses during Mosul battle had been held
accountable Nothing actually happened
(Musings On Iraq Review Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS)
Sep 16 Akashat in west Anbar along Syrian border freed in new campaign to free
west Anbar
Sep 16 State of emergency declared in Kirkuk province ahead of KRG independence
Referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Sep 16 MPs filed petition to dismiss Kirkuk council over KRG independence referendum
Sep 16 US UK France UN made offer to KRG to discuss regional issues and independence
referendum at UN to postpone vote for 2 yrs KRG rejected offer
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
Sep 16 Report PM Abadi said willing to use military if KRG independence referendum led to
violence Said vote was dangerous escalation
Sep 16 Pres Barzani said no alternative to KRG independence referendum at rally in Dohuk
Claimed he hadn’t been offered any alternatives but had
Sep 17 Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Council said Tehran would cancel all agreements with
KRG if it separated from Iraq
Sep 17 Secretary General of UN called on KRG to hold off on independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 18 Federal Supreme Court ordered halt to KRG independence referendum until it went through
complaints of it being unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 18 KRG signed deal with Rosneft for natural gas pipeline to Turkey worth $1 bil Would
eventually be connected to Europe Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Sep 18 Hashd leader said his unit was ready to enter Syria as part of op in Anbar Said would
cooperate with Syrian govt
Sep 19 Rihana in the Ana district in northwest Anbar freed
Sep 20 Ana in west Anbar attacked by Iraqi forces
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Forces Continue To Advance In Anbar While Preparing For Shirqat And Hawija)
Sep 20 Integrity Commission announced two former Diyala governors were guilty of
manipulating contracts in absentia while Salahaddin Governor Jabouri was released under Amnesty Law stealing public funds
Sep 20 Turkish Pres Erdogan threatened sanctions on KRG if went ahead with independence
referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 20 State Dept told KRG it should accept intl community’s alternative to independence
referendum
Sep 21 Ana in west Anbar freed while Shirqat in northern Salahaddin and Hawija in
south Kirkuk attacked by Iraqi forces
(Musings On Iraq Shirqat Freed, Clearing In Anbar, Hawija In The Offing)
(Musings On Iraq Ana Freed In Anbar While Shirqat And Hawija Attacked)
Sep 21 Report Pres Barzani issued decree Jun setting up KRG independence referendum His term
ended 2 yrs ago Kurdistan Islamic Union and KDP only parties to support vote KRG parliament met Sep and majority voted for referendum Included disputed areas that include Arabs and Turkmen Decree said non-Kurdish people would be included in KRG if majority of voters approved referendum Shiite Turkmen Hashd in Kirkuk said Arabs and Turkmen needed to resist vote Sunni Turkmen called for Abadi to declare martial law in Kirkuk and send ISF to stop vote Sep protests in Diyala against vote PM Abadi said vote unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 22 Report Al-Nujaba Movement created land route from Iran through Iraq to Syria to deliver
Iranian weapons and supplies Went through Ninewa Head of Al-Nujaba said he followed Iran
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Sep 22 UN said KRG independence referendum could destabilize Iraq
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 22 Report Shiite parties and Iran calling Kurds Zionists for KRG independence referendum
Hashd commander said Iraq would stand on grave of Zionists and their dogs in KRG like Barzani family VP Maliki said KRG wanted to be 2nd Israel Head of Iran’s Assembly of Experts made similar statement
Sep 22 Shirqat Salahaddin declared freed from IS
(Musings On Iraq 2nd Phase Of Hawija Operation Underway)
(Musings On Iraq Shirqat Freed, Clearing In Anbar, Hawija In The Offing)
(Musings On Iraq Ana Freed In Anbar While Shirqat And Hawija Attacked)
Sep 23 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani visited PUK officials to try to delay KRG
independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 23 Report Pres Barzani said KRG independence referendum 1st stop in process to negotiate
KRG’s independence from Iraq Said partnership with Baghdad over
Sep 23 Sec State Tillerson letter to Pres Barzani Promised US-UN support for 1 yr of talks between
KRG and Baghdad over Peshmerga civilian aviation oil Kirkuk etc Said if talks failed US would back independence referendum
Sep 24 Turkish PM threatened military action against KRG if held independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 24 Upon PM Abadi’s request Iran said it would stop flights to KRG over independence
referendum
Sep 24 Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani went to Ninewa Plains to discuss KRG independence
referendum
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Sep 25 Kurds held independence referendum in three Kurdish provinces and disputed
areas they occupied in 2014 72% participation rate 2.9 mil yes votes 224,000 no
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq War of Words Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil After KRG Referendum)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Sep 25 Rosneft promised $1 bil to develop KRG’s natural gas 3rd deal between Rosneft-KRG
Sep 25 Turkey said it wouldn’t accept independent Kurdish state Closed border with KRG after
independence referendum Said would cut off KRG oil pipeline
Sep 25 Abadi govt demanded KRG turn over all border crossings and airports after independence
referendum Parliament demanded Iraqi forces be deployed to all disputed areas
Sep 26 Pres Barzani said ready to talk about independence from Iraq with Abadi govt Said might
take 1-2 yrs
(Musings On Iraq War of Words Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil After KRG Referendum)
Sep 26 PM Abadi said that if KRG released information on where its oil revenue went
placed oil resources under Baghdad control KRG could get its portion of budget and share of grants and loans that Iraq received Warned that referendum was going to have negative consequences
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Sep 26 Turkey’s Foreign Minister said KDP’s representative to Ankara could not return
to country after KRG independence referendum
Sep 26 Report Turkish Pres Erdogan accused KRG of treachery for independence referendum
Sep 26 MP said 2nd dep speaker of parliament would be dismissed because voted in KRG
independence referendum
Sep 26 MP from Citizens’ Bloc called on Speaker to remove all Kurdish MPs for
KRG independence referendum
Sep 26 ISF and tribal Hashd launched op to free Rawa Anbar ISF moved on Qaim along Syrian
border in Anbar
Sep 27 Kurdish Election Commission announced 72% of registered voters took part in
KRG independence referendum Around 2.9 mil voted yes, 224,000 voted no
(Musings On Iraq on KRG referendum)
(Musings On Iraq War of Words Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil After KRG Referendum)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Sep 27 Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority sent notices to airlines that international flights to
Irbil and Sulaymaniya were suspended in retaliation for referendum
Sep 27 Parliament passed resolution saying that Abadi as commander in chief should
maintain unity of Iraq Called for Pres Barzani to be brought to court over referendum Said that central govt should control KRG border posts return Kirkuk fields and disputed territories to Baghdad’s control remove governor of Kirkuk asked countries to close consulates in KRG
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Ups Ante Attempting To Seize Control Of Kurds’ Oil Pipeline)
Sep 27 KRG said it was willing to allow observers from Baghdad at its airports
Sep 27 Kataib Hezbollah compared Pres Barzani to IS’s Baghdadi and said he would be
dealt with same way as Islamic State was
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Sep 27 Kirkuk Governor Karim rejected parliament’s call to deploy troops to disputed
areas
Sep 27 IS attacked checkpoints outside Ramadi Held areas for 10 hrs Executed hostages Eventually
expelled
Sep 28 Iraq Pres Masum said that KRG referendum was constitutional but separation of
Kurdistan was not
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq War of Words Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil After KRG Referendum)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Sep 28 Pres Barzani said that cooperation between Irbil and Baghdad was important but
Iraqi govt acting recklessly and pushing Kurds away
Sep 28 Turkey said it was suspending training program with Peshmerga over
independence referendum
Sep 28 All intl flights to KRG ended upon order of Abadi govt
Sep 28 Reporters Without Border Media being attacked and curtailed in KRG 4 reporters stopped
from covering KRG independence vote TV station suspended before vote 2 stations blocked from covering Pres Barzani’s speech in Kirkuk Reporter arrested for covering protest against Barzani 4 gunmen smashed windows of reporter’s car after he wrote article about corruption in KRG Host of daily talk show threatened Journalist who supported no vote against referendum went into hiding after death threats
Sep 28 Hashd arrested 8 Christian health workers in Ninewa Plains Told them to convert to Shiism
Insulted and made fun of them
Sep 29 Pres Barzani’s office threatened unilateral independence if talks with Baghdad
Weren’t opened immediately
(Musings On Iraq What’s Next For Kurdistan After The Referendum?)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Sep 29 Secretary of State Tillerson issued statement that US didn’t recognize the
KRG referendum
Sep 29 International flights cancelled out of Irbil airport after travel ban imposed by
Baghdad in retaliation for referendum
Sep 29 Iran threatened to ban fuel shipments to Kurdistan in retaliation for referendum
Sep 29 New campaign to free Hawija dist in Kirkuk began
Sep 30 Iraqi military said it was going to take over Kurdish border posts by stationing
troops on Turkish and Iranian side in retaliation for independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Sep 30 Iraq-Iran formed committee to discuss building pipeline to deliver Kirkuk oil to Iranian
refinery never happened
Oct 1 Gorran blamed Pres. Barzani for crisis between Irbil and Baghdad saying he
ignored warnings from international and regional powers about referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 1 KRG announced Referendum Committee was becoming Kurdistan Region’s
Supreme Political Council
Oct 1 UN offered to mediate between Baghdad and Irbil over KRG independence referendum
Oct 2 PM Abadi said he wouldn’t talk to KRG unless it cancelled referendum results
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 2 Abadi govt announced foreigners in Kurdistan could fly out of country via Baghdad
even if didn’t have federal visa
Oct 2 Joint Iran-Iraq military drill started along KRG border in response to independence
referendum
Oct 2 PUK’s Hero Ibrahim Ahmed said that Kurds were paying the price for the wrong
decision to hold independence referendum Claimed KRG leadership wasn’t being realistic about independence Said that new Kurdish leadership council reminded her of Baathist Revolutionary Command Council
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
Oct 2 Gorran called for new Kurdish leadership council to be disbanded Said that
referendum had created another political crisis for KRG
Oct 2 Badr’s Amiri said Rashad region of Hawija dist south Kirkuk freed from IS
Oct 3 Former Iraq President Talabani died
Oct 3 Central Bank of Iraq said it would halt all foreign currency transfer to KRG and stop
selling dollars to four Kurdish banks for holding independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 3 Parliament said it would not work with 4 telecommunications companies with
contracts in Kurdistan and threatened to take away immunity for Kurdish MPs that voted in the referendum Kurdish MPs were either blocked or boycotted the parliamentary session
Oct 3 Report Irbil and Baghdad in secret talks to try to defuse tensions after referendum
Oct 3 Turkey offered to mediate between Irbil and Baghdad to end crisis over referendum
Oct 3 Pres Masum’s office announced that Kirkuk Governor Karim would stay in office
until his court challenge over his dismissal was heard
Oct 3 KRG Election Comm rejected Gorran candidate for president saying he missed deadline when he didn’t
(Musings On Iraq In Face Of Referendum Fallout Kurdish Ruling Parties Decide To Hold Onto Power)
Oct 4 Turkish Pres Erdogan and Iranian Pres Rouhani met Rouhani said Iran wouldn’t support
division of Iraq Said Kurds made wrong decision to hold independence referendum Erdogan said Kurdish vote was illegal Threatened to stop KRG oil exports
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 4 Central Bank of Iraq said it would ease easing financial restrictions imposed on
Kurdistan day before over independence referendum
Oct 5 Hawija and Riyad in Kirkuk freed from the Islamic State
(Musings On Iraq Center of Hawija Taken As Operations Reaches Final Phase)
(Musings On Iraq Town of Hawija Liberated From the Islamic State)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Forces Finish Hawija Now On To Western Anbar Again)
Oct 5 Turkey’s President Erdogan threatened to close border and air space to Kurdistan in
retaliation for KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 7 Clash between Hashd and Peshmerga in Kharabaroot, Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 7 Report Oil traders stopped giving advances to KRG for its oil exports KRG exports up
because of new deal with Baghdad Jun-Sep traders advanced KRG $272 mil Aug KRG paid oil traders $188 mil more than 30% of its oil revenue KRG started getting advances from traders in 2014 KRG cut govt payrolls 1/3 Fell behind paying oil companies
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 8 Clash between Hashd and Peshmerga in two areas of Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 8 KRG Pres Barzani met Speaker Jabouri to try to de-escalate tensions after KRG independence
referendum
Oct 8 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali threatened to invade Kirkuk to keep it an Iraqi city after KRG
independence referendum
Oct 10 Security op to free Hawija dist in Kirkuk ended
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Forces Finish Hawija Now On To Western Anbar Again)
Oct 10 UN said 5.4 mil displaced in Iraq due to war with IS
Oct 10 Report Tal Afar Ninewa freed by Hashd but empty of people Hashd burned Sunni homes VP
of Arab Center for Human Rights and head of Yaqin Net said Iran wanted to turn Tal Afar into way station to ship weapons to Syria
Oct 11 Warrants issued for 3 members of Kurdish referendum organizing committee for breaking
court injunction against holding vote
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 11 Report 72% voter turnout for KRG independence referendum Dohuk and Irbil 80-90%
turnout Only 50% in Sulaymaniya and Halabja Tuz Kharmato no voting stations in Turkmen areas PUK leadership was split over vote
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
Oct 12 Iraqi joint forces crossed Kurdish lines in southern Kirkuk and told Peshmerga to vacate
their positions Disputed reports over whether Iraqi forces and Peshmerga shot at each other in southern Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq Escalation In Iraq Continues After KRG Referendum, The Kirkuk Challenge)
(Musings On Iraq Kurds Fall Back To 2014 Borders)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 12 Abadi govt said KRG had to agree to unity of Iraq before entered talks about consequences
of independence referendum
Oct 12 IS magazine said group was switching to insurgency
Oct 13 PUK Peshmerga withdrew from areas of Bashir and Taza in south Kirkuk ceding
territory to Iraqi forces PM Abadi gave Kurds 48 hours to vacate territory military bases oil fields occupied in 2014 by Peshmerga
(Musings On Iraq Escalation In Iraq Continues After KRG Referendum, The Kirkuk Challenge)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 13 Fighting broke out between Hashd and Peshmerga in Tuz Kharmato again Hashd began
occupying areas of Kirkuk while Peshmerga withdrew
(Musings On Iraq Kurds Fall Back To 2014 Borders)
Oct 13 Iranian Rev Guard Hashd PUK met in Kirkuk Talked about seizing province and removing
Gov Karim
Oct 14 IRGC Gen Suelimani met with Talabani family Went over govt takeover of Kirkuk Warned
PUK to distance itself from KDP or suffer the consequences
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 14 KRG Natural Resource Min said KRG wanted 17% of budget Baghdad to pay all govt
workers Peshmerga police Asayesh and their pensions Get 17% of oil products
Oct 14 100 MPs signed petition to dismiss Kurdish MPs that voted in KRG independence
referendum
Oct 14 Abadi govt gave Peshmerga until Oct 15 to evacuate all bases and oil fields in Kirkuk Was
brief fighting between Iraqi forces and Peshmerga
Oct 14 Report Kurds split over how to deal with Kirkuk after KRG independence referendum
PUK’s Bafel Talabani called for talks with Abadi govt PUK Peshmerga cmdr Rasul said open to joint control of disputed areas of Kirkuk Withdrew his forces from two areas after negotiations with Iraqi forces Another PUK faction more hardline PUK VP Rasul sent 6000 Peshmerga to Kirkuk Govt Karim said Iraqi forces wouldn’t be allowed into Kirkuk city KDP Peshmerga cmdr said Kurds would crush Iraqi forces in Kirkuk
Oct 14 Hashd handed out leaflets in Kirkuk asking for local support for when they attacked Kirkuk
city
Oct 14 Iraqi army Hashd Federal Police Rapid Reaction units all in central Kirkuk Crossed
Peshmerga lines but then halted after talks started with Kurds
Oct 14 Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq negotiated ceasefire after fighting Kurds in Tuz Kharmato
Oct 15 Hashd burned PUK office in Tuz Kharmato after fighting stopped there
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 15 Report KRG rejected PM Abadi’s call to cancel results of KRG independence referendum
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
Oct 16 Iraqi forces moved towards military base and oil fields in south Kirkuk Fighting broke out
with Peshmerga PUK withdrew most of its forces Led KDP to do the same Allowed joint forces to take most of Kirkuk province including two oil and gas fields denying KRG of roughly half its oil production
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
(Musings On Iraq Kirkuk Aftermath)
(Musings On Iraq Kurds Fall Back to 2014 Borders)
(Musings On Iraq Seven Expert Opinions On The Kirkuk Crisis)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 16 Kirkuk governor called on city to defend itself Iraqi forces moved south of city Used artillery
against Peshmerga Called on them to withdraw PUK sent reinforcements Iraqi Govt forces took Kirkuk city Governor fled to Irbil
Oct 16 PUK also withdrew its forces from Jawala Qara Tapa Mandali Daquq in northeast Diyala
after meeting with governor and army chief of staff
Oct 16 In wake of Kirkuk falling to govt forces KDP called PUK traitors and PUK called KDP
thieves KDP said govt forces occupying Kirkuk was a betrayal
(Musings On Iraq In Face Of Referendum Fallout Kurdish Ruling Parties Decide To Hold Onto Power)
Oct 16 Fighting broke out between Peshmerga and Hashd in Tuz Kharmato Widespread looting and
burning of homes and businesses by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Kurds Fall Back To 2014 Borders)
Oct 16 KRG declared state of emergency Pres Barzani ordered Peshmerga to fight to the death to
defend Kirkuk
Oct 17 PM Abadi said KRG independence referendum over and in the past Said Baghdad would
have control of all parts of Iraq including KRG Pres Barzani said 1 day Kurds would be independent
Oct 17 Kurds withdrew from Khanaqin in northeast Diyala along with Bashiqa, Makhmour, Gwar,
Rabia and part of Sinjar district in western Ninewa that they occupied in 2014 Was gun battle between Hashd and Police vs Peshmerga at Mosul Dam
(Musings On Iraq Kirkuk Aftermath)
(Musings On Iraq Kurds Fall Back to 2014 Borders)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 17 5 Turkish soldiers killed by IEDs laid by PKK 1st time in years Turkish soldiers killed by
PKK in Iraq Would start escalation of conflict By end of 2017 318 PKK fighters and 23 Turkish soldiers killed along with 23 Turks wounded in fighting
(Musings On Iraq interview with journalist Frederike Geerdink on escalating conflict between PKK and Turks in Iraq)
Oct 17 Report Hashd leader Abu Muhandis and Badr head Amiri met with Quds Force member
Eqbalpour in Kirkuk KRG rejected Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani’s lobbying to end independence referendum Eqbalpour threatened Iranian attack on Kirkuk if Kurds didn’t withdraw Peshmerga claimed Iranians were with Hashd who advanced into Kirkuk
Oct 17 Report PUK saw KRG independence referendum as attempt by Pres Barzani to stay in power
and increase his power PUK angry KDP controlled oil revenue from fields in Kirkuk Mar KDP sent its Peshmerga to Kirkuk oil field run by PUK Reinforced idea KDP trying to encroach on PUK areas Kirkuk governor who was from PUK aligned with KDP Iran cut off fuel exports to KRG which hurt PUK in Sulaymaniya Gorran claimed PUK made deal with Badr’s Amiri Other report PUK met with PM Abadi to withdraw from Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
Oct 17 MP said Kurdish shops burned in Tuz Kharmato Hashd blamed PM Abadi admitted to
abuses in city
Oct 17 Peshmerga accused of destroying 3000 Arab homes in Jawlala Diyala and trying to change
demographics of area
Oct 18 KRG Election Commission said it stopped preparations for presidential and parliamentary
elections because no candidates
(Musings On Iraq In Face Of Referendum Fallout Kurdish Ruling Parties Decide To Hold Onto Power)
Oct 18 UN warned Election Comm that choosing electronic voting system would undermine trust
in voting
Oct 18 Report KRG lost half its oil production Kurds took Bai Hassan and Avana oil fields in
Kirkuk in 2014 after Mosul fell Produced 280,000 bar/day of oil Was 45% of KRG production
(Musings On Iraq Fighting Breaks Out Between Federal Forces And Peshmerga In Salahaddin And Kirkuk)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 18 Rosneft signed deal for 5 oil blocks in KRG
Oct 18 Iraqi forces and Peshmerga fought in Mahmudiya Ninewa
Oct 18 KRG VP and deputy head of PUK Rasul attacked PUK members for Kirkuk Said Kurds
suffered another Anfal Said Kurds expected intl community to help them after KRG independence referendum but didn’t Bafel and Lahur Talabani ordered withdrawal of PUK peshmerga from Kirkuk
Oct 19 Oil Min repeated warning that oil companies could not sign oil deals with KRG
Oct 19 Supreme Judicial Council warrant for KRG VP Rasul for inciting violence because he called
for peshmerga to fight for Kirkuk
Oct 19 UN reported violence and looting in Tuz Kharmato and Kirkuk after Iraqi forces expelled
Kurds Said 150 homes burned in Tuz Kharmato
Oct 19 Hashd fired on Kurdish protesters in Khanaqin Diyala 1 killed Were protesting Hashd
presence
Oct 20 Fighting broke out between Iraqi forces and Peshmerga in Altun Kupri Kirkuk Aide to Pres Barzani claimed it was a govt offensive vs Peshmerga
(Musings On Iraq Kurds Fall Back to 2014 Borders)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 20 Report Baghdad occupied disputed areas KRG took after fall of Mosul Pres Barzani’s decision to hold KRG independence referendum backfired He was humiliated Regional countries and US all told Barzani not to hold vote Kurdish parties were divided over vote Barzani had no plan other than to hold vote PUK claimed Barzani threatened to hold referendum without it KDP and PUK met after vote on how to deal with Baghdad PUK already made deal with PM Abadi to withdraw from southern Kirkuk
Oct 21 Report Army’s 15th Div took four oil fields in Ninewa from Kurds
Oct 21 PM Abadi spokesman said govt had no timeline for talks with KRG over aftermath of
independence referendum KRG had to agree to integrity of Iraq constitution handing over border ports airports enforcing rule of law in disputed areas
Oct 21 Pavel Talabani said KRG referendum was a mistake KRG should’ve accepted US
mediation
Oct 21 Gorran called on Pres Talabani to resign and dismiss Kurdish govt
Oct 22 Report Sec State Tillerson said Iranian backed Hashd should leave Iraq
Oct 22 Peshmerga withdrew from Altun Kupri Kirkuk after fighting Hashd Peshmerga blew up bridge in Ninewa to prevent advance of Iraqi forces
Oct 22 Report Up to 2013 KRG growth mostly fueled by money from Iraqi budget When Baghdad cut off budget payments in oil dispute KRG fell into debt to local banks Turkey oil companies and traders 2014 KRG took oil fields after Mosul fell Became dependent upon Kirkuk oil fields KRG lost all of those except for 1 after independence referendum Production at Taq Taq oil field declined after reserves were grossly inflated KRG was earning $300 mil/mo from oil Costs were $700 mil/mo KRG believed it would control Kirkuk oil fields for good Stopped developing its own fields as a result
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 22 Report Sec State Tillerson said Trump admin pushing for better Saudi-Iraq relations to try to counter Iran
Oct 23 ISF and Peshmerga clashed in Fishkhabur Dohuk Kurds feared Baghdad was attempting to
seize KRG pipeline to Turkey
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Ups Ante Attempting To Seize Control Of Kurds’ Oil Pipeline)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 24 Hashd spokesman said 3 Hashd 3 soldiers killed 10 wounded by Peshmerga shelling in Kirkuk
Oct 24 Hashd and Peshmerga fought in 2 areas in Ninewa as Iraqi forces moved north
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Ups Ante Attempting To Seize Control Of Kurds’ Oil Pipeline)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 24 Peshmerga Secretary Gen said Abadi govt was trying to push Kurds to pre-2003 borders It
was
Oct 24 Amnesty Intl Reports 11 civilians killed during fighting between Hashd and Peshmerga in
Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Was looting and buildings burned 35,000 fled since Oct 16 when fighting started
Oct 24 KRG announced presidential and parliamentary elections would be delayed 8 months
Gorran called it a coup
Oct 25 Pres Barzani offered to resign and form new govt under Nechirvan Barzani KDP then denied
story
Oct 25 KRG offered to freeze results of independence referendum in return for ceasefire and talks
Led to halt in fighting between federal and Kurdish forces PM Abadi demanded full cancellation of referendum
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Ups Ante Attempting To Seize Control Of Kurds’ Oil Pipeline)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 27 Kataib Hezbollah said it was part of Iran’s axis of resistance Said Foreigners and US had to
leave Iraq Said Hashd would remain as long as there were threats to Iraq
Oct 27 Diyala councilman said IS was holding out along Salahddin-Diyala border
Oct 27 PUK said Shiites were trying to impose control over Salahaddin Said 100s of homes looted
in Tuz Kharmato
Oct 27 Mayor of Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin said 50-60 homes blown up 400 burned 2000 homes
and 1000 businesses looted Came after Hashd forced Peshmerga out of area
Oct 26 Iraqi forces renewed west Anbar op This time aimed at liberating Qaim along Syrian border
Oct 26 More clashes between Iraqi forces and Peshmerga in Fishkhabur Dohuk and Altun Kupri
Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Ups Ante Attempting To Seize Control Of Kurds’ Oil Pipeline)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 26 KRG paid Gulf Keystone $15 mil for Aug exports Natural Resource Min tried to pay
invoices from oil companies for May Jun Jul Aug Gulf Keystone had to restructure financing to stay in business due to lack of KRG payments
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 27 Ceasefire announced between federal and Kurdish forces to allow for talks
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Ups Ante Attempting To Seize Control Of Kurds’ Oil Pipeline)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Oct 29 Pres Barzani said he would step down and defended independence referendum KDP
followers stormed KRG parliament building Attacked press and opposition politicians Burned their offices in Zakho
(Musings On Iraq Barzani’s Followers Respond With Violence To News He Will Step Down)
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
(Musings On Iraq review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict)
Oct 30 Baghdad made deal with KRG to have federal forces in disputed areas of Ninewa and have
joint control with peshmerga of one border crossing US mediated talks
Oct 30 Human Rights Watch IS executed 600 inmates at Badush prison after Mosul fell IS
separated Sunnis from Shiites and executed Shiites
Oct 31 VP Maliki said if Assad fell then the entire region would fall
Oct 31 PM Abadi said Peshmerga had to come under Baghdad control or be downsized Didn’t happen
Oct 13 Report KRG oil dependent Produced 610,000 bar/day of oil Exported 560,000 bar/day
before independence referendum Lost 280,000 bar/day of production from 2 fields in Kirkuk Left with 327,000 bar/day in production 280,000 bar/day in exports mostly from 2 fields Reduced investment in oil Had payment problems Low oil prices Problems with environment all limited KRG oil development KRG $20 bill in debt Signed deal with two oil trading companies Owed $1 bill to 1 trader Russia invested $4 bill in oil and gas 85% of KRG budget came from oil When KRG had money squandered it rather than invested in economy Non-oil economy poorly developed and lacked infrastructure
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 31 Report KRG Pres Barzani announced stepping down after KRG independence referendum
and govt forces took most disputed areas KRG thought US support during war with IS meant it would support independence but didn’t
Nov 1 Pres. Barzani stepped down from office that he held since 2005
Nov 1 Iraq Joint Ops Command accused Kurds of walking out on talks over orders and borer crossings
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Nov 2 Ninewa Gov Aqoub sent tribal Hashd to arrest councilmen that voted to dismiss him Aqoub
dismissed on corruption charges
Nov 2 Iraqi forces attacked Qaim Anbar
Nov 2 Human Rights Watch Mar Anbar govt told districts to force displaced to return because no
more room in camps Returnees screened by govt Interior Min Local Hashd and tribes People from Qaim and Rawa considered IS sympathizers
Nov 2 Report Around ¾ of Baiji destroyed during fighting 80% of infrastructure damaged More
than 7000 homes shops businesses totally destroyed Hashd blocked most returns to dist in Jun
Nov 3 Qaim district in Anbar freed Left only small border region under IS control
Nov 3 Report PM Abadi said no political party with an armed wing could take part in 2018
election Badr Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah all registered for voting even though were militias
Nov 3 Report Rosneft signed deals with KRG Kurds thought it meant Russian support for KRG
independence Russia wanted to expand influence in Mideast Rosneft gained de facto control of KRG’s oil and gas infrastructure and finances Rosneft paid $1.5 bil for 3-5 yrs of future oil exports After KRG lost Kirkuk oil fields production decreased 430,000 bar/day Meant couldn’t payback Rosneft KRG had $21 bil debt Rosneft also signed deal for 5 oil and gas blocks with KRG which were then lost to central govt Rosneft got 60% ownership of KRG-Turkey oil pipeline and said it would invest $1.8 bil to increase its capacity Rosneft wanted to build natural gas pipeline from KRG to Turkey
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Nov 4 Army took Husaiba border crossing in Qaim Dist Anbar
Nov 4 Rapporteur of parliament called for displaced to return to Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Came
after 531 mortar shells killed 10 and wounded 80 Blamed a Kurdish party for displacement Claimed Kurds politicized issues and not telling people to return 30,000 fled
Nov 6 Iraq Federal Court ruled no province could secede in lawsuit against Kurdish independence
referendum
(Musings On Iraq review The Great Betrayal, How America Abandoned The Kurds And Lost The Middle East)
Nov 8 Central Bank of Iraq called on Iraqi banks to stop working with KRG Aftermath of KRG
independence referendum
Nov 8 PM Abadi said willing to pay KRG govt salaries Disputed how many workers there were
Abadi said willing to pay 334 bil dinars KRG said it needed 897 bil dinars
Nov 8 Report Nov 2016 was off and on fighting between Peshmerga vs Shiite Arabs and Shiite
Turkmen Hashd in Tuz Kharmato Salahaddin Lasted 17 days Left 21 dead Over 100 wounded Meetings between PUK and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq led to ceasefire
Nov 8 UN condemned abuses that happened in Kirkuk and Tuz Kharmato Condemned destruction
of property Looting Kurds attacked and forced out Arabs
Nov 9 Report Tuz Kharmato said most of 50,000 Kurds in dist fled Mayor fled as well 7 people
killed in clashes with Hashd
Nov 9 PM Abadi said he would take on corruption next Said would be like war on terrorism Didn’t
do anything
Nov 12 Report Hashd stopped displaced from returning to west Ninewa’s Baaj Khairoon Tal Abta
Hashd turned Baaj into military base and would not allow civilians back
Nov 13 Babil govt said 5000 couldn’t return to Jurf al-Sakhr dist because had warrants for them
Said no timeline for when people could return Hashd emptied dist of civilians to project pilgrimage routes Turned into Kataib Hezbollah base
Nov 14 Iraq Federal Court rejected appeal by ex-Kirkuk Governor Karim to reverse his
dismissal by Iraqi parliament
Nov 14 Report KRG said it would respect Court decision that said illegal to break away from Iraq
Nov 14 PM Abadi threatened to take control of KRG border crossings if no talks between Baghdad
and KRG happened within a week
Nov 14 Rosneft paid KRG $1.3 bil advance on oil exports Would put KRG into debt that it couldn’t
payback
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Nov 14 Iraqi forces started new security measures in Mosul after people complained of IS members
walking around city Forces did sweeps through different parts of city
Nov 14 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq raided Turkmen Front office in Tuz Kharmato and took away headman
Nov 14 Russia’s Defense Min published photos claiming to show IS moving from Syria into Iraq
Said it proved US was helping IS Appeared to be taken from a video game
Nov 16 NYTimes report Coalition airstrikes led to far higher civilian casualties than
US admitted Found 1 in 5 airstrikes resulted in civilian casualties
Nov 17 Rawa in west Anbar liberated Was last town held by IS in Iraq
Nov 17 Sadr called for protests in Baghdad to demand reforms and technocratic govt
Nov 20 Pres Barzani rejected Federal Court decision on KRG independence referendum Said court
couldn’t overturn votes of the people Said Baghdad and court violated constitution
Nov 20 Hezbollah head Nasrallah said mission accomplished in Iraq Sent large number of forces to
fight IS Would now withdraw
Nov 20 Hashd stopped by police in Wasit and shot at them and ran 2 Hashd arrested and taken to
police station Hashd surrounded station and demanded release of their men Police said no leading to shootout
Nov 20 Report Abadi govt said 15,000-20,000 civilians killed in 2017 in war vs IS 50% of those
were in Ninewa 1000s missing 15,000 homes destroyed in Old City Mosul 100,000 in Anbar 11,000 in Diyala Estimates to rebuild Anbar Ninewa Diyala $60 bil Ramadi in Anbar Jawlala in Diyala Baiji in Salahaddin Hawija in Kirkuk Mosul and Tal Afar in Ninewa over 80% damage to buildings Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights counted 3,864 civilians killed 22,579 wounded in Mosul battle Mosul officials said $30 bil needed to rebuild city
Nov 21 PM Abadi said IS had been militarily defeated in Iraq
Nov 22 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said beating IS was beating Saudi Arabia, US and Israel
Nov 28 Mujahadeen Coalition announced for pro-Iran Hashd units to run in 2018 elections
Nov 28 2 former DynCopr workers testified in US court that it paid hundreds of 1000s of bribes
to cmdr 1st Special Forces Bgd for land near Baghdad airport in 2011 Land was rented to one company for $124,000/mo and then charged DynCorp $665,000 for same land
Nov 29 MP on finance committee said $320 bil lost in last few yrs due to corruption
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Nov 29 Kataib Hezbollah spokesman said that victories in Syria and Iraq were due to the Islamic
resistance led by Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani Said without Iran’s support Iraq and Syria would’ve been divided
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Dec 3 Report CIA Dir Pompeo wrote letter to Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani warning him about
attacks on US interests in Iraq
Dec 4 Report 33% of markets in Irbil closed over 4 months due to financial crisis Started over dispute
with Baghdad over oil and budget
Dec 5 4 mass graves discovered in town in Sinjar Dist Yazidi Hashd unit suspected of killing 52
civilians
Dec 5 Report Abadi govt took 18 months to repatriate less than ½ displaced 8 large cities declared
disaster areas Around 200,000 homes destroyed More than 3 mil still displaced MP from Salahaddin said govt had no plan for returns or rebuilding
Dec 7 PM Abadi said corruption new challenge for Iraq Each ruling party had office in charge of
raising money using govt workers they controlled Coordinated govt contracts and kickbacks for parties Politicians used govt money to fund their campaigns by giving contracts to friends and getting kickbacks New campaign aimed at smuggling money out of Iraq Fake contracts Central Bank of Iraq auctions
Dec 9 PM Abadi announced victory over the Islamic State
Dec 10 PM Abadi held victory parade in Baghdad for defeating IS
Dec 12 Report Baiji Salahaddin freed 2 yrs ago Completely destroyed Salahaddin councilman said no money for rebuilding No people returned By 2023 still empty of people
(Musings On Iraq 1/3 of Iraqi Voters Excluded From 2023 Elections Largely Due To Sectarian Cleansing)
Dec 13 Report 3 days after PM Abadi declared victory over IS said it might rebuild and return
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Dec 13 Mayor in Diyala said IS moving back and forth between Diyala and Salahaddin and terrorizing people in rural areas
Dec 15 Ayatollah Sistani’s rep called for Hashd to be integrated into the govt All weapons to be under state control Hashd to stay out of politics
Dec 16 Protests in Sulaymaniya over lack of services KRG was cutting salaries due to drop in oil revenues After KRG lost disputed territories after independence referendum failed KRG lost 40% of its revenue
Dec 16 Report Badr and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said they would separate from their armed wings and become political parties Sadr said he was doing same with his movement Didn’t happen
Dec 17 Head of Al Abbas Combat Division Zaidi criticized Hashd that were going to run
in 2018 elections for violating Sistani’s wishes
Dec 18 Protests broke out in Sulaymaniya Kalar Rania Taq Taq Chamchamal and five other towns
against the Kurdish establishment
(Musings On Iraq New Wave Of Kurdistan Protests Harken Back To 2011)
Dec 19 KDP office in Kirfi attacked during protests over KRG not paying govt salaries 4 PUK guards killed outside office in Irbil Protesters burned 2 TV stations and 2 radio stations
Dec 20 Gorran called for strike to pressure KRG Withdrew from cabinet and speaker of parliament Came during protests over KRG not paying govt salaries
Dec 20 KDP MP blamed PM Abadi for protests in KRG over govt not paying salaries Accused political parties outside KRG for provoking protests
Dec 20 Report KRG exported oil on credit Glencore advanced KRG $800 mil for oil exports to Turkey Rosneft advanced KRG $1.3 bil and $2.7 bil Litasco advanced KRG $800 mil KRG reportedly owed Vitol just under $1 bil Owed Trafigure $500 mil Owed Turkey $2 bil plus another $1.4 bil in transit fees for using Turkish pipeline Jan KRG borrowed $500 mil without informing parliament or ruling parties Report that $50 mil of loan went into a private account and Dep PM Talabani got 10% signing bonus Govt workers unpaid or partially paid for months due to KRG financial crisis
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Dec 20 AP est 9-11,000 civilians killed in Mosul Battle 3200 killed by Iraqi artillery mortars and Coalition air strikes Coalition claimed it killed 326 civilians in air strikes PM Abadi claimed only 1260 civilians killed in battle
Dec 21 2 killed, 300 wounded in protests against the KRG for not paying govt salaries
Dec 21 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Khazali said 3 enemies US Israel Saudi Arabia Posted pictures of
him in south Lebanon saying he stood with Lebanon and Palestine after US moved embassy to Jerusalem Mar Harakat al-Nujaba said it was setting up unit in Golan Heights
Dec 21 Pres Barzani said he knew there were people behind protests in KRG that were trying to undermine region Accused Gorran and Kurdistan Islamic Union of exploiting protests Were demonstrations over KRG not paying govt salaries
Dec 21 Report Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on IS to fight to death in Mosul Then hardly fought in
Tal Afar Surrendered or fled in Hawija Hardly fought in west Anbar Thought strategic retreat to conserve forces and return to insurgency
Dec 23 PKK said it was creating its own region in Qadil northern Kurdistan
Dc 27 Report Baghdad paid salaries of some KRG employees Part of reconciliation after KRG independence referendum
Dec 27 Report PM Abadi spokesman said govt serious about talks with KRG after independence referendum Demanded KRG turn over control of border crossings Annul referendum KRG officials couldn’t leave Iraq without Baghdad’s approval All revenues had to be turned over to Baghdad
Dec 27 Human Rights Watch Yazidi fighters accused of detaining and killing 52 civilians in 3 incidents in Ninewa
Dec 27 Report IS back in Hawija Kirkuk Had tunnels Few ISF to protect district
Dec 27 Report Arab tribe told Kurds they had 72 hrs to leave town in south Kirkuk Said to have backing of ISF
Dec 28 KRG PM Barzani said that PM Abadi was punishing the Kurds and unwilling to compromise
while Maliki was offering reconciliation Came after Maliki gave interview to Rudaw saying that Baghdad-Irbil relations needed to be improved
(Musings On Iraq Maliki-KDP Reconciliation In Iraq)
Dec 28 Reporters Without Borders KRG went after NRT and KNN reporters and offices for covering protests in Dec NRT closed Reporters beat and employees arrested
Dec 29 Baghdad formed committee to audit KRG Health and Education Mins after KRG independence referendum Nothing came of it
Dec 29 Report PM Abadi announced war on corruption Iraq ranked 17th most corrupt country in world by Transparency Intl Analyst said Abadi provided no specifics MP said around 6000 phantom contracts since 2003 $228 bil stolen from govt Supreme Judicial Council report said many anti-corruption decisions never implemented Many officials leave Iraq when charged with corruption like fmr Basra governor Businessmen said governor stole 15% of all contracts in Basra 5% went to his party and 10% went to him personally
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Dec 30 Badr leader claimed US helicopters landed in Tuz Kharmato and picked up insurgent
leaders
2018
Jan 1 Ninewa MP said PM Abadi govt had no plans to rebuild west Mosul Didn’t send any money
because of corruption in Ninewa govt Said foreign countries also afraid to donate due to graft
Jan 2 Abadi govt froze bonuses and hiring No raises for govt workers IMF said over 1 mil excess
govt workers
Jan 3 KRG said it would create security zone along Turkish border to stop PKK Didn’t happen
Jan 7 Report ISF forcing displaced to return to unsafe areas of Anbar Displaced and aid workers
said was being done so election could be held on time Aid workers said army trucks showed up at displaced camps with list of people who had a few hours to pack and then sent back to home areas Nov-Jan 2400-5000 forced out of camps Joint Ops Command spokesman said displaced had to go home now IS defeated
Jan 8 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali said he was putting his Hashd under command of PM Abadi
and would make his group a political party for the 2018 elections Did form political party Hashd not under govt control
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jan 10 Report 5 villages in Qara Tappa dist in central Diyala abandoned due to IS Insurgents were
moving from Hamrin Mts in Diyala-Salahaddin border in NW through Diyala
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jan 11 Alliances for 2018 parliamentary elections announced Nishtiman 3 Kurdish opposition
parties Abadi Nasr list with ISCI Speaker Jabouri VP Allawi Mutlaq lead one major Sunni alliance VP Nujafi Jamal Karbuli Khamis Khanjar lead the other 20 pro-Iran Hashd led by Badr’s Amiri formed Fatah Hakim’s Hikmat and Sadr along with Communists running separately
(Musings On Iraq Alliances Announced For Iraq’s 2018 Elecctions)
(Musings On Iraq interview with IRIS-Chatham House’s Mansour on 2018 elections)
Jan 11 Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate said 137 violations against journalists in KRG in 2017 3
attempted assassinations of 4 journalists 2 killed 1 committed suicide 30 arrested 39 beaten 19 got threats 2 stations burned 5 stations looted
Jan 13 Dawa announced members could run separate in elections PM Abadi formed Nasr
VP Maliki would run with State of Law
(Musings On Iraq It’s Official PM Abadi and VP Maliki Will Run Separately In 2018 Elections)
(Musings On Iraq interview with IRIS-Chatham House’s Mansour on 2018 elections)
Jan 13 Baiji official said city not fit to live in 70% of buildings destroyed No services Disease and
around 9000 IEDs Said people were being moved back because govt wanted to hold elections
Jan 15 2 suicide bombers central Baghdad left 143 casualties Last major mass casualty
bombing in Baghdad was Feb 2017 car bomb that left 125 casualties
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq, Jan 15-21, 2018)
(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)
Jan 17 Report IS defeated on battlefield but still had large finance network Exploited corruption in
Iraq and Syria Iraqi politician said IS had around $400 mil in cash Controlled smuggling routes Sold antiquities and gold Put $250 mil into legitimate businesses Exploited Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions Weak Iraqi govt couldn’t stop IS’s work
Jan 17 Report Displacement Min denied that displaced were being forced home ISF in Baghdad told displaced to go home because freed from IS Baghdad Ops Command said it wanted to close all displaced camps Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said political parties forced displaced home esp in Anbar to make sure elections could happen
Jan 17 Anbar councilman said IS infiltrating men from Syria into province
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jan 18 Report PKK said it created its own region in Qaindil Mts of KRG Said KRG was neglecting area KRG said area was illegal Problem was KDP had good relations with Turkey so objected to PKK
Jan 18 Report Iraq signed memo of understanding with BP to work on Kirkuk oil fields Oil Min wanted to boost production
Jan 18 Report Electricity Min started trying to bill people for use again Head of Dhi Qar council said most people thought bills unfair Electricity Min hired private companies to run electricity in certain areas 2017 Iraq spent $13 bil on power and collected $1 bil in bills Have been protests against billing in Basra Maysan Dhi Qar
Jan 18 Report Shiite Turkmen named as new mayor of Tuz Kharmato Kurds did not take part in vote Came after over a yr of fighting and disputes between Kurds Arabs and Turkmen in dist
Jan 19 KRG Human Rights Comm said illegal detentions abuse torture still going on Abuse used to get confessions
Jan 19 Protest in Basra against privatizing electricity
Jan 21 Federal Court ruled election date could not be changed Would happen 5/12/18
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections Set For May 12, 2018)
(Musings On Iraq interview with IRIS-Chatham House’s Mansour on 2018 elections)
Jan 22 Iraq signed deal with US company to develop natural gas in Basra Oil Min Luaibi said he
wanted to stop flaring natural gas at oil fields by 2021 Didn’t happen
Jan 25 Interpol turned over fmr Trade Min Sudani from Dawa Arrested in Lebanon Sep 2017 2012
sentenced to 7rs in absentia for corruption 2009 arrested released and fled Iraq Accused of stealing $400 mil some of which went to PM Maliki’s State of Law/Dawa
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Jan 26 Report Bodies still being pulled from Old Mosul months after city freed Said 10-15 bodies
found each day since Jul 2017 Said pulled 2500 out of rubble so far PM Abadi said only 1260 civilians killed in Mosul battle US Coalition said 326 civilians killed in air strikes during Mosul battle AP est 9000-11000 killed 3200 killed in Iraqi and Coalition airstrikes and artillery
Jan 26 Fmr Ninewa Gov Nujafi given 3 yrs for communicating and collaborating with Turkey
Jan 26 Report 2400 displaced that returned to Mosul left again for displacement camps in KRG
Lack of homes one reason
Jan 28 Report General Dynamics pulled out most of its maintenance crews for Iraqi army’s
Abrams tanks because some were in Hashd hands
(Musings On Iraq General Dynamics Withdraws Technicians Over Pro-Iran Hashd Possessing Abrams Tanks)
(Musings On Iraq Pentagon Finally Realized Tanks It Sold To Iraq Ended Up With Pro-Iran Hashd Groups)
Jan 28 MP on displacement comm said 90% of money meant for displaced stolen by corrupt
politicians
Jan 28 Spokesman for Kataib Hezbollah said 80% of displaced from Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr returned
Not true no displaced allowed back Environment Min sent team to dist to remove IEDs and turned back by security forces
Jan 29 Parliament voted to end sanctions on banks doing business in Kurdistan and sent $210 mil
in salaries for KRG’s Health and Education Ministry workers
(Musings On Iraq Baby Steps Towards Reconciliatoin Between Iraq’s Central And Regional Govts)
Jan 29 Report After IS took Mosul banned cigarettes Told women they had to stay at home Got rid
of opponents Set up intel network to spy on population Went through city docs to find out who owned what Labeled homes of and shops owned by Christians Told had to convert to Islam pay tax or leave Mosul Some Christians arrested or taken as sex slaves Banned all mixing of men and women Confiscated property given to IS members
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Jan 29 Report Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr freed 3 yrs ago still empty of all people Aug 2017 Babil govt
said 60% of displaced had returned Displacement Min said that was propaganda Head of parliament’s displacement comm said no civilians in dist Said decision to allow people back was under control of another country meaning Iran Babil govt said displaced were working with IS Also claimed most of the homes in dist destroyed and displaced had already settled in Baghdad Aug 2017 Babil govt voted to block any returns to Jurf al-Sakhr
Jan 30 Sec Gen of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba said if US forces didn’t leave they would be
considered an occupation force
Jan 30 KRG signed 10 yr deal with Pearl Petroleum to increase natural gas production at Khor Mor
field in Sulaymaniya
Jan 31 Report Iraq trying to extradite corrupt figures 2018 fmr Trade Min Sudani extradited from
Jordan Had been fugitive since 2009 Fmr general secretary of Def Min extradited in Jan 2018 Accused of embezzling $1 bil Iraq also going after fmr Electricity Transportation Defense Ministers
Jan 31 Report Turkish army moved 7 km into KRG to fight PKK Set up base in a town
Feb 2 Pentagon Inspector General reported 9 Abrams tanks sold to Iraqi army ended up
with Pro-Iran Hashd groups Some captured from IS others not
(Musings On Iraq General Dynamics Withdraws Technicians Over Pro-Iran Hashd Possessing Abrams Tanks)
(Musings On Iraq Pentagon Finally Realized Tanks It Sold To Iraq Ended Up With Pro-Iran Hashd Groups)
Feb 3 Imam Ali Brigade beat up police in Mosul and were arrested More members of Brigade tried
to break them out of police station
Feb 4 Report Jan 2018 ISF displaced 235 IS families from 10 villages in Hawija dist Most put in
camps in Kirkuk Afterward Hashd destroyed and looted some of their homes Families interviewed admitted they had relatives in IS Said Hashd and army rounded them up with no warning and had lists of names of people to be forced out Soldiers said families had to prove their innocence
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 5 Report People said dozens of bodies still in rubble of west Mosul months after city liberated
Head of Mosul council said 10,000 civilians killed during Mosul battle Civil Defense Forces refused to clear bodies of suspected IS members and families Left job to city clean up teams
Feb 7 Badr leaders met with mayors sheikhs and local leaders in Baaj dist Ninewa Said wouldn’t
allow any IS families to return Dist had 13,000 people Only 1,000 returned
(Musings On Iraq review A Stranger in Your Own City, Travels in the Middle East’s Long War)
Feb 7 Report 2017 Trump met Iraqi delegation at White House said “most accomplished group of
thieves he’d ever met” Was because Trump thought US should’ve taken Iraqi oil to pay for Iraq War
Feb 8 Report VP Maliki blocked PM Abadi using Dawa funds during 2018 elections Maliki wanted
to block Abadi getting 2nd term Abadi put together Nasr list quickly with many divisions Abadi made alliance with Fatah list but fell apart Hakim withdrew from Nasr afterward because Abadi refused to guarantee him positions in new govt
Feb 8 Human Rights Watch Aug-Sep 2017 Asayesh carried out mass executions of IS prisoners in
Ninewa 30 bodies found in one mass grave KRG denied any crimes
Feb 9 Report Pentagon’s Insp Gen found 9 Abrams Tanks given to Iraqi army ended up with Hashd
KRG said Hashd deployed Abrams against Peshmerga in Oct after KRG independence referendum 2014 US sold 175 Abrams to Iraq Badr and Kataib Hezbollah posted photos and videos of them using Abrams
(Musings On Iraq Pentagon Finally Realized Tanks It Sold To Iraq Ended Up With Pro-Iran Hashd Groups)
Feb 9 Report After Trump met with PM Abadi in White House in 2017 he said they were thieves
2016 presidential campaign Trump said Iraq was crooked as hell Said US soldiers that brought US dollars to Iraq after 03 invasion probably stole some of it
Feb 11 Report Iraq would have to import large amount of grain because drought cut domestic
production Iraq wanted to become self-sufficient in agriculture Wasn’t happening
Feb 12 Report Planning Min said Iraq needed $23 bil immediately to rebuild war torn areas and
another $65 mil in the midterm
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Fails To Allocate Adequate Funds For Rebuilding War Damage)
Feb 12 Report Before Kurds were afraid KDP and PUK would cut their govt salaries if didn’t vote
for them KDP and PUK exploited KRG resources to dish out patronage Many of those resources have dried up Gorran said it would change politics but only led to more arguments Some new parties hoped to gain as a result of dissatisfaction with status quo Moved to get rid of ghost voters Sulaymaniya election comm head said 300,000 duplicate names on voter roles
Feb 13 Report Oil Min Luaibi said Iraq needed $4 bil in investment in oil Wanted to reach 7
mil/bar/day in oil capacity by 2022 Didn’t happen
Feb 14 Kuwait conference raised $30 bil in loans investment credits mostly for developing
Iraq’s economy as well as reconstruction
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Gains $30 Bil In Loans Investments Credits From Kuwait Conference)
Feb 14 Report Amnesty Law passed in 2014 Exonerated 40 politicians accused of $4 bil in
corruption cases Integrity Comm said politicians paid fines to govt to not be prosecuted Fmr Trade Min Sudani covered by law Head of parliament’s integrity comm said law allowed corrupt to get off by paying fine Head of Integrity Comm said law released many people convicted of corruption
Feb 15 Oil Min Luabi said wanted to raise oil production to 7 mil/bar/day by 2022 Didn’t happen
Feb 17 Iraq asked Turkey and Syria to release more water down the Euphrates and Tigris because of
drought fears Iraq said those two countries hadn’t followed water agreements
Feb 17 Advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran would not allow liberals or communists to take
power Was reference to Sadr’s alliance with Communists during protests
Feb 17 Report Some officials est 20,000 IS families with 100,000 people in Iraq Many held in special
camps Face threats and reprisals Some banned from returning to home areas East Tikrit and south Baghdad banned IS families from returning Anbar and Hawija dist in Kirkuk decided to stop returns Tribes and local authorities banned IS families in Salahaddin and Ninewa PM Abadi promised to protect IS families Jun 2017 Mosul council said IS families should be moved to camps
Feb 20 Report some of the 9 Abrams tanks pro-Iran Hashd units got came from the Iraqi
army rest were captured from IS
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Supplied Pro-Iran Hashd With US Abrams Tanks)
Feb 20 Report After KRG Pres Barzani stepped down kept his managers bodyguards advisors etc
Had 3500 bodyguards
Feb 20 Report Hashd trying to interfere with Counter Terror Forces (CTF) Threatened some CTF
leaders Some threatened to resign in Kirkuk Baghdad Salahaddin
Feb 21 Report IMF thought Iraq could come up with $77 bil over 5 yrs for rebuilding war damage
via bonds loans investments and oil revenues Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Fails To Allocate Adequate Funds For Rebuilding War Damage)
Feb 21 Transparency Intl ranked Iraq 169 out of 180 countries on its Corruption Index Score hadn’t
changed much over last 6 yrs
Feb 23 Pro-Iran Hashd criticized US Said it had no right to demand that Abrams tanks
Hashd had should be turned back over to Iraqi army
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Supplied Pro-Iran Hashd With US Abrams Tanks)
Feb 24 Report Election Comm official said 50,000 voting cards were bought by candidates in one
province Bought them from displaced
Feb 24 Report US said it would send $365 mil to KRG to pay for Peshmerga during war vs IS
Feb 26 Report Adv to Ayatollah Khemenei went to Iraq in Feb Said Iran wouldn’t allow liberals or
communists to take power in Baghdad Was referring to Sadr’s alliance with Communists over protests Claimed US tried to build NATO base in Iraq to break up Muslim unity Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba said it was trying to get US out of Iraq
Feb 28 Human Rights Watch KRG arrested protesters Dec 2017 in Sulaymaniya Forced them to sign
statements they wouldn’t criticize govt anymore Were protests in 9 cities over govt not paying workers Protests lasted 5 days Attacked PUK and Asayesh offices
Feb 28 Protests against KRG pensions bill passing which gave $3375 pension to MPs
Mar 1 Report Labor Min said working to integrate IS families in camps in Ninewa and Anbar Didn’t
say they would be allowed home Albu Nimr tribe said wouldn’t allow any IS families back to its territory in Anbar Aug 2016 Salahaddin govt voted to expel IS families for 10 yrs to life Jun 2017 Mosul govt said IS families should be sent to camps Jul 2017 ISF forced 170 people affiliated with IS into camp in Ninewa
Mar 2 2nd report that General Dynamics withdrew most of its maintenance crews for Iraqi
army’s Abrams because Hashd had some of the tanks
(Musings On Iraq General Dynamics Withdraws Technicians Over Pro-Iran Hashd Possessing Abrams Tanks)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Supplied Pro-Iran Hashd With US Abrams Tanks)
Mar 2 Report 2015 when IS at its peak official outlets made 100s of release each wk Talked about it
being a state and its alternative lifestyle Changed since lost Mid-2016 stopped almost all its audio and visual releases online Posts on Telegram almost stopped 2017 IS info ops again dropped Last 3 months of 2017 barely had any releases online Start 2018 tried to pick up output
Mar 2 Report IS asserting itself in northern Iraq ISF withdrew from several villages in south Kirkuk
Large parts of Diyala where ISF can’t patrol at night because of IS
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Mar 3 Parliament voted on provincial election law including Kirkuk for first time since
2005
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Provincial Elections Set For Dec 2018, Includes Kirkuk)
Mar 3 2018 budget passed for $88 bil with $10.6 bil deficit Kurds boycotted session
because KRG didn’t have usual 17% allotment IMF said budget violated Stand By Agreement by not giving enough money to KRG and not raising non-oil revenue enough
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s 2018 Budget Passed Angers Kurds And Hashd Questions IMF)
(Musings On Iraq IMF, World Bank and Pres Masum Object To Iraq’s 2018 Budget)
Mar 5 Report Foreign views of sectarianism in Iraq usually stuck in 2005-07 period Leads many to see
Hashd as being like Mahdi Army that attacked Sunnis Led to statements like Sec State Tillerson calling on Iranian militias to go home Hashd widely popular in Iraq Seen as volunteers fighting IS Crosses many different groups and religions Myth of Hashd was that they were Iraqi youth who answered Ayatollah Sistani’s call to defend Iraq Hashd connected to state Hashd became another way for ruling parties to dish out patronage and distribute resources Abuses by Hashd part of wider history of abuses in Iraq Some groups Iranian proxies Hashd not going away Wouldn’t be integrated into ISF because wanted to maintain their interests Didn’t think Hashd would become like Hezbollah or Iranian Rev Guard
Mar 7 100s of teachers protested in Sulaymaniya over KRG not paying them 55th protest in KRG in
last yr Result of economic crisis after Maliki govt cut off budget payments over KRG's oil policy
Mar 7 PM Abadi said Baghdad would only pay part of KRG salaries KRG had to audit its finances
before money sent
Mar 8 PM Abadi issued Executive Order 85 Said Hashd would have same pay scale as army and
receive pensions
(Musings On Iraq Hashd To Get Equal Pay-Benefits To Army As Further Integrated Into Iraqi State)
Mar 8 Report 2018 budget only had $344 mil for reconstruction out of $20 bil capital
budget IMF and Iraq planned on roughly $10 bil per year for rebuilding over 5 years
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Fails To Allocate Adequate Funds For Rebuilding War Damage)
Mar 8 Hundreds protested in Baghdad over sewage and lack of electricity Demanded
Abadi form a committee to deal with issues
Mar 8 Report Lebanese American businessman help broker $4.2 bil arms deal between Maliki govt and
Russia Businessman went to Russia in 2012 Said he represented Maliki and arms deal should go through him Iraq’s Def Min was in Russia at same time trying to work out deal Businessmen then went with Maliki to Moscow to sign arms deal Deal surrounded in corruption charges Def Min canceled it as a result Maliki’s adv said deal would be renegotiated Businessman also involved with ISCI and KDP in making deals and creating political connections Worked with Maliki’s son on electricity projects
Mar 9 Report IMF’s Stand By Agreement on hold with Iraq over 2018 budget cutting
spending for KRG reducing non-oil govt revenue
Mar 10 Hashd leaders welcomed PM Abadi equalizing pay between ISF and Hashd Said there were 20,000 Hashd not registered with govt Were thousands of ghost Hashd leaders wanted registered to steal money
Mar 10 Report Sadr cancelled decision not to run in elections
Mar 10 Report Iran Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani’s attempt to negotiate new Iraqi govt failed
Ayatollah Khamanei intervened Sent letters to KDP and Sunni parties threatening them for working with Sadr
Mar 10 Report Hashd leader Abu Muhandis interviewed Said Iraq was almost defeated in 2014 when
Iran came to its aid Gave weapons advisors planning Said Iran stopped sectarian war in Iraq Said Hezbollah was in Iraq as well Claimed Iran and Hezbollah stopped capture of Samarra Said Iran only country that stood with Iraq Said Iran also kept Assad in power in Syria
Mar 10 Hashd leaders welcomed PM Abadi equalizing pay between ISF and Hashd Said there were 20,000 Hashd not registered with govt Were thousands of ghost Hashd leaders wanted registered to steal money
Mar 11 Security operation in part of Hawija district began in response to increased insurgent
attacks in area
Mar 11 2 Pro-Abadi MPs said that parliament added too much govt spending to 2018 budget which
World Bank objected to and admitted IMF had problems with budget as well
Mar 11 Ninewa council called for all armed groups to leave Sinjar Aimed at PKK who didn’t leave
Mar 12 Municipal workers protested in Zubayr Basra over not getting paid for 2 months
Threw stones at govt offices
Mar 12 Report 1000s of IS fighters in Hawija south Kirkuk Hid instead of fought while district cleared
Mar 12 Sheikh and son from Jabouri tribe killed by IS south Ninewa Part of campaign by IS against tribal leaders
Mar 13 PM Abadi ended ban on flights to KRG airports started in Sep 2017 over independence
referendum
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Begins Lifting Sanctions On Kurdistan)
Mar 13 Anbar official said Badr Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq refused to withdraw from areas in province and blocking displaced returning
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 13 Report IS killing and kidnapping sheikhs in south Ninewa to assert control Sheikh and son
killed Next day sheikh and sons kidnapped
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Mar 14 Sulaymaniya teachers promised to continue their strike over not being paid since
November 2017 due to KRG austerity measures
Mar 15 Report KRG hadn’t paid govt workers since 2016 due to falling oil prices and budget dispute with Baghdad
Mar 15 Def Sec Mattis accused Iran of sending money to Iraq to sway May elections
Mar 16 Turkey launched operation against PKK moving 15km into Irbil province
(Musings On Iraq Political Posturing By Iraq And Turkey)
(Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq)
Mar 16 Ninewa council accused Gov Akub of taking 120 bil dinars meant for displaced
Mar 17 Hashd leader Muhandis said Coalition provided Iraq nothing in 2014 to fight IS Said Iran and Hezbollah only ones to help No Coalition help to liberate Tikrit Not true Accused Saudis and UAE of supporting IS
Mar 17 PM Abadi criticized media for reporting on terrorist attacks Said they made up stories undermined victory and supported insurgency with stories
Mar 18 PM Abadi said Baghdad would pay KRG salaries to try to settle oil and budget disputes
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Paid Half Of KRG’s Salaries, Kurdistan Didn’t Contribute Leading To
Protests)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Begins Lifting Sanctions On Kurdistan)
Mar 18 Doctors and health workers in Sulaymaniya did walkout over not being paid since 2016
Mar 19 Turkish Pres Erdogan said Turkey would launch operation in Sinjar to clear out PKK
(Musings On Iraq Turkey Bluffs Its Way Into Getting PKK To Withdraw From Iraq’s Sinjar)
(Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq)
Mar 21 Report Interview with Mosul official in charge of rebuilding city Said didn’t have enough
money Didn’t have 2018 budget Said city needed $75 mil for basic services Thought could get $10 mil from Municipalities Min Didn’t expect much from Ninewa govt Adv to Municipalities Min said $400 mil allocated in 2017 budget for rebuilding Iraq but only $120 mil sent out
Mar 21 Defense Min sent delegation to Sinjar to negotiate PKK withdrawal from district Didn’t
happen
Mar 21 Iraqi officer said during Hawija clearing op only went through cities and didn’t leave
troops behind to secure area Meant still strong IS presence in district
Mar 21 Turkey’s Pres Erdogan said it would launch operation to clear PKK from Sinjar
(Musings On Iraq Turkey Bluffs Its Way Into Getting PKK To Withdraw From Iraq’s Sinjar)
(Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq)
Mar 22 KRG demanded that PKK withdraw from Sinjar to protect civilians from threatened
Turkish military op
(Musings On Iraq Turkey Bluffs Its Way Into Getting PKK To Withdraw From Iraq’s Sinjar)
Mar 22 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said political parties bought voter cards to cheat in
upcoming election
Mar 23 PKK said it would withdraw from Sinjar after Turkey threatened military operation
there
(Musings On Iraq Turkey Bluffs Its Way Into Getting PKK To Withdraw From Iraq’s Sinjar)
Mar 23 Shell sold stake in West Qurna 1 field in Basra to Japanese company Start of major oil companies withdrawing from Iraq
Mar 24 Ninewa councilman said no plans to help displaced return provide services or rebuild province Said Baghdad ignored calls for help Said rebuilding slow and dependent upon intl organizations
Mar 24 Public workers protested in Sulaymaniya Dohuk Irbil over being paid only half of
wages Baghdad paid half and KRG didn’t pay its half
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Paid Half Of KRG’s Salaries, Kurdistan Didn’t Contribute Leading To
Protests)
Mar 25 Turkey made false claim it was launching military operation in Sinjar to force PKK
to leave which it agreed to do
(Musings On Iraq Turkey Bluffs Its Way Into Getting PKK To Withdraw From Iraq’s Sinjar)
(Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq)
Mar 25 KRG said it would adjust how it paid govt workers if PM Abadi continued to send monthly budget payments Police attacked protesters in Sulaymaniya complaining about not getting paid
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Paid Half Of KRG’s Salaries, Kurdistan Didn’t Contribute Leading To
Protests)
Mar 25 PUK official in south Kirkuk province said no security forces in villages south of Kirkuk city and under IS control Anbar councilmen said roads in west Anbar unsafe IS based in desert region along Syrian border
Mar 26 Report Civil Defense officer in Mosul complained about lack of support to rebuild city Civilians cleaning up city because govt too slow didn’t have money and was corrupt
Mar 26 Teachers protested in Sulaymaniya Dohuk Irbil over govt not paying salaries due to disputes with Baghdad over budget and oil and bad contracts
Mar 26 Report Kosrat Rasul said PUK split Hero Ibrahim wife of Talabani believed she was leader Rasul said PUK not a family party
Mar 26 Comm to Protect Journalists said media attacked by security forces while covering protests in KRG 7 reporters assaulted 2 arrested
Mar 26 Report Turkey occupied 28 villages up to 10km into Irbil Built new military base to fight PKK
Mar 26 Report Kurds fleeing villages in Daquq south Kirkuk due to IS attacks
(Musings On Iraq June 2018 Islamic State Rebuilding In Rural Areas Of Central Iraq)
Mar 27 PM Abadi met with Turkish PM Yildrim about PKK Abadi said Iraq would not let any foreign force along its border with Turkey Claimed ISF was in control of all of Iraq when had no control of border Abadi rejected any incursions by Turkey
(Musings On Iraq Political Posturing By Iraq And Turkey)
Mar 27 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq threatened to attack Turkey if it violated Iraqi territory
Mar 27 PM Abadi attacked media for its coverage of IS Claimed repeated fake stories that helped IS
Mar 28 Amnesty International said KRG security forces abused reporters covering protests
Mar 28 KRG said it would reduce pay cuts for govt workers in response to protests Still not able to fully pay for them
Mar 28 Report IS set up fake checkpoint and abducted 9 Federal Police in Kirkuk Then executed them and posted it on social media Past week IS accused of setting up 6 fake checkpoints
(Musings On Iraq June 2018 Islamic State Rebuilding In Rural Areas Of Central Iraq)
Mar 29 Report Hashd taking people’s voting cards Let some displaced return home if agreed to vote for Hashd Threatened to expel others if didn’t vote for them
Mar 29 Human Rights Watch accused govt of covering up execution of IS detainees in Mosul Removed 80 bodies thought to be IS prisoners from house and burned it
Mar 30 Report Anbar council accused Hashd of blocking displaced from returning to Khalidiya Island Ramadi dist Extorting people
Apr 1 PM Abadi announced 5 yr economic plan Called for diversification away from oil Expanding agriculture Didn’t happen
Apr 1 PM Abadi’s spokesman said that KRG had to pay govt workers full salaries and end austerity measures because of budget payments from Baghdad KRG Finance Min said govt would start new austerity plans
Apr 1 1000s protested in Irbil Sulaymaniya Diyala against KRG austerity measures due to oil and budget arguments with Baghdad
Apr 1 Report Turkey built 3 new military bases in Kurdistan to fight PKK Turkey had forces in Iraq since 1990s
Apr 2 Anbar councilman said not enough money to do reconstruction Blamed corrupt officials Said only getting money from aid groups and wasn’t enough 160 bridges 66 water purification plants 240 schools damaged in province during war
Apr 2 300 PKK withdrew from Sinjar Ninewa to Syria Still controlled Sinjar area
Apr 2 Pres Erdogan said Turkey would fight PKK without asking Baghdad Said if Baghdad didn’t deal with PKK Turkey would move into Iraq
(Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq)
Apr 2 Report Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed wanted to improve relations with Iraq to counter Iran 2017 Saudi Foreign Minister visited Iraq 1st Saudi official to visit since 1990 Sadr went to Saudi Arabia Feb 2018 Saudi football team played in Basra
Apr 2 Report Salahaddin councilman accused Hashd of smuggling oil from Tuz Kharmato to Iran Hashd denied story
Apr 2 Accountability and Justice Commission banned 374 candidates for Baathist ties
Apr 3 Report Govt paid compensation to tribes to get land for oil development Led them to ask for more money Tribes asked oil companies for additional money One tribe attacked oil workers at West Qurna 2 oil field to extort money 1 source said oil companies had paid tribes $25 mil for land use and $25 mil in gifts
Apr 4 Pres Masum filed lawsuit over 2018 budget saying it violated the constitution
Apr 4 Report on IS Docs When took Mosul threatened govt workers to return to work Set up tax system that earned more than oil revenues Business and agriculture mostly taxed Seized land belonging to Shiites Christians Yazidis in conquered territories and sold it to farmers and followers Set up sharecropping for farmers who couldn’t pay for land
Apr 4 Report Turkey building 8-12 new bases in Irbil to fight PKK
(Musings On Iraq review Turkey, the US and Iraq)
Apr 5 Report Hashd loyal to Ayatollah Sistani told to do social work Removing mines leftover from Iran-Iraq War tutoring students rebuilding school Helped rebuild Tikrit Univ Hashd leader Abu Muhandis tried to cut off pay to 1 of them Al Abbas Div for not following his orders
Apr 5 Comm to Protect Journalists said 15 reporters assaulted 7 arrested for covering protests in KRG
Apr 5 Pres Masum asked Turkey to withdrew its forces from Iraq Didn’t happen
Apr 6 Head of Azm district NE Diyala said IS rebuilding along Diyala-Salahadin border
(Musings On Iraq June 2018 Islamic State Rebuilding In Rural Areas Of Central Iraq)
Apr 6 Human Rights Comm said candidates were paying displaced for their votes
Apr 7 People started two days of sit in protests in central Basra over lack of
services corruption and jobs
Apr 7 MP on parliament’s displacement committee said displaced only getting 10% of money meant for them Rest stolen by officials
Apr 7 Report Turks moved 25km into KRG to fight PKK
Apr 10 Iraqi court said it would hear case against KRG’s independent oil contracts Filed by Baghdad in August 2012 KRG never formally accepted case holding up process 2022 court would rule oil contracts illegal
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Apr 11 Report Delays in maintenance and infrastructure slowing oil exports in Basra Some pipes couldn’t handle pressure and were leaking in Basra Gulf Increase in exports straining infrastructure Led to decline in exports
Apr 11 Kataib Hezbollah al-Nujaba spokesman said if US hit Iranians in Syria it would hit US forces in Iraq and Syria
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Apr 12 Saudi Foreign Min said Riyad would contributed $1.5 bil for rebuilding Iraq UN Human Settlement Program said it got $4 mil from Japan to rebuild
Apr 12 Report Protests in KRG pushed regional govt towards Baghdad PM Barzani ended wage cuts for govt workers Meant had to get money from Baghdad KRG got $264 mil from Baghdad in Mar 1st time received money since 2015 KRG earned $300 mil/mo from oil sales Govt wages cost $490 mil/mo 2014 KRG began financial split from Baghdad Led to financial crisis and $20 bil debt Made worse when govt took Kirkuk in Oct 2017 and lost oil fields KRG 1st tried to suppress protests and media coverage of them
Apr 13 Baiji refinery restarted work after 4 years Extensively damaged during war vs IS Then looted by Hashd after liberated
Apr 13 PUK purged followers of Barham Salah after he left party and formed his own Democracy and Justice party
Apr 14 Kurdistan Islamic Group said KRG had turned over its oil revenue to Baghdad as required by 2018 budget
Apr 14 Report Iraq’s Foreign Min wanted Arab Summit to come out against US airstrikes in Syria
Said they caused instability and helped terrorism
Apr 14 Report Lebanese paper claimed Iran gave $10 mil each to Maliki and Hakim for elections
Apr 15 PM Abadi said that PM Allawi’s Defense Min official Qatan was arrested after being turned over by Jordan Was wanted for millions of dollars in corruption charges
(Musings On Iraq Ziad Qatan, Allawi Govt Defense Official Wanted For Corruption Extradited By
Jordan)
Apr 15 Hezbollah al-Nujaba said it was ready to follow Quds Force Cmdr Gen Sulaiman’s orders to attack US forces in Iraq and Syria
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Apr 15 Human Rights Watch report KRG carrying out arbitrary arrests against protesters and journalists covering demonstrations
Apr 16 Report Candidates in Anbar being offered to buy voter cards by brokers Half of registered voters in Anbar didn’t have cards yet so many unissued cards to buy
Apr 17 Report From 2016-17 1.7 tril dinars for medicines disappeared from Health Min
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector Gen for Iraq Reconstruction Bowen on corruption in Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with fmr anti-graft official Vincent Foulk on corruption in Iraq)
Apr 18 Report IS gone back to insurgency Pushing losses as victories Will use past to keep up morale and support Said losing land not defeated
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Apr 19 Report Oct 2017 Rosneft told Oil Min that Baghdad was not helping company in south Iraq Said it would sign deal with KRG instead Rosneft took over ownership of KRG pipeline to Turkey for $1.8 bil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Apr 19 Human Rights Watch Report ISF blocking IS families from returning to homes in Mosul Destroyed and confiscated homes and property
Apr 20 IS said it would attack candidates in parliamentary elections Referenced Zarqawi’s 2005 call for war against elections Claimed attacks in Anbar and Kirkuk
Apr 20 PM Abadi said 2nd victory in war would be rebuilding development services investment and job creation Said it would happen quicker than most thought Part of re-election campaign Said corruption main problem with rebuilding
Apr 20 Human Rights Watch Report Mar govt workers removed 80 bodies from house in Mosul then burned it Think they were executed IS members PM Abadi promised to investigate war crimes from Battle of Mosul but never happened July 2017 Human Rights Watch documented Iraqi forces torturing and executing IS members
Apr 21 Peshmerga Min got $365 from US to pay Peshmerga salaries 2017 got $415 mil from US
Apr 21 Report Sr Defense Min official said IS operating in east Diyala south Kirkuk Anbar desert north Salahaddin Ambushing patrols Attacking highway traffic Said IS couldn’t launch large attacks like used to
Apr 22 IS released recording Said Sunnis should not vote Said would attack polling stations during election
Apr 24 Report 18,000 properties in 7 provinces belonging to IS families seized by govt and given to members of the ISF and martyr families as part of govt program
Apr 24 Report Gap between ISF and peshmerga in disputed areas being exploited by IS Some areas IS appearing during day time
Apr 25 Oil Ministry held auction for 11 oil and gas fields 6 fields won winning bids Was supposed to happen in Jun but Oil Min Luaibi changed date Some thought he did it for political reasons because he was running for parliament
(Musings On Iraq Another Successful Oil And Gas Field Auction In Iraq)
Apr 25 Report Jan 2018 KRG published audit of its oil industry Didn’t have field production as promised Said $700 mil-$2 bil had been paid to 3rd parties with no explanation 2007 KRG parliament said 4 bodies would be created to manage oil but never operated KRG was supposed to work with company to publicize its oil revenues but didn’t Jan 2014 Natural Resource Min said it would start independent oil exports and potential buyers should go to Oil Marketing Org but didn’t exist 2014 KRG began taking advances on its oil exports from 5 oil traders and companies
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Apr 25 UN condemned violence and defamation of women candidates 1 candidate resigned over fake sex tape released on social media Others had been harassed online KDP candidate had phone stolen and pictures from it posted online
Apr 29 Head of Reconstruction Fund said 150,000 houses had been damaged in liberated areas of
Iraq Would cost $80 bil to rebuild
Apr 30 Report Hacked messages showed millions in ransom for kidnapped Qataris went to Kataib
Hezbollah leader
May 3 Report Fmr Sec State Tillerson said US would help Iraq rebuild through development Export
Import Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corp were supposed to help investment Both said they had no plans for Iraq
May 3 Report Exxon and PetroChina reached preliminary terms on South Integrated Water Project
to inject water into southern oil fields to help production Talks lasted 3 yrs Exxon would later drop out
May 4 Sistani representative said people should not vote for corrupt and those that had failed in
the past
(Musings On Iraq Ayatollah Sistani Makes Statement On Iraq’s 2018 Election But Will It Matter?)
May 4 PM Abadi speech attacked Hashd leaders for corruption Said some were stealing salaries
Said he would find and punish them
May 7 Sadr rejected Maliki’s talk again of forming majority govt Said it would only lead to
corruption
May 8 Parliament’s integrity committee said $320 bil had gone missing over last 15 yrs due to
corruption
(Musings On Iraq interview with Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen on Iraq’s fight with corruption)
(Musings On Iraq interview with former anti-corruption official Vincent Foulk)
May 8 Report Smear campaign against women candidates 20 women had withdrawn from vote 1
woman withdrew accusing her opponents of threatening to make up a video that would humiliate her 4 videos posted on social media to embarrass females New fake sex video being spread against another candidate
May 9 Board of Supreme Audit warned Iraq Election Comm that Korean voting machines
had problems and Commission had not responded to its concerns earlier
May 9 Head of Integrity Comm resigned Said only 15% of corruption cases investigated and sent
to court
May 10 Report Video posted showing cash hidden in boxes shipped from Iran with campaign
posters for Fatah Video said 31 boxes confiscated in Diyala
May 12 Iraq held fifth election for parliament 44% voter turnout lowest since elections started in
2005 Sadr-Communist Sairoon list won most seats
(Musings On Iraq May 2018 Elections Triumph For Iraqi Democracy Failure Iraq’s Parties)
(Musings On Iraq Seat Allocation Announced For Iraq’s New Parliament)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Election Results All 18 Provinces)
(Musings On Iraq interview with IRIS-Chatham House’s Mansour on 2018 elections)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Edinburgh Univ PhD student Benedict Robin on Sadr-Communist alliance and May election)
May 12 PUK attacked Gorran HQ in Sulaymaniya Widespread accusations of voting fraud in
Sulaymaniya and Kirkuk provinces
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
May 12 Iran’s Quds Force head Gen Suleimani arrived in Baghdad for elections Reportedly
started talks afterward to form anti-Sadr coalition
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
May 14 PM Abadi ordered manual recount in Kirkuk balloting after widespread charges of
cheating State of Law claimed fraud in Dhi Qar PUK accused KDP of cheating in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
(Musings On Iraq No Major Changes In Results After Election Recount In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq interview with IRIS-Chatham House’s Mansour on 2018 elections)
May 15 Large demonstration by Arabs and Turkmen in Kirkuk city claiming voter fraud
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
May 15 6 Kurdish opposition parties claimed cheating in Irbil election
May 15 Anbar council said tribes had stopped 1000s of displaced returning because of ties to IS
May 16 Reports Quds Force Cmdr Gen Suleimani in Baghdad Met with Shiite parties to discuss forming new govt Was opposed to Sadr and 2nd term for PM Abadi
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
May 16 Report Maliki and Allawi last two winners of elections saw huge decline in votes 2010 Maliki won 622,000 votes Allawi 407,000 2014 Maliki won 721,000 votes Allawi 229,000 Early results from 2018 showed no candidate won over 100,000 votes Was rally in Baghdad where people chanted Bye Bye Maliki
May 17 PKK said Turkey 25km into KRG Turkey building roads to connect its bases Built 3 new ones and 14 outposts
May 17 Army officer said 2 days 640 bodies pulled from rubble in Mosul said to be IS members and their families
May 17 After Election Comm rejected manual recount PM Abadi asked Integrity Comm to investigate it
May 17 Kurdistan Islamic Union State of Law Justice and Democracy Party all claimed voting fraud MP Karbouli accused of cheating in Anbar
May 17 Sadr complained about Iranian Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani trying to form next Iraqi govt
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
May 18 763 bodies pulled from west Mosul in 3 days Said to be IS members and families Ninewa governor claimed total of 2,654 bodies recovered from west Mosul More than 9,000 total from city
May 18 Sadr won most seats in election 54 seats in parliament Fatah 48 Nasr 42 State of Law 25 KDP 24 Wataniya 21 Hikma 19 PUK 18
(Musings On Iraq May 2018 Elections Triumph For Iraqi Democracy Failure Iraq’s Parties)
(Musings On Iraq Seat Allocation Announced For Iraq’s New Parliament)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Election Results All 18 Provinces)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Edinburgh Univ PhD student Benedict Robin on Sadr-Communist alliance and May election)
May 19 Kirkuk governor said voting irregularities in province Accused PUK of cheating Gorran said it would boycott parliament over fraud
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
May 20 Civil Defense Force pulled 101 bodies from Old City in Mosul Were told were locals
May 20 Report Sadr told PM Abadi he had to resign from Dawa to get a 2nd term Abadi refused
May 20 New Generation accused KDP and PUK cheating in election in Kirkuk Ninewa and KRG Kurdistan Islamic Group rejected results and threatened to boycott politics
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
May 21 Election Commission threw out results from 103 voting stations in Baghdad Irbil Anbar Salahaddin Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Election Fraud Controversy)
(Musings On Iraq No Major Changes In Results After Election Recount In Iraq)
May 22 75 bodies pulled from Old City Mosul
May 22 Protest in Babil over electricity shortages
May 22 Interviewed displaced woman Said Hashd demanded bribe to allow her to return to her home Day of election Asayesh told people they could only vote if picked PUK 2 other men said Asayesh and election workers offered bribes for people to vote for PUK
May 23 103 bodies pulled from Old City Mosul
May 23 Abdul Mahdi said on Facebook he didn’t want to be PM because couldn’t get anything done due to ruling parties Would later become PM
May 24 Protests in Karbala and Dhi Qar over electricity shortages
May 24 Civil Defense source said 1,199 bodies had been pulled from rubble in Old City Mosul in
last week
May 25 Protesters in Basra blocked main road with burning tires over lack of services Protest in
Nasiriya over missing activist
May 25 Rosneft announced agreement with KRG to develop oil and gas infrastructure including
natural gas pipeline
May 25 Gorran Kurdistan Islamic Group Kurdistan Islamic Union Democracy and Justice accused Election Comm in Sulaymaniya of fraud Allawi called for investigation into vote rigging Wanaiya Iraq Decision Airboon in Anbar talked about cheating in Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
May 27 Supreme Court said Election Comm had to accept objections to vote Appeals could be made to courts Elec Comm accused parties of stealing flash drives and changing results in Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
May 28 Parliament voted to reject all foreign votes and displaced voting in Anbar Salahaddin Ninewa Diyala Authorized manual recount of 10% of voting boxes Response to widespread cheating Was non-binding however
(Musings On Iraq No Major Changes In Results After Election Recount In Iraq)
May 29 Federal Police and Hashd clashed in Old City Mosul after Hashd tried to take over a police station 1 Hashd killed 1 police killed 3 wounded
May 29 43 bodies pulled from rubble in Old City Mosul Mix of civilians and IS fighters Civil Defense said 1200 bodies found in Mosul in last 10 days
May 30 Election Commission threw out votes from 1021 voting stations in Irbil Anbar Baghdad Diyala Dohuk Irbil Kirkuk Ninewa Salahaddin Sulaymaniya
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Election Commission Discards 1,000 More Voting Stations)
(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)
(Musings On Iraq No Major Changes In Results After Election Recount In Iraq)
May 31 Report IS in Metibiji mountains and Hamrin Mountains along Diyala-Salahaddin border
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
May 31 Civil Defense Force said 1,468 bodies pulled from Old City Mosul in last 10 days
May 31 Election Comm said it wouldn’t follow non-binding resolution by parliament to reject votes Said only Federal Court could annul results
Jun 1 Protest in Kut Wasit over lack of electricity
Jun 1 Report All bodies pulled from Mosul rubble listed as IS members Dumped in mass grave Govt
only acknowledge 1260 civilians killed in battle for city Civil Defense worker said govt called for bodies to be counted and then told to stop
Jun 1 38 bodies pulled from Old City Mosul
Jun 2 Turkish Interior Min said Turkish forces 26-27km into KRG 2 months into anti-PKK operation inside Iraq
Jun 4 Parliamentary committee found clear evidence of fraud in election
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi MP Warns Of Potential Voter Fraud In 2021, Does It Matter?)
Jun 5 Cabinet committee reported serious fraud in May election PM Abadi
banned Election Comm from traveling
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Election Commission Dismissed, Recount Ordered As Parties Continue To Undermine Democratic Process)
Jun 5 IS docs posted online Were disputes over excommunicating Muslims Different IS depts were
accusing each other over issue
Jun 6 Parliament voted to replace Election Comm with 9 judges conduct manual recount
cancel displaced voting in Anbar Diyala Salahaddin Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Court Rules For Ballot Recount While Talks Continue To Form New Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Election Commission Dismissed Recount Ordered As Parties Continue To Undermine Democratic Process)
(Musings On Iraq No Major Changes In Results After Election Recount In Iraq)
Jun 6 Sadr City mosque used by Asaib Ahl Al-Haq bombed
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 8 Turkey’s PM said Turkish forces 30km into KRG in anti-PKK op
Jun 8 Tribal council in Fallujah asked govt to stop Hashd kidnapping and blackmailing people Sheikh from Albu Issa tribe kidnapped
Jun 11 Erdogan said Turkish military ops in Iraq would only end when terrorism ended meaning PKK
Jun 13 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani got Shiite parties to unite and KDP-PUK to back Shiite parties for next govt Convinced Sadr to join with Maliki Badr’s Amiri and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali Sadr made demands of PM Abadi to stay in office Abadi said no Led Sadr to go to pro-Iran parties
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Jun 15 World Bank Iraq facing job crisis Govt and private sector couldn’t provide enough work 2.5 mil unemployed Mostly young Youth unemployment 36% Rapid population growth In 13yrs would be 100-180% growth in young needing jobs Continued migration from rural to urban areas for work Many Iraqis lacked job skills 33% of young illiterate or semi-literate Only 33% finished primary school 28% finished middle/high school 7% finish college Labor participation rate for women only 19% Structural changes to economy needed Needed private sector growth Fight corruption Encourage investment Reform banks Increase power supply Oil dependent No jobs would lead to instability Govt not doing enough to change
(Musings On Iraq World Bank Warns Iraq Facing Massive Job Crisis)
Jun 18 Hashd accused US airstrike of killing 22 fighters in east Syria Imam Ali Brigade threatened to attack US for incident Was no airstrike
Jun 18 Communist Party said it was leaving alliance with Sadr after he made deal with Fatah
Jun 19 PM Abadi said govt would disarm Hashd that were not part of the state
Jun 20 Up to 300 protested in Basra demanding jobs from oil companies and Industry
Ministry Was broken up by police
Jun 20 Report Iraq no longer in talks with Exxon over water injection plant to inject water to maintain and increase oil production in Basra oil fields Basra Oil Company said it would contract with another company
Jun 20 Turkey’s Foreign Min said Turkish forces were advancing into Kurdistan to fight PKK
Jun 20 Kataib Hezbollah convoy stopped by police in Baghdad Fired at police 2 police and 1 Kataib Hezbollah fighter wounded Police surrounded Kataib Hezbollah HQ leading to another gunfight Demanded those involved in 1st gun battle be turned over 1 Kataib Hezbollah member arrested PM Abadi said matter had been taken care of
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
Jun 21 Supreme Court ruled that manual recount and replacing Election Comm with judges was constitutional Cancelling displaced and foreign voting was not
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Court Rules For Ballot Recount While Talks Continue To Form New Govt)
Jun 22 Police told villagers in Baiji dist Salahaddin to leave Then confiscated IDs of more than 50
families to pressure them to leave Part of forced evictions
Jun 24 Protest in Diyala over electricity cuts Province had not received 35% of its power
Jun 24 Human Rights Watch accused army of collective punishment Tribe accused of helping IS got military permission to return to homes freed in Feb 2015 Stopped at checkpoints and put into camps
Jun 26 PM Abadi promised to rebuild everything destroyed during war vs IS Didn’t have plan Mostly locals provincial govts and NGOs did reconstruction
Jun 26 KDP MP said 200 families fled Daquq dist south Kirkuk over 2 weeks due to IS attacks Diyala councilman said 14 families fled Khanaqin dist in Diyala
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jun 27 Abadi govt approved $19 mil to rebuild Mosul’s Old City Was fraction of what was needed
Jun 27 Shell left Majnoon oil field and West Qurna 1 Said wanted to focus on gas projects
Jun 27 Sadr said suspending his Saraya al-Salam for 2 yrs to try to stop Hashd interfering with ISF in Basra Fired his militia cmdr in Basra
Jul 2 Protest outside West Qurna 2 oil field demanding jobs from oil companies
Jul 2 Report Iraq facing another water crisis Since 1980s Turkey Syria Iran built several dams
across Tigris and Euphrates Jul Turkey started filling new dam on Tigris Water Min said would cut Iraq’s water by 50% Some small rivers disappeared due to dams
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Jul 2 Report People in Qaim Anbar claimed pro-Iran Hashd constantly crossed into Syria and ISF did nothing
Jul 4 Report Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam said to run Samarra City full of Sadr pictures and flags Controlled ISF Not known for abuses but 1000 people arrested and never seen again
Jul 4 KRG PM Barzani said PKK occupied parts of KRG Said provoked Turkish attacks and caused civilian casualties Said KRG against PKK presence
Jul 4 Peshmerga denied army right to enter 3 areas it controlled in Kirkuk for op vs IS
Jul 5 Hundreds protested at Basra provincial council building demanding jobs Protest in Irbil over
power-water shortages
(Musings On Iraq Summer Protests In Iraq Turn Deadly In Basra)
Jul 5 Abadi govt banned growing many summer crops due to water shortages Water Min said only enough water to irrigate about half of Iraq’s farmland
Jul 5 Kuwait Fund for Arab Econ Development signed loan with Iraq for $80 mil for reconstruction
Jul 6 Protests in Madina over services Abu Khasib cutting road over electricity Basra
City cut roads over unfinished projects Shatt al-Arab over salinity Dhi Qar for recount in election
(Musings On Iraq Summer Protests In Iraq Turn Deadly In Basra)
Jul 7 Protests in Irbil and Basra blocked main roads over power shortages
(Musings On Iraq Summer Protests In Iraq Turn Deadly In Basra)
Jul 7 Report Iran cut electricity exports to Iraq over unpaid bills Iraq said to owe $1 bil
Jul 7 Report Vote recount in Daquq dist Kirkuk showed fraud by PUK at expense of Arab Alliance
and Turkmen Front
Jul 8 2 killed 2 wounded by police firing into protesters demanding jobs, electricity and
water in Imam Sadiq in Basra Were also protests in Basra City Maysan Dhi Qar Muthanna and Wasit over electricity jobs services
(Musings On Iraq Summer Protests In Iraq Turn Deadly In Basra)
Jul 9 Protests in 3 parts of Basra and Muthanna demanding better services and jobs from
oil companies Also against water shortage and killing of protesters day before Blocked entrances to West Qurna 1 and Rumaila oil fields
(Musings On Iraq Summer Protests In Iraq Turn Deadly In Basra)
Jul 9 Report Gorran splintering Some complained founder’s sons monopolizing power
Jul 10 Protest in Dhi Qar over jobs water and electricity Protests in Basra blocked roads
to Rumaila and West Qurna oil fields and Lukoil offices demanding jobs and justice for protester killed Jul 8
Jul 11 4th day of protests in different parts of Basra Blocked road to Rumaila and West
Qurna oil fields South Oil Company office occupied 1 killed by police shooting into crowd Protest in Dhi Qar for electricity and solidarity march in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq Greatly Escalate And Spread Throughout South)
Jul 11 PM Abadi ordered Transportation Min to truck water to Basra and give it out free Drought in
south due to dam in Turkey which govt did nothing about
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Jul 12 South Oil Company offices stormed and road to airport blocked in Basra City 1
killed by police Protest at Rumaila and West Qurna oil fields and 2 other parts of Basra Marches in Baghdad and Wasit 2 killed in Maysan when tried to burn Dawa Badr ISCI offices Abadi govt shut down Internet to try to stop organizing protests
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq Greatly Escalate And Spread Throughout South)
Jul 12 Oil Min Luaibi said govt had come up with response to protests promising 10,000
jobs in oil sector and investment in water electricity and health care
(Musings On Iraq Protests Continue Across Southern Iraq And Spread To Baghdad)
Jul 12 Report IS trying to rebuild in Salahaddin Executing locals Setting up safe houses Attacking
towns and local ISF
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jul 13 PM Abadi went to Basra City over protests They refused to meet with his delegation saying it
was useless Took over courtyard of hotel Abadi staying at
Jul 13 Protests in 7 provinces Basra and Maysan council building and party offices
occupied some burned People changed burn the Iranian parties 1 person killed Um Qasr port shut down Najaf council building and airport occupied 1 party office burned Marches in Babil Muthanna Qadisiya Dhi Qar Karbala
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq Greatly Escalate And Spread Throughout South)
Jul 13 Kirkuk governor said IS still active in province and needed to be cleared out
Jul 14 Govt shut down Internet to try to stop protest organizers and news of demonstrations from
being spread PM Abadi warned of “infiltrators” amongst activists while releasing funds for development projects demanded by protests 3 killed in Maysan
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 14 Protests in 9 provinces Babil stormed Dawa and Fadhila offices 2 marches in Baghdad Badr
HQ in Basra city burned Protests at Rumaila Majnoon West Qurna oil fields and Um Qasr port Asaib Ahl Al-Haq office in Najaf burned Marches in Dhi Qar Maysan Najaf Qadisiya Wasit
(Musings On Iraq Protests Continue Across Southern Iraq And Spread To Baghdad)
Jul 15 Protests in 9 provinces Sairoon offices in Babil attacked Hikma and Badr offices
in Nasiriya burned Police shot at crowds outside Dhi Qar provincial council building Attempt to burn council building in Maysan Led to police to kill 3 Mayor’s house in Maysan burned Fadhila Hikma Badr Dawa offices set on fire in Samawah Muthanna and council building sacked 3 more killed March in Baghdad broken up by security forces Basra provincial council building taken over with police killing 4 Protesters rushed gates at Zubayr oil field leading to 5 being shot and wounded Protest at Um Qasr port Basra Marches in Najaf and Qadisiya broke up by security forces
(Musings On Iraq Protests Grow Deadlier In Iraq)
Jul 15 Karbala council threatened to take its power station off the national grid unless
protest demands met
Jul 15 Abadi again talked about potential threat of protests Claimed small groups taking
advantage of them to destroy property and attack govt offices
(Musings On Iraq Protests Grow Deadlier In Iraq)
Jul 16 Protests in Baghdad Basra Dhi Qar Karbala Muthanna Najaf 1 Killed in
Baghdad’s Shula by police gunfire Badr office stormed in Najaf 1 protester shot on Jul 15 died of wounds
Jul 16 Govt ordered arrest of activists and general protesters in Baghdad Basra Maysan
Muthanna as crackdown started on demonstrations
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Government Starts Crackdown On Protests)
Jul 17 Protests in Baghdad Najaf 2 in Basra 2 in Dhi Qar 1 person killed in Baghdad Fadhila offices
burned Most broken up by police ISF blocked 5 protests in Diyala
Jul 17 Govt launched media campaign to discredit protests claiming they were full of
infiltrators Baathists criminals outsiders and terrorists
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 17 Iraqi Observatory for Press Freedom said ISF arrested more than 50 reporters covering
protests and assaulted some
(Musings On Iraq Government Crackdown Shuts Down Many Protests In Iraq)
Jul 17 Report IS rebuilding in remote areas of Iraq Posted video of people it captured at fake
checkpoint and executed
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jul 17 PM Abadi formed crisis cell to improve services to meet demands of protests Nothing
happened
Jul 18 Protests in Babil Baghdad Basra Activists were talking to Basra govt about
demands Govt arresting and looking for organizers in Baghdad Qadisiya Dhi Qar Najaf while media campaign to discredit them continued
(Musings On Iraq Demonstrations Dwindling Amidst Govt Crackdown In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 18 Study of salaries and pensions for govt workers said unsustainable When oil prices increased
govt increased salaries and allowances for its workers World Bank said avg spending 52% of GPD 2005-12 one of highest in Mideast Avg budget for govt workers 31% of total spending 18% of GDP 2005-12 2003 were approx 1.2 mil govt workers 2018 2.89 mil KRG had 682,000 govt workers 33.4% of budget in 2018 Ruling parties and public unwilling to cut govt workers because jobs patronage benefits
Jul 18 Report Govt took down internet to try to stop protests Claimed it was a technical issue and
not on purpose Video showed Asaib Ahl Al-Haq shooting at protesters in Najaf Other Hashd have shot at crowds in Baghdad and Muthanna PM Abadi mobilized ISF to stop protests in south
Jul 19 Protests in Baghdad Basra Maysan Activists were planning national protests for
Jul 20 Govt offering jobs and investment and promising to meet protesters’ demands Also cut Internet to try to stop organizing
Jul 19 Heavy police and army presence set up around Basra oil fields to block protests
there
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 19 Iraqi Human Rights Commission condemned use of excessive force by Iraqi
forces against demonstrators including shootings beatings arbitrary arrests Amnesty Intl talked to 2 protesters arrested and tortured by ISF who wanted to know who organizers were
(Musings On Iraq Abadi Govt’s Carrot And Stick Approach Working With Iraq’s Protests Movement)
Jul 19 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba Kataib Hezbollah used to put down
protests Dawa member said protesters were linked to Baathists Said protest in Baghdad was going to carry out acts of sabotage
Jul 20 Protests in Babil Baghdad Basra Dhi Qar Karbala Maysan Muthanna Najaf
Qadisiya Wasit for services and jobs 2 killed 1 in Najaf 1 in Qadisiya by police and Badr guard Almost all broken up by police Activists in Baghdad said they were tortured and beat after being arrested
(Musings On Iraq 2 Killed As Protests Hit 10 Provinces In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 20 KDP raided New Generation office in Irbil New Generation said KDP blocked it from
operating in Irbil and Dohuk
Jul 21 Protests in Baghdad Basra Najaf Qadisiya Most broken up by ISF Human Rights
Commission in Basra criticized govt for shutting down Internet to impede protests Qadisiya sheikhs rejected calls to end protests Activists in Baghdad claimed they were tortured after being arrested Protester in Basra died of wounds
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 21 Report Qadisiyah intelligence going after demonstrators and monitoring them on
social media ISF claimed protests plotting to overthrow the govt
Jul 21 Dawa member said protesters were trying to overthrow the govt by targeting
airports businesses and ports
Jul 21 Report Electricity production dropped during summer Led to protests Analysts predicted
demand would grow 7%/yr IS war caused $7 bil in damages to power network Half of major power plants damaged during war Iraq bought power from Iran but cut supply in summer Electricity Min spokesman said Iraq couldn’t pay Iran anymore because of US sanctions 2015 Govt tried to collect fees of power usage At best only collected 12% of fees
Jul 22 Protests in Baghdad Basra Qadisiya Wasit for jobs water electricity Dhi Qar and Muthanna
demonstrators called for governor to step down PM Abadi said he needed more time to meet demands of protesters so soon after war vs IS ended
Jul 22 Communications Minister said govt had blocked certain websites because they
were being abused by demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 22 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said ISF making arrested protesters sign pledges not to
demonstrate again in order to be released from jail
Jul 22 ISF held 10th operation to clear Metibija Salahaddin IS fled when ISF moved in and then
returned afterward
Jul 23 Protesters blocked highway in Dhi Qar and march in Qadisiya broken up by ISF
before it started
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 23 Basra govt asked province to become autonomous region in response to demonstrations
Jul 24 Cabinet said it would form committee to go after corrupt officials in response to protests
Nothing happened
Jul 24 Report When Iraq had high oil prices led to growth in Basra like new business and property
prices Rise in prices marginalized poor who moved into slums Development money often stolen due to corruption Money went to tribes and militias 2013 Basra official said militias controlled 62 floating docks used for oil exports and smuggling 9 security services at ports that demanded bribes and fees 2014 oil prices dropped caused problems for corruption in Basra 2014 more moved to city due to drought straining housing and services Decline in water supply due to Turkish dams Hashd units caused new troubles
Jul 24 IS focused on Diyala Kirkuk Salahaddin Mar 7 kidnappings/murders in 3 provinces 30 in
May 83 in Jun IS kidnapping for ransom Lack of coordination between ISF units Based in Hamrin Mts and used it to move back and forth between Diyala and Salahaddin Dep police chief in Salahaddin said IS couldn’t infiltrate cities because lacked support Diyala Ops commander claimed only 75 IS in province
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jul 24 Human Rights Watch Looked at 8 protests in Basra ISF fired live ammo at 6 of them
wounded protesters People beat after arrested Badr guards also shot at protesters and arrested people
Jul 24 Basra govt said PM Abadi’s promise to improve services get foreign companies to hire
more locals improve water hadn’t happened Basra govt offered to hire 10,000 but nothing happened yet
Jul 24 PM Abadi said he had decentralized power to provinces but they couldn’t manage
things
Jul 25 Protesters blocked highway in Dhi Qar and march in Qadisiya broken up by ISF before it
started Lawyer defending arrested protesters assassinated in Basra
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 25 Report Iraq Election Comm warned that using electronic voting machine could
undermine trust in vote Told machines had major problems South Korean company would not properly audit vote Used them anyway
Jul 25 Report Ninewa facing water crisis Less rain Less water on Tigris due to Turkish dam
Equipment damaged by IS People leaving farms Ninewa councilman said Water Min had no plan to deal with problem
Jul 26 Protest at West Qurna 2 field in Basra Tried to set up sit-in camp Broken up by
ISF Another protest at Zubayr oil field went off peacefully
(Musings On Iraq Silencing Protests In Iraq)
Jul 26 Report College graduate offered job at Oil Min in Basra but had to pay $5,000 bribe Dep Gov
of Basra said unemployment in province 30% 30,000-35,000 graduates in Basra with no jobs Abadi govt promised 10,000 jobs in response to protests 85,000 applied for them
Jul 26 Ninewa councilman said IS moving back and forth across Iraq-Syria border
Jul 26 Report Kurdish village Mardan in Khanaqin dist NEDiyala abandoned due to IS
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jul 27 Protests in Basra Babil Dhi Qar Karbala Baghdad Najaf Maysan Muthanna
Qadisiya for jobs services
(Musings On Iraq Activists Focusing Upon Fridays For National Protests In Iraq)
Jul 28 Protests in Baghdad and West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra
Jul 29 PM Abadi dismissed Electricity Minister Fahadawi until investigation into poor
services finished Was in response to protests
Jul 29 Protests in West Qurna 1 and 2 and Burjisiya oil fields in Basra Basra City Muthanna
Baghdad Dhi Qar
Jul 29 Member of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations said
14,000 civilians were wounded during Battle of Mosul 32% were children 4,000 still needed care
Jul 29 Saudi Arabia offered to build solar power plant and sell electricity to Iraq at discount price
Wasn’t approved by Iraq
Jul 30 Protest in Samawa and 2nd day of sit ins outside of West Qurna 1 and Burjisiya
oil fields in Basra
Jul 31 Human Rights Watch report No due process in Iraqi legal system Judges ignore torture
allegations in cases even after ask for report and told signs of torture present Torture banned in constitution
Jul 31 PM Abadi said he would meet demands of protesters Said govt would publish
names of officials sent to Integrity Comm for corruption
Jul 31 Sit-in protest in Muthanna and Burjisiya oil field in Basra for 3rd day Sit in protests outside
West Qurna 1 oil field and Basra council building broken up by ISF Protests in Baghdad Dhi Qar Qadisiyah
Jul 31 Iraq Human Rights Commission said protesters beaten and tortured after arrest and
reporters attacked for covering demonstrations 1 shot
Jul 31 Peshmerga Min Sinjari held ceremony for PUK’s 70 Unit and KDP’s 70 Unit to unify under
ministry Didn’t happen
Jul 31 PUK said Iraqi presidency was exclusively for it and wouldn’t talk about changing it
Aug 1 Protests in Dhi Qar Basra Muthanna Najaf 4th day of sit in protest in Muthanna
Aug 1 Auditing report done by private firm released by KRG After expenses KRG earned $3.8 bil
last 6 months of 2017 Same time advanced $83.8 bil by oil traders for future oil exports Sold its oil for below market price
Aug 1 Regiment of Saraya al-Salam arrived in Dujail to help tribes against Asaib Ahl Al-Haq 3
sheikhs kidnapped at checkpoint Were killed Salahaddin governor attacked Asaib Ahl Al-Haq for deaths
Aug 2 Protesters blocked road to West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra Gave govt 48 hours to answer
their demands
Aug 2 UN Human Rights Comm condemned Abadi’s handing of protests Demonstrators had been
attacked shot and more
Aug 2 PM Abadi signed executive order demanding Hashd leave Mosul and Ninewa Plains Hashd
were to be under control of Ninewa Ops Command Hashd ignored order
(Musings On Iraq Hashd’s 30th Brigade In Ninewa Assaults Dep Governor and MP)
Aug 2 Report Rising salinity in Basra shut down water purification system Destroyed agricultural
land Killed fish and livestock Iraq only able to farm 1/3 of arable land because of water shortages salinity politics Cut production of rice and wheat due to water shortages Iraq tried to make deals with Iran and Turkey to increase water supply on Tigris and Euphrates but did little
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 2 Report Salahaddin govt asked PM Abadi to have Hashd withdraw from province Head of
council said Hashd caused instability Came after 3 sheikhs killed in Dujail and blamed on Hashd
Aug 3 Protests in Baghdad 2 in Basra Najaf Karbala Qadisiya Muthanna Babil Dhi Qar Maysan
demanding better services
Aug 3 IS began two days of blowing up power towers in Kirkuk Ninewa Salahaddin Diyala
Aug 4 8th day sit-in protest West Qurna 1 oil field 7th day sit-in in Muthanna Protest ended
in Husseiniya Baghdad Demonstrations in Dhi Qar Qadisiya 2 others in Basra
Aug 5 Report Election Comm bought voting machines from South Korea May Board of Supreme
Audit warned commission problems with machines Commission did nothing Iraq embassy in SKorea also warned that company might be overcharging for machines MP said National Intel Service proved machines not secure
Aug 5 Continued sit ins by West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra and Muthanna Protests in
Basra City West Qurna 2 and Barjisiya fields Safwan border crossing South Gas Company all in Basra 2 in Qadisya Babil
Aug 6 9th day of sit in protest in Muthanna also demos at Safwan border crossing and
West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra Baghdad
Aug 7 Sit ins continued at West Qurna 1 and 2 oil fields Basra and Dhi Qar and Muthanna Also
marches in Qadisiya Shatt al-Arab and Zubayr in Basra
Aug 7 Basra protest organizer arrested by ISF
Aug 8 Sit in continued in Muthanna Sit-in outside West Qurna 1 ended after meeting with local
officials who promised demands would be met March in north Muthanna
Aug 9 Sit in continued in Muthanna and West Qurna 2 field in Basra
Aug 9 People of Burima in Hawija dist Kirkuk fled IS handed out flyers Told people had 72 hrs to
leave Around 20 villages in Diyala’s Khanaqin dist abandoned because of IS attacks
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Aug 9 Provincial election results Badr led Fatah won Babil Basra Diyala Karbala Qadisiya Sadr’s
Sairoon won Baghdad Dhi Qar Muthanna Najaf Wasit KDP won Dohuk Irbil Ninewa PUK won Kirkuk Sulaymaniya
Aug 10 Results of manual recount of May election announced Fatah gained 1 seat in Baghdad Only
change Arab Alliance and Turkmen Front complained about results still claiming fraud in Kirkuk
(Musings On Iraq No Major Changes In Results After Election Recount In Iraq)
Aug 10 Protests in Baghdad 2 in Basra Dhi Qar Najaf Qadisiay Karbala Babil for better
services
Aug 11 Women’s protest in support of demands of demonstrators for jobs and services in Basra
Aug 12 Protesters blocked Safwan border crossing to Kuwait in Basra
Aug 12 Report Hashd ordered to leave Ninewa-Syrian border and Mosul Didn’t leave
Aug 13 Medical and dental graduates protested in Sulaymaniya over lack of jobs
Aug 13 Iraqi human rights group condemned govt treatment of protesters
Aug 13 Fmr member of parliament’s service committee said political parties and Hashd
manipulated real estate deals Included State Property Dept transferring land around Baghdad Airport to parties and Hashd
Aug 13 PM Abadi said he would follow US sanctions and ban Iran from taking part in Central Bank
of Iraq dollar auctions Said had to think about ending trade Iran still bought dollars in Iraq afterward
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Says it Will Only Follow Partial Sanctions On Iran)
Aug 14 Protesters tried to storm West Qurna 2 oil field in Basra ISF used gunfire to disperse people
College grads burned degrees in Irbil over lack of jobs
Aug 15 Protester killed by police beating outside West Qurna 2 oil field Basra Led to more
demonstrations in province
Aug 15 Report US Treasury officials went to Central Bank of Iraq Threatened sanctions on any
bank that did business with Iran Iraq imported natural gas from Iran and 20% of electricity Iran provided cheap imports
Aug 16 March to Basra council building over death of protester day before
Aug 16 Basra Health Dir said outbreak of rashes vomiting diarrhea due to contaminated water
Aug 16 Report Kurds accused Abadi govt of removing Kurdish officials from disputed areas after
Baghdad took them over in Oct 2017
Aug 16 Peace and Freedom Org recorded 169 violations against reporters activists protesters in
KRG Jan-Aug Threats Stopping reporters from covering stories Beatings Breaking up protests Said freedom of expression violated in KRG
Aug 17 Protests in Karbala Najaf Qadisiya Basra Baghdad for jobs services against corruption
Aug 18 Dep head of Hashd Abu Muhandis ordered Hashd out of liberated cities after demands
made by Sunni politicians for it to withdraw Said no new offices or bases would be opened in certain areas Said Hashd were to have no ties to political parties or religious institutions Not enforced
Aug 19 Protest in Qadisiya over services
Aug 20 Protests in Muthanna and West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra over services and jobs
Aug 20 Iraq signed deal with Turkey to import 300mw of electricity for Mosul To upgrade power
stations Build electricity towers
Aug 21 Report 2006 Turkey began building Dam Started filling dam Jun 2018 Turkey told Iraq
about construction during entire time 2017 Turkey’s Water Min met with Iraq’s Water Min 4 times in 2017 Iraqi group went to Turkish dam in Dec 2017 Drastically cut water supply to Iraq Govt did nothing during entire process
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 21 Report Abadi govt asked US for exemption from Iran sanctions US couldn’t do much to
enforce sanctions Neither could Iraq because had no real control of border Iraq had major energy contracts with Iran
Aug 21 Iran said it would restart electricity exports to Iraq Stopped because Iraq wasn’t paying its
bills
Aug 21 PM Abadi directive cancelled order by Dep head of Hashd Abu Muhandis who told Hashd
to leave liberated cities Abadi said Hashd units couldn’t move without coordination of Joint Ops Command and commander in chief
Aug 23 Planning Min said 15-29 yr olds unemployment rate 22.6% IMF said it was more than 40%
Youth labor participate rate only 36%
Aug 24 Report Diarrhea outbreak in Basra due to water contamination Occurred because of drop in
water levels due to Turkish dam Officials in Baghdad denied any health problems
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 25 Report Activists started online campaign to draw attention to water crisis in Basra Videos
and pictures posted on social media of people suffering from contaminated water Health Min denied any problems Basra Health Dept said 70% of drinking water polluted and couldn’t be used Friday sermon by Sistani rep criticized govt for not solving problem Caused by Turkish dam
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 25 Report Head of Iranian Rev Guard air operations said holy cities and Baghdad were redline
for Tehran Said Iran sent Su-25s to help Iraq vs IS Iraq didn’t have pilots so Iran set up training program Said Revolutionary Guard not flying in Iraq It was
(Musings On Iraq interview with Naval Postgraduate School’s Ostovar on history of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard)
(Musings On Iraq review Vanguard of the Imam, Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard)
Aug 25 Report People fleeing villages in Daquq dist of Kirkuk due to IS Some homes burned People
kidnapped
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Aug 26 Report IS leader Baghdadi released 1st recording in 11 months Said group should target
tribal Hashd Carry out targeted killings and recruit in Sunni community Said IS still a force in Mideast
Aug 26 Protesters stormed Basra Health Directorate Officials said 17-18,000 hospitalized due to
bad water Health Directorate said Shatt al-Arab contaminated
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 27 Water Resource Min said it had delivered sufficient water to Basra to deal with water contamination crisis there Was false
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 27 Protest at Basra Health Dept demanding top officials be dismissed for health crisis caused by
contaminated water
Aug 27 Report Baiji refinery being rebuilt Part of complex finished Was damaged during war with
IS then looted by Hashd
Aug 28 Sit in protest started in Basra city over water crisis PM Abadi ordered water and medicine to
be sent to Basra Repair damaged water networks Stop releasing untreated sewage into water 1000s hospitalized
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Failed To Prepare For Water Crisis)
Aug 28 Pro-Iran Hashd fired rockets at US consulate in Basra
Aug 29 Protests in Dhi Qar and Baghdad for jobs and reform and one in Basra demanding
ISF member that killed a demonstrator be arrested
Aug 29 30 bodies found in mass grave Were Arabs executed by Asayesh in Ninewa
Aug 30 Protest northern Basra over water crisis
Aug 30 Asayesh member said his unit took 100-150 IS prisoners and executed them in Ninewa
Aug 31 Protesters sacked Basra provincial council building ISF fired into crowd wounding 8
Demonstrations in northern Basra as well over water crisis Another protest in Baghdad over US interference in govt formation process
(Musings On Iraq Basra Explodes In Rage and Riots Over Water Crisis)
Aug 31 Report Iran sending ballistic missiles to allies in Hashd to deter US Israel Saudi Arabia
(Musings On Iraq News Of Iran Moving Missiles Into Iraq Continue)
Aug 31 Report PM Abadi dismissed Natl Sec Adv Fayad for involvement in politics Headed political
party within Abadi’s own list Fayad was in talks with rival Fatah list
Sep 1 Sit-in protest started in central Basra city along with 3 more in other parts of province
over water crisis Journalists arrested and attacked
(Musings On Iraq Basra Explodes In Rage and Riots Over Water Crisis)
Sep 2 Protest in Basra City Hawir Nahr Bin Omar oil field Saibah gas field Shatt al-Arab
and Garmat Ali over water crisis in Basra Protesters handed over demands for reforms and services in Muthanna and Health workers protested not being paid in Dhi Qar and Qadisiyah
Sep 3 New parliament met for 1st session 2 opposing camps led by Sadr-Abadi vs Amiri-Maliki each
claimed to have largest bloc Issue left to Supreme Court to decide matter
Sep 3 3 Protests in northern and central Basra over services 1 killed by ISF
Sep 4 Protest in Zubayr and Basra City over water crisis In Basra city 7 killed dozens
wounded when security forces fired into crowd to break up demonstration Provincial council building burned Basra Ops Cmdr building attacked
(Musings On Iraq Basra Explodes In Rage and Riots Over Water Crisis)
Sep 4 Report Iran cut water flow to Zab River in Sulaymaniya after new dam started operating in
Jun
Sep 5 Protests in northern southern Basra and Basra city More govt buildings set on fire 1
demonstrator killed by ISF Solidarity protests in Dhi Qar and Baghdad
Sep 5 Hashd leader accused US of trying to remove Abu Muhandis from Hashd office Said wouldn’t
listen to PM Abadi because he was pro-American
Sep 6 Sadr’s Sairoon and Amiri’s Fatah came to agreement to form largest bloc to create next govt
Quds Force Gen Suleimani involved in talks
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Sep 6 Protests in Qadisiya and Muthanna Riots in Basra city govt building municipalities
building governor’s home Badr Fadhila Hikma Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Dawa Khorasani Brigades Imam Ali Brigades offices all burned Um Qasr port shut down Protest at West Qurna 2 and Majnoon fields Zubayr 1 protester killed by Kataib Hezbollah guard 3 others died from fires
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
Sep 6 4 intel officers charged with blackmailing families Didn’t release arrested relatives until they
were paid bribes Tampered with docs Made up evidence
Sep 7 PM Abadi said that funds for Basra would not follow procedures and would be under
direct control of governor
Sep 7 Ayatollah Sistani’s representative in Friday prayers condemned violence of protesters
and ISF in Basra saying it only led to more problems Said incompetent officials led to water crisis in Basra
Sep 7 In Basra Iranian consulate and Dawa office burned Integrity Commission offices stormed
Asaib Ahl Al-Haq guards fired on protesters outside offices killing 3 Cars driven by soldiers hit protesters killing 1 Three other protesters died Hospital for Hashd sacked US consulate besieged Um Qasr port closed again Stormed water injection plan in West Qurna 1 field Cut road to Maysan Basra protest committee and Bar association said it would not join Sep 8 protests due to looting and burning buildings Lukoil office in West Qurna 2 temporarily occupied Solidarity protests in Najaf Maysan Qadisiya Baghdad Dhi Qar
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Sep 7 Interior Min sent large police force to Basra city to suppress protests
Sep 7 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at US consulate in Basra
Sep 8 Sadr and Fatah called for Abadi to resign due to Basra protests
Sep 8 Protests at West Qurna 2 field Shorash fmr MPs house burned in Zubayr in Basra
Some pro-Iranian Hashd groups threatened to send forces to put down protests in Basra Interior Ministry sent large forces to province to restore law and order in province
Sep 8 Pro-Iran Hashd fired missiles at Basra airport in retaliation for Iranian consulate
burning in Basra
Sep 9 Ammar Hakim’s Hikma said it was against 2nd term for PM Abadi
Sep 9 Hashd Dep Cmdr Muhandis accused US consulate in Basra being behind protests and
threatened retaliation after several Hashd group offices burned in province
Sep 9 Protests in Muthanna and Dhi Qar over services
Sep 10 Ayatollah Sistani statement said new premier should not come from anyone that had been in
power before
Sep 10 Protest in Basra city restarted after few days break Activists said they had been
kidnapped received threats from Hashd groups and information campaign to discredit them
Sep 10 PM Abadi went to Basra again over protests Said would building new water facilities and
rehabilitate old ones Increase food allowances Stop water waste Jobs for unemployed
Sep 11 Protest in Basra city demanding dismissal of Basra Operations Commander and PM
Abadi to resign
Sep 12 Protest in Basra city for services and demanding Basra Operations Commander step
down
Sep 12 Sairoon official said Dawa would no longer control premiership when new govt
formed
Sep 12 US warned Iran that it would respond to any proxy attacks in Iraq against its personnel Said
Iran hadn’t stopped its allies from attacking US consulate in Basra and US embassy in Baghdad with rockets and mortars
Sep 12 Human Rights Watch ISF threatened and arrested lawyers working on IS cases 17 lawyers in
Ninewa said they had received threats from National Security and intel officials
Sep 13 Reports Fatah and Sadr agreed to bloc PM Abadi from 2nd term US lobbied for Abadi to
remain PM Abadi said he would not run for 2nd term
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Abadi Acknowledges Defeat For 2nd Term)
Sep 13 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq attacked water plant in Basra Came after Sistani rep said people were
robbing and trying to control Basra water networks
Sep 14 Some Hashd units said they were forming special forces to deal with saboteurs that
were using the Basra demonstrations to carry out violence
Sep 14 Protest in Baghdad and Basra calling for political reform and services
Sep 14 Finance Min said it sent extra money to Basra to deal with water in response to protests
Sep 14 Mishan al-Jabouri claimed Halbusi paid him $15 mil to withdraw running for speaker of
parliament
Sep 15 Parliament elected Mohammed al-Halbusi former Anbar governor Speaker His al-Hal
party was accused of cheating in May elections and were reports he used bribes to attain the position
(Musings On Iraq Speaker Of Iraq’s Parliament Selected Amongst Controversy)
Sep 15 Pro-Iran Hashd held demonstration in Basra City over attacks upon them by protesters
Sep 15 Fmr Integrity Comm head Yasiri said comm carried out 48 investigations of ministries over 3
yrs All rejected by court for lack of evidence Said legal system weak on corruption Said no political will to fight graft
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Sep 16 Protests at West Qurna 1 oil field South Gas Company for jobs and services and
protest for Basra governor in Basra city
Sep 16 Basra activist claimed Hashd working with ISF to detain protesters without
warrants
Sep 16 Muthanna Human Rights Office said that ISF issued warrants for activists
Sep 16 Report IS operating in rural Hawija in Kirkuk and Tuz Kharmato in Salahaddin
Sep 16 Report IS fled Hawija dist in Kirkuk rather than fight when freed by Iraqi forces Now
operating there again Kidnapped several people
Sep 16 Sadr and Ayatollah Sistani made deal to support Abdul Mahdi as next PM
Sep 17 Activist in Basra said that ISF were carrying out arbitrary arrests of demonstrators
without warrants
Sep 18 Kataib Hezbollah threatened to overthrow next govt if it didn’t respect the sacrifices
of the Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Sep 18 PM Abadi’s office signed paper telling Real Estate Dept in Finance Min to exempt to 2
Abadi advisers from rules on renting state property in Baghdad
Sep 18 Report Large number of IS in Hawija Hamrin Makhoul and Metibija areas of Kirkuk and
Salahaddin
Sep 20 KDP said it wanted Iraqi presidency Later dropped idea Allowed PUK to maintain
position
Sep 23 Report Hashd working with local authorities to suppress protests Hashd commander claimed
protests infiltrated and turning them towards violence Another Hashd commander threatened retaliation for protesters burning offices
Sep 25 Human rights activist assassinated in Basra
Sep 27 Human Rights Watch Iraqi forces disappeared dozens of Sunnis since 2014 Recorded 74
cases of people detained by Iraqi forces who were never seen again
Sep 27 Human rights activist and protest organizer shot in Basra
Sep 28 Report After model shot dead in Baghdad Protest activist killed in Basra 2 women in beauty
industry killed PM Abadi ordered Interior Min to investigate Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Sep 28 Report Last 2 months 3 villages emptied of people in Qara Tapa Diyala because of IS
Some areas off limits to ISF at night IS threatening people if cooperate with Iraqi forces
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Sep 29 Nasiriya field began producing natural gas
Sep 30 KRG held parliamentary elections Had low voter turnout 58.4% Gunmen stormed voting
center in Sulaymaniya and stole ballots and boxes results KDP 45 seats PUK 21 Gorran 12
(Musings On Iraq New KRG Elections Unlikely To Change Politics In Iraq’s Kurdistan)
Sep 30 US govt Report IS controlled Iraq-Syria border Still involved in drug trafficking extortion
Attacked electricity infrastructure Brought in people from Syria IS focusing upon rural-mountain areas ISF had poor intel operational security corruption top down leadership to counter IS ISF still relied upon US for intel reconnaissance Poor command meant ISF leadership didn’t know what units were doing Still human rights abuses State Dept said Iraq slow to rebuild after war Slowed returns of displaced
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