Saturday, April 11, 2026

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 11 Sec Def Rumsfeld said “Stuff happens” to try to explain looting after US invasion of Iraq



  

1915 Ottomans and tribesmen began probing attack upon British outpost in Shaiba, Basra to try to

expel UK forces from vilayet

Friday, April 10, 2026

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 10 Sadrists killed Sayid Abdul Majid al-Khoei Surrounded Ayatollah Sistani’s house in Najaf Driven off by tribesmen


 

1917 US consulate report Economy in Baghdad collapsing after British took city Trade cut off No

business

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Iran War Day 40: Ceasefire In Iraq But No Economic Relief With Strait Of Hormuz Still Closed


  

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran brought back a sense of peace to Iraq. The Resistance following its Persian sponsors announced a two week halt to operations.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 9 Baghdad fell during the 2003 invasion


 

1915 New UK cmdr in Iraq Gen Nixon arrived Ordered to take all of Basra Secure Tigris to protect

Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Persia Plan for advance on Baghdad 1st step in escalating war from protecting oil concession to taking all of Mesopotamia

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq In World War I, From Ottoman Rule to British Conquest)

(Musings On Iraq review When God Made Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Iran War Day 39: Explosions Across Baghdad


  

The news of the day was a series of strikes by the U.S. and Israel across Baghdad. The Federal Police’s 2nd Division was hit in Sabi al-Bour in the north. This was likely a mistake as a nearby Hashd base was also struck. Five police were wounded. A rocket landed on a house in Amiriya killing two civilians while an airstrike blew up a home on Palestine Street. The latter was used to store weapons for the Resistance. Jets also targeted locations in Jamila and Maghreb Street in the east. Five Hashd were wounded at a camp in Taji outside of the city in the north.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 8 France approved Sykes-Picot agreement Baghdad and Basra vilayets would go to UK Mosul to France Independent Arab state would also be created under UK-French influence


1915 PM Asquith ordered committee created to determine which parts of Ottoman Empire

UK should get Would lead to creation of Iraq

(Musings On Iraq review U.S. Policy In Post-Saddam Iraq)

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Iran War Day 38: Candidates For Iraq’s PM Align With Pro-Iran Resistance To Gain Office


  

The pro-Iran Resistance was active in Kurdistan and Baghdad. A peshmerga headquarters was hit by four drones on April 5. The next day two blasts were heard near Irbil airport. Four missiles were shot down heading towards the U.S. consulate in Irbil city. Multiple drones were also intercepted in Irbil province with debris hitting a residential area killing two civilians. In Baghdad drones targeted the logistics support center at the airport.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 7 PM Maliki said he was turning to Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah to secure Baghdad because disappointed with Iraqi security forces


 

1915 UK Gen Nixon ordered to prepare attack on Nasiriya and Amara to protect Basra vilayet and

Persian oil concession

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq In World War I, From Ottoman Rule to British Conquest)

(Musings On Iraq review When God Made Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921)

Monday, April 6, 2026

Iran War Day 37: Paradox Of Iraqi Oil Passing Through Strait Of Hormuz While Oil Sites Attacked


  

The weekend marked a paradox in Iranian strategy towards Iraq. On the one hand there were a series of attacks upon the Iraqi oil industry and on the other a tanker with Iraqi petroleum passed through the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran said Baghdad would be exempt from its blockade.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 6 Fatwa said Wahabi Ikhwan were brigands Rallied Shiite tribes to fight the invaders


 

1916 British attacked Sannaiyat by Kut British suffered 1,168 casualties

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Iran War Day 36 Iraq's Oil Industry Continues To Be Threatened Financial Crisis By May


The U.S. or Israel bombed the Shalamcheh border crossing between Basra and Iran on the Iranian side. An Iraqi civilian was killed as a result along with five others being wounded.

Apr 5 - This Day In Iraqi History - Faisal II made king Cousin Ilah made Regent


 

1916 Battle of Sannaiyat by Kut British attacked Ottomans Took Hanna and Fallahiya British had

1,885 casualties

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Day 35 Of Impact of Iran War On Iraq: New Oil Export Routes Can’t Save Iraq From Economic Crisis Caused By Conflict


  

The Hashd Commission and the pro-Iran Resistance gave some numbers on the impact of the Iran War. The Commission said that there had been 83 attacks upon Hashd units since February 28 leading to 73 dead and 61 injured. The Resistance on the other hand claimed it carried out 753 operations and 23 alone on April 3.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 4 King Ghazi’s death announced to public Queen Aliya said it was Ghazi’s wish that his cousin Ilah be made regent

 

 

 

1927 UK official wrote Foreign Sec Chamberlain saying UK got Mosul by trick Promised 25 yr Iraq

Mandate Now pushing Iraq independence

Friday, April 3, 2026

Iran And Its Iraqi Allies Have A Strategy For The War Where Is America and Israel's?


   

As the Iran War enters its second month Iran and its allies’ strategy has become apparent. They are focusing upon Iraq’s oil industry, the Kurds, the Baghdad Airport and neighboring countries. The Americans and Israel on the other hand don’t appear to have any plan.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 3 King Ghazi died in a car accident King Faisal II took power but was only 3 His cousin Abd al-Ilah became Regent


 

1929 Shah and King Faisal passed notes that legal barriers over Persian nationals In Iraq had been

lifted

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Iraq’s Kurds Blame Iranian Revolutionary Guard For Dozens Of Attacks As Drone Sets Off Major Fire In Irbil


  

Overnight a drone was intercepted targeting the U.S. consulate in Irbil City. Another drone was shot down over an American military base in the city. On March 29 the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad faced an attack so it appears diplomatic facilities are fair game again by the pro-Iran Resistance.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 2 Iraq closed border with Iran declared Kurdish revolt over Barzani and 150,000 people fled to Iran


1941 Regent of Iraq arrived at UK airbase at Habaniya Anbar after Golden Square officers tried to

arrest him after coup Regent tried and failed to organize resistance to coup in Basra Then fled to Jordan

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)

(Musings On Iraq interview World War II In Iraq and Syria Interview With Case Western’s Prof Broich)

(Musings On Iraq review Persian Gulf Command, A History of the Second World War In Iran and Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941)

(Musings On Iraq review The Role of the Military In Politics, A case study of Iraq to 1941)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

American Journalist Kittleson Kidnapped In Iraq


  

In the middle of the night loud explosions were heard in Sulaymaniya City but no other details were provided about what happened.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 1 PM Taha Hashemi overthrown in coup by pan-Arab Golden Square officers Regent fled along with leading politicians


 

872 Brother of the Caliph Muwafaq defeated by Zanj slave rebellion in Basra

Musings On Iraq review The Revolt Of African Slaves In Iraq in the 3rd/9th Century

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Over 100 Fatalities In Iraq Since Start Of Iran War

    

The Baghdad Airport was the center of attention on March 30. During the day rockets hit the military part of the facility destroying an Iraqi Security Forces transport plane. Then at night a drone crashed into the logistics center and then another crashed on the military side. The security forces also found a truck laden with drones in the Musayib district in northern Babil that were also aimed at the airport. The facility has been a favorite target of the pro-Iran groups since the U.S. invasion. It is not only used by the Americans but the constant strikes are a sign that the government cannot keep the capital safe.

This Day In Iraqi History – Mar 31 Iraqi Communist Party founded


 

1915 UK Foreign Office wrote India Viceroy Lord Hardinge Agreed UK should take Basra

province and perhaps make Baghdad a protectorate

Monday, March 30, 2026

Pro-Iran Resistance Restarts Attacks Upon US Embassy In Iraq


  

The pro-Iran Resistance upped the anti once again in Iraq by attacking the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Two drones were shot down by the air defenses at the facility. This is the first such attack in ten days.

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 30 UK Cairo Conference decided on indirect rule in Iraq Faisal would be made king with pro-UK govt allowing British forces to withdraw

 

1921 Cairo Conference decided on indirect rule in Iraq Would make Faisal King of a pro-British Iraqi govt

allowing withdrawal of British forces Would keep UK High Commissioner for Iraq British advisers in govt naval presence in Basra and RAF squadrons in rest of country

(Musings On Iraq How England Chose Feisal As 1st King Of Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review Cairo 1921, Ten Days That Made the Middle East)

(Musings On Iraq review Desert Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia)

(Musings On Iraq review Foundations of British Policy In The Arab World: The Cairo Conference of 1921)

(Musings On Iraq review Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied)

(Musings On Iraq review Supremacy And Oil, Iraq, Turkey, and the Anglo-American World Order, 1918-1930)

(Musings On Iraq review The Chatham House Version and other Middle-Eastern Studies)

(Musings On Iraq review When God Made Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921)

(Musings On Iraq review Empires of the Sand, The Struggle For Mastery In The Middle East 1789-1923)

(Musings On Iraq review Britain In Iraq, Contriving King and Country)

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Iraq’s Resistance Claims Multiple Attacks Upon Jordanian Bases


  

Plenty happened in Iraq over the past three days due to the Iran War. That included multiple attacks upon Jordanian airbases by the pro-Iran Resistance to the U.S. or Israel hitting members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) again.

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 29 Sayid Salih Jabr became Iraq’s first Shiite PM


 

1946 Iraq-Turkey Friendship Treaty Would cooperate over Tigris and Euphrates security

education communication economies

Saturday, March 28, 2026

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 28 2 truck bombs in Tal Afar left 499 casualties Militias and police killed 70 in revenge


1918 British took Ana

Friday, March 27, 2026

Iraq Running Out Of Money Due To Iran War


  

The Financial Times reported on the economic crisis that the Iran War is causing for Iraq. It said that Baghdad has lost around $5.4 billion since the start of the conflict and it only has 1-2 months worth of cash to cover government salaries. The Central Bank on the other hand said its reserves could cover 12 months worth of oil exports. The problem is by law the bank can’t cover the government’s budget so it has to issue bonds or some other means to provide money. Government salaries and benefits are the largest part of the budget because adding public workers is the main means that the ruling parties have to maintain their support. Before the war Baghdad was running into problems meeting its obligations because of low oil prices. Now it is barely making any money with the Strait of Hormuz closed.

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 27 Saddam said he was going to get a nuclear bomb with help of the Soviets so he could go to war with Israel


 

1918 British took Haditha

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 11 Sec Def Rumsfeld said “Stuff happens” to try to explain looting after US invasion of Iraq

   1915 Ottomans and tribesmen began probing attack upon British outpost in Shaiba, Basra to try to expel UK forces from vi...