Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced that it was exporting petroleum once against through Turkey. After Irbil and Baghdad came to an agreement up to 250,000 barrels a day began flowing through a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The United States reportedly played a leading role in getting the two sides together as it wants more oil on the market to try to bring down prices.
That was good news for the government which relies upon oil for over 90% of its revenue. However the amount is a fraction of the 3.4 million barrels it was selling before the war. That means that Baghdad is still in the weeds in terms of paying its bills.
Various Hashd al-Shaabi groups were attacked on March 18 by the U.S. and Israel. Kataib Hezbollah’s 45th Hashd Brigade were targeted in the Qaim district of Anbar resulting in three fighters being killed and others wounded. The Turkmen 16th Hashd Brigade had its headquarters struck twice in the Daquq district of southern Kirkuk injuring three. Badr and the Turkmen 63rd Hashd Brigade were hit in that province as well. Five Asaib Ahl Al-Haq fighters from its 16th Hashd Brigade were wounded in two separate drone attacks in Daquq, Kirkuk. It was also hit twice in Kirkuk city. Jund al-Imam’s 6th Hashd Brigade witnessed an explosion at its headquarters in Baiji, Salahaddin that wounded three. Kataib al-Tayar al-Risali’s 31st Hashd Brigade were shelled injuring one.
Iraq’s Defense Ministry condemned an attack upon the Kirkuk air base that set off a fire. The base holds no international troops and the Ministry said this was a direct threat to the country’s security forces.
The first report emerged of the Resistance attacking another country. Three drones hit an observation post in Kuwait that allegedly came from Basra province.
Four drones also attacked the Um Qasr naval base in Basra which is used by the United States.
A drone was shot down over Baghdad airport and another was taken out by U.S. jets later in the day.
There were several incidents in Kurdistan. The Peshmerga Ministry said that bases in Irbil and Sulaymaniya governorates faced drone strikes wounding three Peshmerga. 10 drones were downed over Irbil and five over Sulaymaniya.
The Iraqi government is attempting to walk a fine line during the conflict. Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani condemned attacks upon the U.S. Embassy. He said that the government would track down the outlaw groups responsible. Baghdad is desperate to prove that it can protect foreigners since it looks towards them for recognition, investment and expertise to develop its economy.
Some Resistance members have been arrested but Al Hurra reported on the politics surrounding the issue. A source stated that Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have been responsible for most of the rockets and drones within Iraq. The Iraqi forces arrested several Kataib Hezbollah members accused of sending drones against Victoria Base at the Baghdad Airport. One was a lieutenant colonel in the Federal Police who was helping the Resistance get drones through checkpoints. After they were detained a political party intervened and got them released. This is the result of the Resistance being part of the ruling Coordination Framework. They have members throughout the government and security forces and use them to carry out operations and protect their members which means Sudani’s words about securing the country during the war are mostly just words.
SOURCES
Al Hurra, “Security Sources Tell Alhurra New Information on Baghdad’s Drone Attacks,” 3/18/26
Kurdistan 24, “Drone Attacks Target Peshmerga Bases in Erbil, Sulaimani, Injuring Three,” 3/18/26
- “Kurdistan Pipeline Exports Expected to Bring Iraq $24 Million Daily” 3/18/26
Al Mada, “Factions Light Up Baghdad’s Night Sky with Drone Attacks in Retaliation for Government Arrests of Attack Perpetrators Al-Sudani Warns: “State Security is a Red Line” - Attacks Expand to Target Luxury Hotels in the Capital," 3/18/26
Mahmoud, Sinan, “Iraq resume crude oil exports to Turkey’s Ceyhan port through pipeline,” 3/18/26
- “Iraqi Prime Minister Al Sudani condemns ‘outlaw groups’ attacking US embassy in Baghdad,” The National, 3/18/26
NINA, “Popular Mobilization Forces Commission: Three Fighters Martyred and Others Injured in U.S.-Israeli Aggression in the Anbar Sector," 3/18/26
Rudaw, “Explosions rock Erbil as air defenses systems intercept drones,” 3/18/26
Shafaq News, “”Ahl al-Haq” confirms that 4 of its members were injured in the Kirkuk attacks and demand security reinforcements,” 3/18/26
- “Casualties in bombing targeting two Popular Mobilization Forces sites in Salah al-Din (Update),” 3/18/26
- “A drone strike targeted a Kuwaiti observation tower near the Iraqi border,” 3/18/26
- “A drone was shot down near Baghdad International Airport,” 3/18/26
- “The Ministry of Defense considers the targeting of the Kirkuk base an “attack” on the capabilities of the Iraqi army,” 3/18/26
- “A missile fired from a US aircraft thwarted a drone attack on a logistics support center,” 3/18/26
- “Video: 3 explosions near Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters in Kirkuk (Update),” 3/18/26
- “Within minutes … 5 injured in a second attack targeting the 16th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Kirkuk (Update),” 3/18/26
- “Within minutes ... a second attack targeted the 16th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Kirkuk (Update),” 3/18/26
Xinhua, “Iraq resume Kirkuk oil exports via Turkiye’s Ceyhan port,” 3/18/26
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