Apr 9 Iraqi intelligence head Mustafa al-Kazemi became new prime minister candidate after
Adnan al-Zurfi failed to reach consensus on his govt
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Has 3rd Candidate For Premier)
Apr 10 Kataib Hezbollah rejected Mustafa al-Kazemi as PM candidate Said nomination was a
betrayal of Iraq and conspiracy that could lead to war Was because Kazemi worked with US as intel chief
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Apr 12 Peshmerga Min Ismail said IS exploiting gaps between Peshmerga and ISF
Apr 16 Iraq cabinet ordered halt to monthly budget payments to Kurdistan It had not
followed 2019 budget to export oil in return for money
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Cuts Off Budget Payments To Kurdistan Once More)
Apr 20 MP on finance committee said more than 250,000 govt workers had more than one
salary
Apr 21 Basra Oil Company warned subcontractors about firing workers Happened after
company asked oil corporations to cut budgets by 30% due to financial crisis brought on by collapse of oil market
Apr 21 Planning Min opened job program in cooperation with Central Bank of Iraq Said
would create 1 mil new govt jobs in 3 yrs Came during financial crisis when govt couldn’t pay govt salaries and pensions
Apr 22 4 pro-Najaf Hashd brigades sent letter to Hashd Commission head Falah Fayad saying
the would now be under Commander in Chief Said had blessing of religious establishment
(Musings On Iraq Resigned PM Abdul Mahdi Doesn’t Accept Units Leaving Hashd Commission)
Apr 24 Resigned PM Abdul Mahdi said he didn’t accept 4 pro-Najaf Hashd leaving Hashd
Commission Said he wanted to keep all Hashd united
(Musings On Iraq Resigned PM Abdul Mahdi Doesn’t Accept Units Leaving Hashd Commission)
Apr 25 Ansar al-Marjaiya pro-Najaf Hashd called on other brigades to follow its lead and
leave Hashd Commission
(Musings On Iraq Resigned PM Abdul Mahdi Doesn’t Accept Units Leaving Hashd Commission)
Apr 26 KRG Planning Minister said KRG would export all of its oil for Baghdad if it paid all of
KRG’s bills and the oil companies that operated there Part of feud between Irbil and Baghdad over budget and oil
May 4 World Bank predicted Iraq’s GDP to contract 9.7% in 2020 due to COVID and collapse of
oil market Said Iraq’s oil dependency made it unable to deal with crisis Oil dependency and state run economy hindered private sector 2019 PM Abdul Mahdi increased govt jobs Lowered retirement age increasing pensions Increased govt spending which was now threatened by crisis
May 5 Report PM Abdul Mahdi cut budget payments to KRG 2019 budget said KRG was to export
250,000 bar/day in oil Never did KRG said illegal and political
(Musings On Iraq KRG Misses Deadline For Budget Deal With Iraqi Central Govt)
May 6 Muhandis Revenge Group claimed rocket attack upon Camp Victory in Baghdad
May 7 Fmr intelligence head Kazemi elected new premier of Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Can Iraq’s New PM Maneuver The System Or Have To Follow It?)
May 7 KRG parliament removed immunity from Kurdistan Islamic Group MP so he could be taken
to court for saying PM Barzani corrupt
May 8 Report US defense official said IS picking up attacks to take advantage of COVID Coalition
cmdr Gen White said same number of attacks as 2019 Said majority are small scale incidents Said IS lacked money fighters and popular support
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Calls For More Attacks During Covid Crisis In Iraq)
May 9 Iran’s Iraq policy adrift after death of Gen Suleimani New Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani
didn’t speak Arabic Was in Afghanistan 12 yrs Didn’t have connections to Iraqis
May 9 PM Kazemi said he would release all protesters arrested Said he would deliver justice and
compensation for 550 protesters killed
(Musings On Iraq Will Iraq’s PM Follow Through With Promise To Punish Those That Attacked Protests?)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 10 Funeral at protest square in Dhi Qar for slain activist Protest in Baghdad called for PM
Kazemi to step down Wasit protesters burned Badr office Also demonstrations in Najaf Karbala Basra
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Iraq Can New Govt Respond To Their Demands?)
May 11 PM Kazemi ordered raid on Thar Allah offices in Basra after it killed a protester
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Iraq Can New Govt Respond To Their Demands?)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 11 Sadr gave PM Kazemi 100 days to carry out reforms
May 11 Mayor of Khanaqin Dist Diyala said IS back to burning fields Trying to drive people out of
rural villages
May 11 Clashes between protesters and police in Basra city 1 protester died after being shot
Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at ISF in Baghdad Other protests in Najaf Muthanna Wasit Dhi Qar
May 13 US govt report IS called for increased attacks during COVID IS activity remained at low
level Mostly operated in remote parts of Iraq Recruited in Al Hol camp in Syria IS looked to preserve forces Jan 2020 UN said IS trying to rebuild in rural areas IS’s own media said its attacks decreased from end of 2019 to start of 2020 Exploited disputed areas Most active in Diyala
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Calls For More Attacks During Covid Crisis In Iraq)
May 13 Protesters said suspending demonstrations until after Eid holiday to give PM Kazemi time
to fulfill promises
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Iraq Can New Govt Respond To Their Demands?)
May 15 IS released video announcing new battle of attrition campaign in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State Calls For More Attacks During Covid Crisis In Iraq)
May 15 Report F-16s largely grounded because Lockheed Martin contractors withdrew due to
Hashd attacks
(Musings On Iraq Attacks By Pro-Iran Groups Force American F-16 Contractors To Withdraw)
May 15 Human rights activist called for protest in Dohuk after govt workers protested not being
paid arrested Held for 2 weeks Released then re-arrested Then released and re-arrested 2nd time
May 15 Diyala governor asked for Baghdad’s help IS attacks increasing in Khanaqin dist
May 15 Demonstrators in Baghdad demanded Kazemi govt explain kidnapping of woman who
made meals for protesters
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 17 Kurdish teachers protested in Kirkuk Said Baghdad not KRG should pay their salaries
KRG unable to pay salaries due to budget dispute with Baghdad and debt
May 18 Pro-Iran Hashd attacked Saudi run TV station in Baghdad after aired show calling Abu
Muhandis a terrorist for bombing Iraqi embassy in Lebanon in 1982
May 18 Workers stormed Basra Gas Company Shell withdrew foreign staff afterward Govt wasn’t
paying Gas Company due to financial crisis with collapse of oil prices Meant company couldn’t pay its workers
May 19 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Green Zone
May 20 Report IS starting new phase in Iraq Trying to assert power over villages and suburbs
Operating in small cells instead of large groups
May 20 Kazemi govt said it captured Abd Nasser Qirdash member of IS’s Delegative Committee
Was actually captured a year before by Syrian Democratic Forces and recently turned over to Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Did Iraq’s PM Make Up A Story of Capturing An Islamic State Leader?)
May 21 ISF arrested leader in Saraya al-Khorasani accused of running gang involved in
kidnapping and blackmail
(Musings On Iraq Khorasani Brigade Another Iraq Militia That Returned Home From Syria To Fight The Insurgency)
May 21 Liwa Thar Muhandis posted statement that it hit Baghdad airport with rockets Group 1st
appeared in 2020 Then became inactive Restarted summer 2021
May 21 Report Oil crisis COVID Political dispute with Baghdad led KRG’s revenues to drop to
$200 mil in Apr 2019 KRG needed avg $757 mil/month for govt salaries $211 mil/month to pay oil companies KRG has talked about reforms Crisis has led to protests by govt workers 2019 KRG avg $703 mil/mo in oil sales Apr 2020 only earned $84 mil from oil KRG owed $3.4 bil to oil traders Apr lost $384 mil/mo from Baghdad due to budget dispute Mar KRG said it would defer payments to oil companies and would pay in low current oil prices rather than higher prices when produced
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
May 21 Karbala activist escaped assassination attempt
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 23 Babil governor denied any secret prisons in province especially in Jurf al-Sakhr Said
insecurity meant no one could return there Kataib Hezbollah had secret prison in district Govt denied people going back to Jurf al-Sakrh because along pilgrimage routes to Najaf and Karbala
May 23 UN reported 25 protesters kidnapped From Oct 2019 to Mar 2020 123 activists abducted
98 were found 490 protesters killed 7783 wounded No accountability for perpetrators
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 24 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq HQ in Maysan burned by protesters Teachers and activists protested in
Sulaymaniya
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 25 Tribal Hashd warned IS taking over areas of Muqdadiya dist central Diyala
May 25 Protesters in Diwaniya held mock funeral for killed activists
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 26 Report IS governor of Iraq and head of foreign operations Jabouri killed in Syria by
Coalition air strike Was assisted by Counter Terror Service
May 26 Report PM Kazemi announced committee to investigate murders of protesters More than
700 killed 25,000 injured PM Abdul Mahdi had his own committee which did nothing Sadrists and Fatah said they would block any attempt to blame Abdul Mahdi for deaths
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq Will Iraq’s PM Follow Through With Promise To Punish Those That Attacked Protests?)
May 26 Muslih cmdr of Hashd Anbar ops arrested for killing of Karbala activist Attacks on other
activists Rocket attacks on Ain Al-Assad base in Anbar Hashd and Badr’s Amiri in talks with PM Kazemi over arrest
May 27 DNO that ran Tawke and Peshkabir oil fields in KRG cut production due to oil crisis
May 27 Report Iran helped form Kazemi govt Got Hashd and some Iraqi parties to agree to back
him
May 28 Kurdistan Islamic Group MP claimed Irbil governor met with political parties and told
them they couldn’t protest Were on going demonstrations over unpaid govt salaries
May 28 Tribal Hashd warned of escalating IS activity in northern Muqdadiya dist Said were village
empty of people and no ISF presence Said district had become HQ for IS
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
May 29 Report After Iran’s Gen Suleimani killed US suspended cooperation with ISF Led to
decrease in raids vs IS US and Canadian special forces used to accompany ISF on raids 2nd half of 2019 Hashd accused US and Israel of airstrikes on its facilities Joint Ops Cmd put restrictions on US planes and drones afterward flying over Hashd areas ISF said Hashd repeatedly stopped Iraq-US convoys going through areas and blocked raids Hashd fired on convoy of US and Iraqi special forces
May 31 Defense Minister said 2,000 IS fighters left in Iraq
May 31 PM Kazemi started monthly budget payments to KRG Finance Min Claimed it was a one
time payment Kazemi needed Kurdish support for his govt
(Musings On Iraq KRG Misses Deadline For Budget Deal With Iraqi Central Govt)
Jun 2 Report Last 3 months 5 new groups announced plans to attack US in Iraq Talked
about revenge for death of Abu Muhandis Thar al-Muhandis Brigades released video of it shooting missiles at 2 US helicopters Many seemed connected to Kataib Hezbollah
Jun 2 Report More than 17,000 public/private factories closed since 2003 Closed due to lack of
plans Electricity shortages Corruption Terrorism Extortion
Jun 2 Kazemi govt announced reforms to deal with economic crisis from collapsed oil prices Said
govt salaries 60% of budget Only 2% of budget for investment 2005 850,000 govt workers 2020 3 mil govt workers Didn’t include govt contract workers Govt wanted to increase investment and public sector Never really implemented
Jun 3 Memo by Fayad head of Hashd Comm Said units had to remove names and only go by brigade
numbers Hashd couldn’t be involved in politics Hashd under PM’s command
Jun 5 Report Oil companies fired 10-15,000 workers after Oil Min asked them to cut budgets by
30% due to collapsed oil prices
Jun 6 Kazemi created committee to assess performance of governors after protests called for
their dismissal
Jun 7 Police fired at protesters after burned Najaf governor guest house PM Kazemi did
nothing after he issued order banning shooting at demonstrations
(Musings On Iraq Will Iraq’s PM Follow Through With Promise To Punish Those That Attacked Protesters?)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jun 7 Were protests in Dhi Qar Diwaniya Muthanna demanding officials resign and political
reforms
Jun 7 MP said 10 km security gap along Diyala-Salahaddin border that IS was exploiting
Jun 8 Pro-Iran groups restarted attacks upon targets housing Americans with rocket strike on
Baghdad Airport as Iraq entered talks with US over new security agreement
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Factions Continue To Defy Iraq’s PM)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning To Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 8 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq pressured PM Kazemi to change his nominee for Culture Minister
Ministry controlled by AAH Forced ministry to give its fighters jobs and contracts to companies it controlled
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 8 Protests in Najaf Muthanna Diwaniya Dhi Qar demanding officials resign including governors
Jun 9 Eve of talks over Status of Forces Agreement with US rockets fired at Baghdad Airport Kataib
Hezbollah spokesman said that talks should be changed Hashd added to negotiating team
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 9 Report grain silo system run by Trade Min corrupt Trucks had to pay bribes to enter silos
most farmers couldn’t afford Forced to sell to wholesalers at cheaper prices Fmr Trade Min official said every part of system corrupt involving bribes
Jun 9 KRG PM Barzani proposed 3 ideas to cut govt salaries Hadn’t been able to pay them since Jan
Barzani said even if KRG paid by Baghdad wouldn’t be able to cover payroll
Jun 9 Cabinet passed resolution to cut salaries and pension for top govt workers by 10% to deal
with economic crisis caused by collapse in oil prices and COVID Didn’t stand
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Parliament Refuses Budget Cuts During Economic Crisis)
Jun 10 Parliament reversed 10% pay and pension cuts made by cabinet to reduce budget
during economic crisis
(Musings on Iraq Iraq’s Parliament Refuses Budget Cuts During Economic Crisis)
Jun 10 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Green Zone
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning To Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 10 Parliament passed non-binding resolution asking foreign forces to leave Iraq Trump rejected
any US military withdrawal from Iraq and threatened sanctions if Iraq asked
Jun 11 PM Kazemi said border crossings run by outlaws Head of border crossings asked for
Counter Terror Forces to control crossings Units were sent to federally controlled crossings
Jun 11 Report 2nd visit of Quds Force cmdr Gen Ghaani to Iraq Didn’t speak Arabic or have
relationships with Iraqis Apr Ghaani told Hashd they had to fund themselves and not rely upon Tehran for money because of economic crisis in Iran
Jun 11 Amnesty Intl Report 643 displaced from Saqlawiya Anbar abducted by Hashd in 2016 still
missing Baghdad did investigation that led to nothing
Jun 11 Report Activists accused political parties and Hashd for attacks Sadr called for end of
protests Activist in Baghdad kidnapped Another in Maysan assassinated Gang attacked protest square in Baghdad and burned some tents
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jun 11 Govt arrested man accused of burning protest camps stabbing a person killing a man
threatening activists in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Will Iraq’s PM Follow Through With Promise To Punish Those That Attacked Protests?)
Jun 12 KRG oil production down 10% in 2020 due to oil crisis Production went from 490,000
bar/day to 440,000 bar/day Due to objections from Baghdad along with lawsuits sold oil at deep discount from Iraqi price Paid higher export fees to Turkey When oil prices collapsed some companies in KRG couldn’t sell oil for a profit Mar Natural resource Min said it couldn’t pay invoices worth $1 bil from Nov 2019-Feb 2020 Said would pay companies in Mar Didn’t pay until May
Jun 13 Kataib Hezbollah warned US forces if they didn’t withdraw from Iraq they would be
attacked Came in middle of rocket attacks in Baghdad upon targets housing Americans
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 13 Rockets fired at Taji base in Baghdad by pro-Iran groups
Jun 14 Joint Operations Command warned Hashd factions about rocket attacks on military bases
after rocket attack on Camp Taji Attacks didn’t stop
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 14 Planning Minister said all border crossings including ones in KRG would be under central
govt control KDP-PUK still controlled crossings in KRG Hashd controlled many others
Jun 14 Rockets fired at Taji base in Baghdad for 2nd day by Pro-Iran groups
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning To Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
Jun 15 PM Kazemi repeated past orders that Hashd not to take part in politics
Jun 15 Report Shiite Endowment and Hashd units were seizing property in Mosul
Jun 15 Pro-Iran groups fired rockets at Baghdad Intl Airport
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning To Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 16 Fmr Finance Min Issawi turned himself into authorities Was convicted in absentia of
corruption
Jun 16 Report IS smuggling up to $100,00 day between Iraq and Syria Invested Extorted business
Collected taxes Used to rebuild group
(Musings On Iraq More On Islamic State Financing In Iraq)
Jun 17 PM Kazemi said that ISF had to find those responsible for rocket attacks in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 17 Interior Min claimed it arrested some involved in rocket attacks in Baghdad Nothing
came of it
Jun 17 Report New group League of Revolutionaries claiming responsibilities for attacks on
Americans
Jun 17 1 mil of 3 mil people had pensions cut as austerity measure due to econ crisis caused by
collapse of oil prices and COVID
Jun 17 Activists said PM Kazemi not serious about bringing killers of demonstrators to justice
Jun 18 PM Kazemi warned against outlaws threatening Iraqi security by firing rockets in
Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 18 Rockets fired at Green Zone by pro-Iran groups
Jun 19 Report Gulf Keystone that operated oil field in KRG laid off 40% of workforce due to falling
oil prices and delayed payments by KRG
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 20 Report John Bolton’s book on time in Trump admin said Trump asked him to go to Persian
Gulf countries and ask for money for US troops in Syria and Iraq Wanted to make profit from deployment
Jun 20 Finance comm MP said 1 border crossing earned 199 bil dinars/mo but only sent 9 bil/dinars
to Baghdad Rest stolen Asked PM Kazemi to send Counter Terror force to take control of crossings
Jun 22 Rockets fired at Baghdad Intl Airport by pro-Iran groups
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 22 Report Finance Min Allawi said Iraq’s economy facing existential threat Had to cut senior
salaries Halt double salaries Get IMF and World Bank loans Diversify economy
Jun 23 PM Kazemi spokesman said 18,000 workers in Education Min getting double salaries
Jun 25 Counter Terror Service raided Kataib Hezbollah HQ in Baghdad and arrested members for
rocket attacks in Baghdad Dep head of Hashd Comm Abu Fadak organized protest into Green Zone to demand their release
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 25 Iraqi politician told Green Zone security chief Khiqani not to stop Hashd march into zone
‘ PM Kazemi fired Khiqani afterward
Jun 25 Diyala official warned new wave of displacement from Abu Said subdist in central Diyala
due to IS attacks
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jun 26 Detained Kataib Hezbollah members turned over to Hashd Security Directorate after
political negotiations Kataib Hezbollah threatened to punish PM Kazemi
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 26 Pro-Iran Hashd attacked PM Kazemi as a US puppet Spread rumors that US forces helped
during raid to arrest Kataib Hezbollah members and they were given to Americans Said Kazemi involved in deaths of Abu Muhandis and Iran’s Gen Suleimani
Jun 29 Kataib Hezbollah members arrested for rocket attacks in Baghdad by Counter Terror
Service released by Hashd Security Directorate for lack of evidence
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jun 29 Activists house in Dhi Qar bombed
Jun 29 KRG sent delegation to Baghdad to discuss budget dispute after 30 day deadline set by PM
Kazemi KRG rejected govt’s terms of restarting oil exports for Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq KRG Misses Deadline For Budget Deal With Iraqi Central Govt)
Jun 30 Report Kataib Hezbollah threatened to sue PM Kazemi for raid on its office Said Kazemi
pro-US Hezbollah al-Nujaba said US didn’t want to leave Iraq Tried to humiliate the Resistance Protest by pro-Iran Hashd burned US flags Stepped on pictures of PM
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Jun 30 Fmr Finance Min Issawi released for insufficient evidence on terrorism charges
Jul 2 PM Kazemi met with investors who complained about paying bribes and extortion Members of
Iraqi Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative said tribes claimed companies took their land and demanded compensation Others blocked businesses from operating Demanded they hire tribal businesses as subcontractors and tribesmen Some businesses were leaving Iraq as a result
Jul 2 Report Displacement Min said it wanted to close displacement file Wanted voluntary returns Would eventually close camps and force people out
Jul 3 PM Kazemi said he would diversify economy away from oil Didn’t happen
Jul 4 PM Kazemi removed Fayad as National Sec Adv and head of National Security Service Fmr
Interior Min Araji became National Sec Adv Fmr Counter Terror Service Gen Assadi made head of National Security Service
Jul 5 US led Coalition announced it was drawing down forces and becoming advisory mission in
Iraq
Jul 5 Report Iran facing economic crisis Led to cutting money to Hashd Forced it to look for other
funding Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Hezbollah Harakat al-Najaba had economic assets Extorted money from nightclubs gambling houses alcohol stores Those that didn’t pay got attacked Kataib Hezbollah smuggling across Anbar-Syria border Also smuggled IS families from Syria into Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jul 5 Parliament’s economic comm said border crossings earned $10 bil but state only got $1 bil of
that KRG plus corrupt ISF and Hashd kept most revenues
Jul 5 Head of PM Kazemi’s office stormed Iraqi Media Network with gunman Threatened board of
trustees over dismissing two officials Their jobs were restored
Jul 5 Hisham al-Hashemi journalist analyst govt advisor killed in front of his house in Baghdad by
pro-Iran group
Jul 7 Report Journalist analyst govt adv Hisham al-Hashemi got death threats from Kataib
Hezbollah before he was killed
Jul 8 European Comm put Iraq on list of high risk countries for money laundering and terrorist
financing Was because of Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions that had been abused by political parties Iran Syria and insurgents for yrs
(Musings On Iraq EU Puts Iraq On List of Money Laundering-Terrorist Financing Countries)
Jul 8 Report Defense Min transferred general charged with killing protesters in Nasiriya in Nov
2019 Ordered Rapid Response Forces to shoot at demonstrators Killed 60 PM Kazemi promised to bring murderers of protesters to justice General never prosecuted
Jul 9 Protests in 3 parts of Dhi Qar and Wasit over lack of electricity and delayed
salaries to govt workers
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Southern Iraq Over Electricity Shortages And Delayed Salaries)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 9 Cabinet passed austerity measures including cutting govt worker benefits cutting unessential
spending to deal with economic crisis
Jul 10 Parliament rejected austerity measures to deal with economic crisis passed by cabinet
Jul 10 Documents posted on social media about 97 bil dinars in equipment being stolen from
Diwaniya Health Dept MP accused dept of corruption Said 20 bil worth of orders ended in director’s pockets
Jul 10 Report Ninewa Compensation Comm got over 90,000 claims for Mosul Battle ¾ processed
but only had money to pay 2500 families Money gained at donors conference in Kuwait in 2018 not spent Most rebuilding in Mosul done by individuals UN and aid groups UN complained Kazemi govt for stalling projects Govt in financial crisis as well
Jul 10 Report Gap between ISF and peshmerga up to 13 sq km in some disputed areas Agreed to 3
joint ops rooms to deal with areas
Jul 10 Protests in Diwaniya Wasit Dhi Qar over electricity shortages
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Southern Iraq Over Electricity Shortages And Delayed Salaries)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 11 Pro-Iran groups began new tactic of attacking convoys carrying supplies to US with attack
upon trucks in Muthanna and Diwaniya
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
Jul 11 Report PM Kazemi went to Mandali border crossing with Iran in Diyala to launch campaign
to end corruption at crossings Thought tariffs one way to boost non-oil revenue Didn’t work
Jul 12 Protests over lack of electricity services and govt workers not being paid in Basra Wasit
Diwaniya Dhi Qar Muthanna Babil
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Southern Iraq Over Electricity Shortages And Delayed Salaries)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 12 Protest in Baghdad by victims of Saddam complaining their pensions were cut Stopped at
checkpoint and fired on by ISF killing 2
Jul 12 2 fmr Unaoil managers convicted in UK of bribing Iraqi officials to get contracts
Jul 12 Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said they would continue to resist US presence in
Iraq Videos posted of attacks on convoys working for US
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Pres Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jul 12 Report Badr Sayara al-Salam Kataib Hezbollah Harakat Hezbollah al-Najab Asaib Ahl Al-
Haq all controlled different border crossings Used for revenue and smuggling
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jul 12 Dhi Qar and Basra had complete power outages due to work at generator stations which
caused main power lines to go out
Jul 13 Report Turkey filling dam cutting water flow down Tigris River to Iraq in half
Jul 13 Protests in Diwaniya Dhi Qar Basra over electricity shortages
(Musings On Iraq Protests Return To Southern Iraq Over Electricity Shortages And Delayed Salaries)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 14 MP said Salahaddin govt tried to block IS families from returning to province Seized their
money and property Said if families rejected IS they could return conditionally
Jul 16 Report KRG contracted Pakistani businessman to handle deals with Rosneft and traders
that handled all the regions oil sales after 2017 Companies would pay businessman and he would disperse funds to the KRG along with make payments to oil companies producing KRG oil Businessman had $1 bil in Lebanese bank that was probably KRG’s Was frozen after banking crisis in Lebanon that caused financial crisis in KRG
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jul 16 Protest activist kidnapped in Baghdad Would start new wave of repression against
demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 16 Report Finance Min had no database of all the govt bank accounts Each ministry and state
owned enterprise has its own financial structure Govt bank accounts supposed to have limits but never followed 04 govt was supposed to create Treasury Single Account to hold all govt money but didn’t happen 2016 loan from IMF included creation of Single Account but didn’t happen 2 largest banks Rafidain and Rasheed didn’t use modern banking techniques All branches not connected to each other
Jul 17 Activist shot in Basra City by men on motorcycles Part of new crackdown on Protests
Protesters clashed with police in Kut
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 19 When PM Kazemi went to Washington Kataib Hezbollah said colluders with the occupiers
would be held accountable
Jul 19 Report KRG blocked 1200 Arab families from returning to 5 villages in Ninewa KRG and
Ninewa made deal to return Arab families but didn’t happen
Jul 19 Protests in Karbala and Dhi Qar over services
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 20 Since Spr 2020 4 new groups said they attacked US in Iraq
Jul 20 Protests in Dhi Qar Maysan Karbala over lack of services
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 21 Report Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei told PM Kazemi he expected him to oust US forces from
Iraq
Jul 21 Protests in Dhi Qar Muthanna Babil over services
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 22 Report IS moving back and forth across Iraq-Syria border Usually went to Jazeera desert
between Ninewa Salahaddin Anbar and then taken to south Ninewa or Hamrin Mts between Diyaal-Salahaddin
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jul 22 Parts of investigation by journalist Hisham al-Hashemi published Hashd ran
checkpoints in Baghdad used to extort money from Sunnis Oil smuggling in Ninewa Looting in Basra and Salahaddin Took over squares garages empty land farmland housing Controlled gravel and sand quarries in Baiji Salahaddin Badr ran Alas and Ajeel oil fields Asaib Ahl Al-Haq ran some major projects including 50 bil sewage project Asaib Ahl Al-Haq charged displaced money to return to their homes in Salahaddin Hashd dismantled part of Baiji refinery and fertilizer factory and sold parts Looted homes in Tikrit and Dour Salahaddin
(Musings On Iraq Expansion of the Hashd al-Shaabi’s influence In Iraq, Interview With Clingendael’s Erwin van Veen)
(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)
Jul 24 Report US Justice Dept investigating inflated fuel sales to US military US company
connected to PUK-KDP won contract to deliver jet fuel to airbase in Irbil Dec 2019 Pentagon tried to award 2 other companies to deliver fuel KRG blocked them US consultant company used shell company to help Barzanis buy 2 Beverly Hills mansions for $47 mil plus $2 mil in remodeling 1 mansion occupied by Barzani mistress
(Musings On Iraq review The Occupation of Iraq, Winning The War, Losing The Peace)
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
Jul 25 Protests in Najaf Diwaniya Basra Babil Karbala Dhi Qar over electricity lack of services
and govt workers not being paid
(Musings On Iraq National Protests Start In Iraq During The Weekend UPDATED)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 25 PM Kazemi ordered ISF to 14 border crossings to take control of them Didn’t work
Jul 26 Protests in Basra Dhi Qar Wasit Diwaniya Najaf Muthanna Baghdad ISF fired on protests
and killed 3 in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq National Protests Start In Iraq During The Weekend UPDATED)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 27 Report Human rights groups said ISF dressed in plain clothes opened fire on protest in
Baghdad Jul 26 and killed protesters PM Kazemi’s spokesman said ISF given instructions not to use force Said killings under investigation
(Musings On Iraq National Protests Start In Iraq During The Weekend UPDATED)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 27 Protests in Muthanna Dhi Qar Basra Wasit Diwaniya Baghdad Najaf Karbala
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 28 Interior Min said criminals worked in Baghdad protest site Attacked protesters and ISF
Jul 28 3rd protester died from being shot by tear gas canister in Baghdad Protests in Najaf Diyala
Dhi Qar Muthanna Basra Diwaniya Wasit
Jul 28 Report ISF blocked protesters from EBaghdad going to Tahrir Sq Activists scared to go to
hospitals because feared being arrested ISF blocked ambulances from entering square
Jul 29 Report Palm Jet that ran Baghdad Airport’s VIP terminal threatened by Kataib Hezbollah to
do business with it Group would take 20% of company’s revenues Owner said no Called govt for help Got none Next day Kataib Hezbollah raided VIP terminal and forced owner to sign contract with it Kataib Hezbollah held civil aviation director at gunpoint and forced him to make his deputy a KH member Oct 2019 Kataib Hezbollah company got 12 yr contract at Baghdad and Basra airports even though didn’t have license to operate Contract terminated Part of plan by Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq to take over Baghdad airport Got its men hired as airport workers and security Could use airport without oversight Some Hashd leaders became rich Bought restaurants nightclubs farms Est $150-$300 bil in Iraqi money held overseas $10 bil is in London real estate Fmr Health Min said govt buying vaccines for $92 mil when could be bought for $15 mil Ministry went after him because contract done by ruling party He resigned Corrupt bought dollars at Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions using fake manifests for imports Ruling parties used commercial banks they owned to buy dollars at auction and then resold them for a profit Made est $20 bil MP said 1 bank only existed on paper and made $200 mil profit from buying-reselling dollars auctioned 2014 Ahmed Chalabi exposed dollar auctions Parliament investigated and did nothing 2017 Iraq bought $1.66 bil in tomatoes and $2.86 bil in watermelons from Iran Were money laundering ops Hashd registered 70,000 ghost fighters to steal salaries through Qi Cards Scheme created by Hashd leader Abu Muhandis Qi Card owner made deal with political parties and pro-Iran Hashd groups to stay in business 2011 govt signed $148 mil deal to develop part of Sadr City Integrity Comm said fmr mayor and deputies stole $12 mil from contract Hardly anything built Businessman said he got 40 bil dinar govt contract Only spent 10 bil dinars Rest went to payoff govt officials Governors make deals with businessmen to give them contracts to steal money Hashd extorted money form businesses and banks
(Musings On Iraq Expansion of the Hashd al-Shaabi’s influence In Iraq, Interview With Clingendael’s Erwin van Veen)
(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)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jul 29 Report Pro-Iran Hashd launched info campaign vs UK Amb on social media after he
criticized Hashd Said development and security held back by armed groups operating outside govt Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba said he was lying Posted 2 pictures of amb with blood covering his face
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Jul 29 Protests in Muthanna Karbala Dhi Qar Diwaniya Wasit Muthanna over lack of electricity and
against corruption
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 30 Kazemi govt announced that 560 killed in protests over last year and each family would
receive 10 mil dinars in compensation
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 30 Report Public salaries unsustainable but ruling elite didn’t care because used jobs for
patronage Elite thought oil prices would always go up and allow them to add more jobs Iraq population growing so much offsets govt jobs created Number of govt workers tripled from 2004-2014 Growth in govt salaries and pensions meant Baghdad couldn’t spend on investment Led to decline in services Meant jobs only way to maintain patronage and became more important to elite Budgets became about paying govt salaries and pensions investment in oil and little else Made Iraq’s economy impervious to change
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Public Spending Unsustainable)
Jul 30 Report Investigation into killed protesters contradicted govt’s story Interior Min Ghanmi said
2 protesters killed by police using hunting rifles Were killed by tear gas cannisters Govt denied that
Jul 30 Protests in Karbala Basra Dhi Qar Diwaniya Wasit for services
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 31 Protests in Basra Wasit Dhi Qar over electricity shortages Govt building in Karbala burned
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Jul 31 PM Kazemi announced early elections in June Were delayed to October because ruling
parties afraid they would lose power
Aug 1 Protests in Wasit Basra Dhi Qar Basra Video posted of teen arrested by ISF and beaten and
tortured for protesting
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 1 PM Kazemi announced early elections in Jun 2021 Would be delayed until Oct
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Kazemi Announces Parliamentary Vote June 2021)
Aug 2 Protests in Diwaniya Dhi Qar Wasit Muthanna over poor services and attack upon an
activist
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 3 Defense Min said it would take legal action against those that killed protesters Did nothing
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 3 Protests in Dhi Qar Muthanna over services
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 4 Activists house in Maysan hit by RPG as part of intimidation campaign against protests
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 5 PM Kazemi met with protesters saying their demands would be met They weren’t
Aug 7 PM Kazemi said he would pay salaries of KRG dam workers for 3 months Part of deal to gain
support of Kurds
Aug 8 Sadrists joined protest in Nasiriya demanding justice for general who ordered killing of
demonstrators Activists tried to stop them from raising pictures of Sadr Demonstrators started chanting against Sadr and other leaders
Aug 9 Ansar Allah HQ burned in Nasiriya by protesters Also protests in Baghdad Muthanna
Diwaniya Wasit
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 10 Bomb placed outside house of protest activist in Kut, Wasit as part of intimidation
campaign vs demonstrations
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 10 Protesters set fire to provincial govt building in Diwaniya Also protests in 2 parts of Dhi
Qar Muthanna Wasit
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 10 PM Kazemi met with group of protesters wounded by police in Nasiriya Promised them aid
Aug 11 Report IS rebuilding in northern Diyala Southeastern Salahaddin Southern Kirkuk Cut off
roads Set up camps Aimed to take over rural areas 185-200 villages abandoned due to IS Has large weapons market Includes disputed territory where conflicts over who has security authority over them IS earned $2.5-$3 mil/mo from royalties from companies
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Aug 12 Protests started in Kurdistan first in Sulaymaniya organized by opposition party calling for
removal of Kurdish govt and for salaries to be paid
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Aug 12 Report Iraq’s F-16s not flying combat missions Officers forging records of F-16 flights that
didn’t happen Officers stealing jet fuel with US company Sallyport Balad Air Base plagued by corruption Iraqi companies paid bribes to operate at base Iraqi company signed deal with Hashd to allow fuel to go from Baghdad to base
(Musings On Iraq US Company Paid Off PM Maliki To Service And Rob Iraqi Military Base)
Aug 14 Protest activist assassinated in Basra City as part of intimidation campaign against
demonstrators Protest in Sulaymaniya Called for provincial govt to resign
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 14 Qaim Mayor said IS still operating in Anbar’s western desert
Aug 15 Protest activist had house raided in Diyala by unknown security force Activist escaped
assassination attempt in Dhi Qar Part of intimidation campaign against demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 16 New budget deal announced Baghdad would send 320 bil dinars/month to KRG to pay govt
workers KRG would send half its tariffs to Baghdad in return Never did Deal made to secure Kurdish support for PM Kazemi
(Musings On Iraq KRG-Baghdad Budget Agreement Holds Despite No News Kurds Complying)
Aug 16 Report KRG PM Barzani said KRG $27 bil in debt KRG official said couldn’t pay govt
workers without budget money from Baghdad KRG hadn’t paid govt workers on time and in full since Apr
Aug 16 Protester assassinated in Basra City Part of intimidation campaign against demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 17 PM Kazemi fired Basra police chief after protest activist assassinated
Aug 17 3 Protest activists escaped assassination attempt in Basra City when car shot at Part of
intimidation campaign vs demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 17 Protesters attacked Basra governor’s house and tried to burn it after activist assassinated
and three others escaped assassination attempt
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 17 Protests on going in Sulaymaniya Security forces shut down main bazaar in Dohuk to stop
them Was over not being paid govt salaries KRG in financial crisis over budget dispute with Baghdad and bad decisions on oil
Aug 17 Report Baghdad and KRG agreed on revenue sharing KRG would provide % of tariffs
rather than oil exports in exchange for monthly budget payments from Baghdad Didn’t happen
Aug 17 Report KRG said it wouldn’t pay oil companies in Kurdistan until 2021 unless oil prices
rose above $50 per barrel
Aug 18 KRG security forces arrested protest activist in Dohuk as part of crackdown on
demonstrations
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Aug 18 Report 2010 govt laid out Al-Faw port project Never finished Aug Transportation Min said
it would sign contract with Korean company to resume project Kuwait and Iran opposed project
Aug 18 KRG Finance Min said KRG would have $138.8 mil budget deficit even if got monthly
payments from Baghdad KRG made around $614 mil Needed $753 mil just to cover govt salaries
Aug 19 Protest activist in Dhi Qar escaped assassination attempt Female activist and another
activist and his wife assassinated in Basra in intimidation campaign vs demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 19 KDP security forces raided media offices in Dohuk and Irbil for covering protests
Aug 20 KRG closed NRT media office in Irbil NRT office in Dohuk raided for covering protests
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Aug 20 3 protest activists escaped assassination attempt in Babil
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 20 Shammar tribe in Diyala said it opposed IS families returning to homes
Aug 21 Protesters burn govt office in Basra City after assassinations of activists there
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 21 Protest activist assassinated in Baghdad as part of intimidation campaign vs demonstrators
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 22 Bicycle bomb hits protest site in Dhi Qar Wounded 11 People burned Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
Dawa Badr HQs and then bulldozed them in retaliation
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
Aug 22 Interior Min said it was sending forces to Basra to arrest killers of protesters Nothing
happened
(Musings On Iraq While PM Kazemi Visits Trump Pro-Iran Groups Target US And Kill Protesters To Embarrass Govt)
(Musings On Iraq Ebb And Flow Of Protests In Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 22 KRG offices burned and stones thrown at PUK and KDP offices in Sulaymaniya and
Halabja Protesters demanded the regional govt resign
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Aug 23 Kurdish protests expanded from Sulaymaniya to Irbil 50 arrested Metro Center for
Journalists Rights and Advocacy and UN complained about KRG suppressing demonstrations
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Aug 24 Human Rights Comm said KRG needed to listen to protesters Protests in 3 areas of
Sulaymaniya
Aug 24 Fatah MP accused Saudis and UAE of funding protests in Dhi Qar to undermine Iraq
Aug 26 PM Kazemi created committee to investigate corruption Arrested fmr dir of national
retirement directorate Director of Qi Card Agricultural Bank director and head of Baghdad Investment Commission
Aug 26 Report PM Kazemi said armed groups working outside the law would face crackdown Said
criminals behind attacks on protesters Said govt would reveal who they were Said govt had arrested people for rocket attacks Pro-Iran Hashd behind attacks on protesters and rocket attacks Govt would do nothing
Aug 27 PM Kazemi set up deterring corruption commission headed by ex-general
Aug 27 Protests in Babil Baghdad Karbala for reforms
Aug 27 Border Crossings Comm came up with procedure to bring KRG border crossings under
Baghdad’s control KRG did not respond KRG was supposed to provide tariffs as part of budget deal but didn’t
Aug 29 PM Kazemi met with families from Anbar Salahaddin Sadr City Said he would look into
family members who were disappeared during war vs IS Nothing happened Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said 1000s disappeared during war
Aug 30 Gorran member said 650,000 ghost govt workers in KRG who got $450 mil in salaries
(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 30 PM Kazemi said protest committee finished 1st stage of work counting dead and wounded so
they could get compensation from govt
Aug 31 Hashd group burned Dijlah TV offices for playing music during Ashura Station had also
promoted protests Head of station Karbuli who also led Al-Hal had warrant issued for him
Aug 31 Edheim dist director in Diyala said 18 villages in area were being used by IS
Aug 31 KDP rep in Dibs Kirkuk said more than 20 villages had been evacuated last 3 yrs due to IS
attacks
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Sep 2 Sadr called for Hashd to be disbanded Aimed at his political rivals
Sep 4 Kataib Hezbollah affiliated Raba Allah demanded that TV station apologize for insulting the
clergy and religious scholars Threatened to burn down office Did that 2 days later
Sep 6 Protests in Diyala 4 parts of Dhi Qar Baghdad Basra Muthanna over jobs services not
being paid
Sep 7 Govt announced it would give 1.2 mil dinars to families that lost a member during protests
The families and those injured during demonstrations would also get a monthly pension
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Promises Pensions For Killed And Wounded Protesters It Can’t Cover)
Sep 8 Activist in Dhi Qar survived assassination attempt Dawa office bombed afterward
Sep 9 MP from finance committee said govt needed $6 bil to cover govt salaries Iraq only earned
$3.5 bil in oil revenues in Aug Other revenue was only $400 mil Said govt would have problems covering salaries for rest of 2020 Would have to borrow money
Sep 9 MP on security committee said IS moving back and forth between Diyala and Salahaddin
Sep 10 Protests in Babil demanding dismissal of governor Protest in Dhi Qar demanding justice for
killers of activists Protest in Basra and Diwaniywa for jobs
Sep 11 Report Hashd created security cordons around 25 villages in Khanaqin Diyala due to IS
attacks
Sep 13 Teachers in Sulaymaniya started protests over not being paid salaries Would spread to other
KRG public workers PUK blamed New Generation party and sued head of party
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Sep 13 Report Babil officials said displaced returning to Jurf al-Sakrh was political decision
because Hashd ran dist Kataib Hezbollah against returns Had large military base in dist MP on displaced committee said govt not serious about allowing people back
Sep 14 Agriculture Min said it would export barley for 1st time Said water levels were good in 2019
and govt paid high prices to farmers resulting in surplus
Sep 14 PM Kazemi’s media adv said people who killed journalist/analyst Hisham al-Hashemi had
been identified 1 ISF member eventually arrested and eventually released
Sep 15 Kazemi govt arrested fmr director of National Retirement Directorate for corruption
Sep 15 Activist and her parents assassinated in her home in Baghdad
Sep 15 Protests in Dhi Qar Maysan Baghdad Diwnaiya Dhi Qar Basra for jobs and demanded killers
of protesters be brought to justice
Sep 16 Head of Baghdad’s Investment Commission arrested for corruption
Sep 16 Report Hashd assassinated people ahead of coming elections New factions announced to
carry out attacks on Green Zone and bombing convoys in south working for US Fmr official in Salahaddin said Hashd set up fishing ponds in Samarra 2 Hashd units smuggling oil out of Samarra dist Also smuggling oil in Diyala Hashd acquired state land near Camp Speicher and selling it Hashd ran businesses in Tikrit Hashd accused of setting up fake checkpoints in south Kirkuk to charge people money Hashd controlled weigh stations for trucking
(Musings On Iraq Expansion of the Hashd al-Shaabi’s influence In Iraq, Interview With Clingendael’s Erwin van Veen)
Sep 16 Head of National Security Agency and Natl Sec Adv Araji said killers of protesters would be
brought to justice Nothing happened
Sep 17 IS held parade on Diyala-Salahaddin border MP said 15 villages along border with no
security Many villages are empty of people
Sep 18 Report Hashd built defensive fortifications around 15 villages in Azm dist Diyala to stop IS
Sep 19 1 activist shot another kidnapped in Dhi Qar Pro-Iran groups blamed PM Kazemi sent
Counter Terror Service to province to find him leading to criticisms by tribes and Hashd factions
(Musings On Iraq Another Activist’s Kidnapping Offers Opponents Of Iraq’s PM Opportunity To Criticize Him)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Sep 20 Report 40 km gap between Iraqi forces and Hashd in northeast Diyala Exploited by IS
Sep 20 Report Activists fleeing southern Iraq and moving to KRG due to threats and assassinations
by Hashd
Sep 20 Protesters burned house of MP in Dhi Qar after activist kidnapped day before by Hashd and
killed
Sep 21 Report Climate change predictions had Iraq getting less rain higher temperatures prolonged
and worse droughts while population growing Since 1980s water on Tigris and Euphrates declined 30% due to dam and irrigation projects in Turkey and Syria Expected to decline another 50% by 2030 2/3 of potable water pumped leaked and lost Farming took up to 85% of water resources
Sep 21 3 groups issued joint statement that they would continue protests in KRG if teachers and
govt workers not paid full salaries and on time KRG not paid salaries due to oil/budget dispute with Baghdad
Sep 21 PM Kazemi sent Counter Terror Service to Dhi Qar to rescue activist kidnapped Party HQ
and fmr MPs house burned in Dhi Qar over kidnapping
Sep 21 Protests in Baghdad Diwaniya demanding govt jobs
Sep 21 Report KRG Minister of State said Baghdad hadn’t sent monthly budget payment as part of
new deal Apr PM Kazemi stopped payments because KRG not following budget deal Aug 2 sides made new deal
Sep 22 Report IS still infiltrating into Iraq from Syria Also smuggling Local officials claimed some
Hashd made deals with IS to cross border Most infiltrations in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Sep 23 Report Apr 2010 cornerstone laid for Faw Port project Supposed to cost $4.6 bil and be
finished by 2015 Was going to be one of largest ports in world Breakwater only thing built Corruption and political objections meant never finished
Sep 23 MP on finance committee said KRG would continue pay cuts for govt workers Started in Jul
Cuts would be increased to 21% KRG needed $750 mil to pay govt workers without cuts Needed $593 mil with cuts KRG only earned $251 mil Also got $269 mil from Baghdad budget payments KRG in budget crisis for yrs due to oil/budget dispute with Baghdad
Sep 24 Report US warned Iraqi govt if attacks continued on western targets US would retaliate
against all Hashd factions Kazemi dismissed head of 30th Hashd Brigade in Ninewa that US designated a terrorist Also removed Khorasani Brigade leader from Hashd authority as concessions to US
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Factions Warned If Keep Up Attacks On Western Targets In Iraq Will Face US Retaliation)
Sep 24 Report KRG said it would cut govt salaries by 18% not 21% Officials then said pay cuts
could go up to 50% Was due to oil/budget dispute with Baghdad
Sep 25 Report Pres Salah told ruling parties and Hashd Sec State Pompeo threatened to close US
embassy and attack all Hashd if attacks on US targets continued Head of Hashd Comm Fayad and Badr head Amiri against continued attacks Said US withdrawing and didn’t want US retaliation Attacks didn’t stop
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Sep 25 Report Head of Qi Card tried to escape Iraq with help of head of Kataib Imam Ali to escape
arrest for corruption 2 top officials at Baghdad airport fired and arrested for incident
Sep 25 Activists home in Dhi Qar bombed
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Sep 26 Karaib Hezbollah leader said it would crush US troops in Iraq Came after reports Abdul
Mahdi govt warned Hashd about continued attacks on US
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Sep 26 Report Iran’s Pres Ruhani met with Iraq’s Foreign Min Hussein Said US presence in Iraq
harmed stability Said duty of every country to remove US presence
Sep 27 Qais Khazali said embassies aren’t being targeted in Iraq just US embassy for its occupation
of Iraq
Sep 27 Head of Harakat al-Nujaba said US embassy source of corruption and sabotage in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Sep 27 Protests in 4 parts of Sulaymaniya over delay in govt paying salaries and pay cuts
Sep 28 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Baghdad Airport Some fell short and landed on residential
area Killed 5 civilians and wounded 2
(Musings On Iraq Islamic State And Pro-Iran Groups Both Pick Up Attacks In Iraq In September)
Sep 28 Dist manager in Dohuk said Turkey built 2 new military bases in Zakho area to fight PKK
Sep 29 Report Preliminary parliamentary investigation into Electricity Min contracts from 2005-19
Found up to $30 bil had been lost due to corruption
Sep 29 PM Kazemi spokesman said 19 people arrested for rocket attacks on Green Zone Nothing
happened to them
Sep 29 MP on finance committee said Kazemi govt would send $269 mil to KRG to pay for its govt
workers PUK MP said KRG couldn’t pay workers even with money from Baghdad because in so much debt
Sep 29 Report Iraq needed $6.8 bil for govt salaries and other expenses Was making less than $3
bil/mo from oil 2020 budget never passed because PM Abdul Mahdi resigned Meant govt working on 1/12 rule where could only spend 1/12 of 2019 budget
Sep 30 Iraqi MP warned 3 mil voting cards were missing and could be used to cheat in 2021
election
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi MP Warns Of Potential Voter Fraud In 2021, Does It Matter?)
Sep 30 Hezbollah Al-Nujaba said US embassy was a military target and Iraq would not accept US
occupation
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Sep 30 Report After Abu Muhandis and Quds Force Cmdr Gen Suleimani assassinated in Jan pro-
Iran Hashd changed Many new groups announced that took credit for attacks on US rather than main groups Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Hezbollah al-Nujaba etc
Sep 30 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Irbil from Ninewa
Oct 1 Marches in Baghdad Basra Dhi Qar Muthann Maysan Wasit Kirkuk to mark one year
anniversary of protest movement in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iraqis Mark One Year Anniversary Of Protest Movement And Voice Frustration)
Oct 1 Kazemi govt said it arrested people for rocket attack upon Irbil Nothing happened to them
Oct 2 Report Trump admin reducing ties with Iraq After rocket and IED attacks by pro-Iran groups
on US targets Sec State Pompeo threatened to close US embassy Already reports of personnel being withdrawn from embassy US pushed business deals with Iraq to lower its dependency upon Iranian gas and electricity US companies now said no direction from Trump admin
Oct 2 KDP’s Hoshyar Zebari told Al-Hurra that Hashd should be expelled from Baghdad’s Green
Zone
Oct 2 Parliament’s finance comm said budget deficit was temporary Said no financial crisis in Iraq
Govt couldn’t pay its bills Was late paying govt workers in Sep MPs expected oil prices to go back up and crisis to end
Oct 2 Kazemi govt reversed itself Now denied it had arrested anyone for firing rockets at Irbil
Oct 2 Maysan activist kidnapped in Oct 2019 and never seen again Taken by Hashd faction Human
Rights Comm said 53 protesters missing since Oct 2019
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Oct 2 UN called on Kazemi govt to investigate killings and attacks on women rights activists Basra
activist shot at in Aug Had received threats Women’s rights activist assassinated in Basra days later
(Musings On Iraq Review What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq)
Oct 4 Parliament’s finance committee said Kazemi govt had enough money to pay govt salaries
until end of yr Was 2 wks behind paying salaries Borrowed from Iraqi banks
Oct 4 Report journalist/analyst Hisham al-Hashemi assassinated Jul Asaib Ahl Al-Haq or Kataib
Hezbollah likely culprits because he criticized them Received threats from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Hashemi wrote about growing power of Hashd Had office that received intl grants to build hospitals bridges roads schools Collected $100,000/day from checkpoints around Baghdad Asaib Ahl Al-Haq got $30,000 day from checkpoint between Baghdad and Salahaddin Hashd got land in Ninewa and blocked Christians from returning there Shiite Endowment took 17 religious sites and shrines in Mosul backed by Hashd Controlled oil fields in Ninewa Smuggled 100 tanker/trucks a day from those fields Extorted money from restaurants Hashd trying to take more land in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Expansion of the Hashd al-Shaabi’s influence In Iraq, Interview With Clingendael’s Erwin van Veen)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Oct 4 Activist in Najaf had house bombed
Oct 4 Judicial Council said it got file from Abdul Mahdi govt on killing and kidnapping of
protesters Didn’t name any suspects
Oct 5 Report 2014 Oryx Petroleum started working in KRG Donated $40 mil to Kurdistan
Children’s Hospital in Irbil whose trustees include brother of fmr Dep Pm Shaways Hospital never built Became private for profit hospital with links to Barzani family Audit of hospital found $54.4 mil missing
Oct 5 Report Kataib Hezbollah believed to be behind most rocket attacks in Baghdad Head of
group’s security threatened attacks on US Israel Saudi Arabia When PM Kazemi went to US in Jul Kataib Hezbollah said PM was colluding with occupiers and he would be held accountable 07 Kataib Hezbollah created by Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani to attack US Used Abu Muhandis to form group Got training from Hezbollah and Iran Chief of staff of Hashd Comm from Kataib Hezbollah Controlled offices in Commission Turned Jurf al-Sakhr in Babil into large base Created youth group Supported vilayet al-faqih Ran religious schools Attacked Saudi Arabia May 2019
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Oct 5 Report Govt needed 6.6 tril dinars/mo to cover govt salaries and expenses Was borrowing
from Central Bank to cover wages
Oct 5 PM Kazemi met with protests in Nasiriya Said killers of activists would be held accountable
Nothing happened
Oct 6 PM Kazemi created committee to investigate attacks on Iraqi bases housing US forces
Nothing happened
Oct 6 KRG Teachers’ Union demanded KRG pay salaries on time and in full Teachers in
Sulaymaniya on strike
Oct 6 Protests in Karbala and Dhi Qar over killed demonstrators Hashd beat people in Karbala
Oct 7 Govt workers at Sulaymaniya Education Dir went on strike for KRG not paying salaries
Oct 7 Sadr threatened to have his followers go after protesters after clash with ISF in Karbala
Claimed protesters with IS and Baathists and anti-religious
Oct 8 Report PM Kazemi asked Iran for 40 day ceasefire by pro-Tehran groups to halt attacks on
US targets in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Oct 1-7, 2020)
Oct 8 Report After Mosul fell Abu Muhandis organized distribution of Iranian weapons to pro-Iran
Hashd units Badr minister arranged Iranian shipments Iranian advisers arrived in Iraq Said to control some Hashd units Muhandis later organized Hashd to attack US targets in Iraq Also attacked demonstrators claiming part of US plot
Oct 8 Hashd said more than 70 villages in central Diyala included in security belts to protect them
from IS
Oct 9 Report Fmr UK executive of Unaoil sentenced 3 yrs 4 mo in jail for admitting to paying $17
mil in bribes to Iraqi officials to get contracts to build pipelines offshore mooring buoys
Oct 9 KRG Teachers Council called on all teachers to go on strike over not being paid
Oct 10 Coordinating Committee of the Iraqi Resistance said it would stop attacks upon US and
foreign forces in Iraq to allow them to withdraw Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Oct 8-14, 2020)
Oct 10 Finance Min Allawi said that public employee compensation went from 20% of oil revenues
in 2005 to 120% by 2020 highlighting economic crisis
Oct 10 Kazemi govt presented White Paper on economic reform Talked about improving services
and collecting fees for use Called for increasing agriculture oil natural gas Support private sector Cut govt salaries 12-25% Stop financing pensions from budget Cut aid to public companies Increase taxes and tariffs Never really implemented
Oct 10 Parliament’s finance committee said govt could pay salaries in coming months Said govt
only wanted to borrow money to cover costs and not carry out reforms
Oct 11 Kataib Hezbollah announced Resistance Factions of Hashd agreed on ceasefire to allow US
withdrawal Followed order by Ayatollah Khamenei to halt attacks
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Oct 8-14, 2020)
Oct 11 Report High ranking security source said that PM Maliki made deal to buy 24 Su-25 jets
from Russia in 2014 Never completed Iraq got scraps
Oct 11 Sulaymaniya Real Estate and Tax dept went on strike over not being paid by KRG
Oct 12 PM Kazemi’s cabinet said it started jobs program Was going to help 1.6 mil unemployed
registered with Labor Min Govt in budget crisis due to COVID and low oil prices Could barely pay existing govt workers
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Offering Jobs When It Has No Money To Pay For Them)
Oct 13 Oil Min proposed joint KRG-Baghdad company to run KRG oil sector KRG rejected idea
Oct 14 Kazemi govt closed 12 displaced camps and 2 informal sites PM said he wanted to end
displaced crisis by shutting camps
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Oct 15 Pro-Iran Hashd said truce over attacks on US targets was only temporary Said US had to
fully withdraw from Iraq
Oct 15 Report Govt couldn’t pay most salaries in Sep and Oct Borrowed $12 bil from Iraqi banks to
pay bills in Jun 1st 3 quarters of 2020 Iraq avg $3.43 bil in oil revenues/mo Govt salaries were $4 bil/mo Kazemi govt asked for 2nd borrowing bill from parliament to cover rest of 2020 Said govt expected to earn $3.42 bil/mo from oil for rest of 2020 but had $12.23 bil/mo in expenses Talk of devaluing dinar which would save govt money Would mean pay cut for workers
Oct 17 Pro-Iran Hashd and supporters burned KDP office in Baghdad’s Green Zone after Hoshyar
Zebari said that Hashd should be expelled from Green Zone
Oct 17 12 men kidnapped and 8 of their bodies later found in Balad Salahaddin Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
blamed Provincial officials demanded Hashd withdraw from area
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Oct 15-21, 2020)
Oct 18 Petronas threatened to leave Gharraf oil field after tribes threatened company
Oct 18 MP on legal committee said 3-4 large lists made all the decisions in govt Were negotiating
distributing electoral districts amongst themselves to hold onto power
Oct 18 Report Members of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq arrested for kidnapping and killing civilians in town
in Balad dist Salahaddin
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Oct 18 Report KRG started paying govt salaries but cut by 18% Came after PM Kazemi started
sending monthly budget payments to KRG Jul and Aug salaries cut 21%
Oct 18 PM Kazemi announced new fact finding committee to investigate violence against
protesters Nothing happened
Oct 19 Hashd using Telegram and WhatsApp to recruit Posted on social media against PM Kazemi
for ties with US Several new groups formed most connected to Kataib Hezbollah Aug pro-Iran Hashd burned Dijlah TV for playing music during Ashura Was excuse because station promoted protests Oct 17 Hashd burned KDP HQ in Baghdad after Zebari said Hashd shouldn’t be in Green Zone Members of Rab Allah arrested Threatened to burn Natl Intel Service HQ if men not released
Oct 19 PM Kazemi set up investigation into kidnappings and killings in town in Balad dist
Salahaddin Speaker Halbusi said parliament creating committee 12 MPs from Salahaddin demanded Hashd leave province Nothing happened
Oct 19 Activist received death threats His mentor assassinated outside police station in Maysan
Group counted 44 kidnappings and 74 attempted assassinations in last yr 39 killed since Oct 2019 Reuters talked with 5 activists who were told by police to leave because couldn’t be protected
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Oct 20 Report Integrity Comm arrested ex-Ninewa Gov Aqoub Accused of stealing $64 mil US
sanctioned Aqoub for corruption
Oct 20 Dep Displacement Min said 5 displaced camps in Baghdad and Diyala would be closed Said
would offer money to those that returned home Part of PM Kazemi’s attempt to solve displacement by closing camps
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Latest Iraqi PM To Order The Close Of All Displaced Camps)
Oct 20 Gunmen set fire to protest camps in Babil
Oct 21 Report Jun pro-Iran leaders told Green Zone security chief not to stop Hashd from entering
to protest outside US embassy after Kataib Hezbollah members arrested by Kazemi govt PM Kazemi fired security chief as a result Trump Admin pushed Kazemi to move against pro-Iran Hashd to stop rocket and IED attacks Kazemi has appointed commanders throughout ISF
Oct 21 Think tank report Iraq middle class shrunk from 61% in 2007 to 30% in 2020 Lower class
grew from 22% in 2007 to 60% in 2020 Rich went from 16% in 2007 to 10% in 2020
Oct 21 Report KRG had 5 mil people 1.2 mil are govt workers 40% of them are police and
peshmerga 2020 KRG only paid govt salaries for 6 months Jun KRG announced 21% cut in salaries
Oct 21 Parliament’s finance comm complained about Kazemi govt borrowing to pay govt salaries
Claimed govt had money
Oct 22 Fatah MP said govt didn’t know how many govt workers there were Said due to corruption
Said up to 600,000 ghost employees Didn’t include KRG Said some govt workers got 3 salaries
Oct 22 Report Telegram text messages leaked about media cell run by Iranian Revolutionary Guard
in Baghdad Promoted positive stories about Hashd and Iran Criticized protests
Oct 22 MP said parliament rejected request by Kazemi govt to borrow money Govt in financial crisis
due to drop in oil prices and COVID Couldn’t pay its monthly bills
Oct 23 Report Govt salaries not paid Sep and Oct Salaries were up 400% from 2005 Around
75% of budget went to salaries and pensions
Oct 23 Report Summit Foundation for Refugees and Displaced found more than 32,000 left KRG
since start of 2020 Main reason lack of jobs KRG parliament committee found 14,500 young people left since start of 2020 Unemployment highest amount young
Oct 23 Report Iran smuggled oil through Iraq to get around sanctions Sent oil to Faw in Basra and
mixed in with Iraqi exports
Oct 24 Osama Nujafi formed Iraq Front to oppose Speaker Halbusi preeminent Sunni politician
Included financier Khamis Khanjar and Ahmad al-Jabouri They left and Nujafi’s effort failed
Oct 24 MP on security committee said PM Kazemi kept saying he was forming committees to find
killers of protesters but nothing done
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Oct 25 Demonstrations in Baghdad Basra Maysan Muthanna Diwaniya Najaf Karbala Dhi Qar
Babil Wasit to commemorate 1 yr anniversary of protest movement Clashes and looting in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Anniversary Of Iraq’s Protest Movement Highlights Divisions)
(Musings On Iraq Swan Song Of Iraq’s Protest Movement?)
Oct 25 Sadr said infiltrators tried to push protests towards violence
Oct 25 2 Diwaniya activists kidnapped in Baghdad
Oct 25 Report Hashd blocked people from returning to Baaj Ninewa Took over houses
Oct 25 Parliament’s finance committee said it would start talks with Kazemi govt to cut amount it
was borrowing Govt in economic crisis due to drop in oil prices Had to borrow from Central Bank of Iraq Parliament was against borrowing
Oct 26 Police fired stun guns and tear gas to break up protest in Baghdad Were clashes between
protesters and police in Karbala Police fired live ammo at crowd Protests in Diwaniya and Dhi Qar Basra
Oct 26 Report Activists fled Baghdad for KRG to escape threats by Hashd
Oct 26 Parliament’s finance committee said Iraq running 6 tril dinar deficit/mo Said passing
borrowing law would cut how much govt could borrow Kazemi govt said couldn’t cover govt salaries without borrowing Govt earned 4 tril dinars/mo from oil taxes customs Needed 10 tril dinars to cover govt salaries/pensions
Oct 27 Finance committee MP said govt workers taking double salaries were making 1.5 tril dinars
Were around 150,000 people involved
Oct 27 Report Iran used Iraq to get around sanctions Iran’s Central Bank Gov visited Iraq Asked for
debt settlements in dollars Iraq owed Iran $5 bil Iraq also paid Iran in dollars for electricity imports Reports that Iraq sent dollars to Iran in fake trade deals Banks and Hashd also got money for Iran
Oct 28 Protests in Baghdad Dhi Qar Muthanna Diwaniya Basra over killed demonstrators and
demanding early elections reforms and against corruption
Oct 29 Head of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba threatened to kill US forces in Iraq during press
conference in Tehran Said current attacks on US just fireworks Said wanted revenge for killings of Abu Muhandis and Gen Suleimani
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Oct 29 Protests in Karbala Dhi Qar Wasit demanding accountability for those that killed
demonstrators
Oct 29 Public opinion survey 28% felt protests justified 55% said most protests justified 8% said
most of them were spoilers 2% said all of them were spoilers
Oct 31 Tribes and Hashd extorting money from businesses Petronas threatened to leave Gharraf oil
field after tribes threatened company Armed group raided investment complex in Salahaddin and held workers for 3 hrs Jul PM Kazemi told investors extortion going on Tribes claimed companies operating on their land and demanded money Demanded companies hire their men Many were unskilled
Oct 31 Report IS killed sheikh and booby trapped body in town in Diyala IS operates in 5 empty
villages in central Diyala Around 50 villages in Muqdadiya that are off limits to Iraqi forces
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Oct 31 Protest in Dhi Qar Basra governor ordered ISF to clear sit-in camp Led to clashes
(Musings On Iraq Swan Song Of Iraq’s Protest Movement?)
Nov 1 Protests in Baghdad Karbala Najaf Babil Wasit Diwaniya Basra Dhi Qar Basra Muthanna
Maysan demanding govt reforms
Nov 2 Report COVID and Saudi-Russia oil price war put Iraq into economic crisis 2019 oil revenue
avg $6.5 bil/mo Non-oil revenue less than $1 bil/mo Covered costs but little for investment Aug only avg $3 bil/mo from oil Sep Finance Min Allawi said govt borrowed $3 bil/mo from Central Bank of Iraq Oct Allawi said govt worker compensation went from 20% of oil revenue in 2005 to 120% in 2020 Jun govt couldn’t pay govt salaries Allawi started talking about reforms Wanted to keep govt salaries but cut benefits and other costs Jun cabinet passed austerity measures Parliament rejected them MPs said govt needed to increase non-oil revenues before started austerity Sep govt ran out of money Parliament held up voting on 2nd borrowing bill demanding PM Kazemi issue reform plan 1st Oct govt released White Paper Barely implemented
Nov 3 Report MP on finance comm said oil and taxes couldn’t cover budget deficit Govt ran 1.5
tril dinar deficit/mo for govt salaries Govt wanted to borrow for 1st 3 months of 2021 MPs weren’t convinced needed loans Said govt could borrow from Iraqi banks Govt salaries not paid for 2 months
Nov 6 1 protester killed by ISF breaking up activists trying to re-start sit-in in Basra city Activist
assassinated in Basra Protest in Dhi Qar
Nov 8 Report PM Kazemi Tweeted that his govt would deal with ISF that used live ammo vs
protesters Said violated his order not to use bullets Came after protester killed in Basra Nothing happened
Nov 8 Ninewa Governor said all displacement camps in province would be closed Came after PM
Kazemi decided to close all camps by end of 2020 Didn’t happen
Nov 9 Report Norwegian Refugee Council warned against Kazemi govt plan to close displaced
camps Said Could leave 100,000 homeless Warned people didn’t return home because houses destroyed Almost half people forced to leave camps in Baghdad and Karbala not gone back to home areas
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Nov 12 Foreign Min Hussein said Iraq would buy 400mw of electricity from Saudi Arabia
Nov 12 Parliament passed law allowing $10 bil in borrowing to cover budget deficit Said KRG had
to export oil for Baghdad to receive budget payments Kurdish parties walked out
Nov 12 Report Closing displaced camps ordered by PM Abdul Mahdi start of 2020 but delayed due
to COVID Each returned family supposed to get $1263 from govt
Nov 12 Human Rights Comm said tribes and Hashd were holding land and stopping displaced
returning to their homes
Nov 13 Report When PM Kazemi took office eased COVID restrictions Cases shot up Iraq had 2nd
highest number of infections/deaths in MidEast 19th highest infection rate in world and was probably higher
Nov 13 Report PM Kazemi said he would confront pro-Iran Hashd over attacks on Green Zone
Arrested some Kataib Hezbollah but then immediately released them Sources said PM apologized to Kataib Hezbollah afterward Sent Counter Terror Service to Dhi Qar after activist kidnapped Apologize to tribes afterward
Nov 13 3 reporters arrested by Asayesh in Irbil for reporting on protest
Nov 16 Report Armed groups had hit lists of activists to kill Source in intel agency confirmed hit
lists Killers of activists protected by political parties Activists said investigations into attacks on protests not serious Govt always said perpetrators were unknown which meant nothing would happen
Nov 16 Protests in Basra Diwaniya over wages and calls for justice for protesters killed
Nov 16 Report Shiite parties lost almost half their votes from 2018 to 2021 elections Lost 62 seats
Nasr was down 40% Fatah down 36% Sadr down 24% Hikma down 20% State of Law down 8% 2018 parties got 5 mil votes 2021 got 2.5 mil
Nov 17 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq affiliate fired 7 rockets at Green Zone Killed 1 child Wounded 5 Kataib
Hezbollah threatened to attack Anbar air base unless its fighters freed
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Kataib Hezbollah Likely Behind Latest Rocket Attack Upon Baghdad’s Green Zone)
Nov 17 Report 130,000 displaced from Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr might be settled in Anbar because
will never be allowed back to homes Kataib Hezbollah controlled Jurf al-Sakhr since 2014 Allowed no one back
Nov 18 Report Fmr Leighton Holdings official arrested in Australia on bribery charges Allegedly
involved in $77.6 mil in bribes to South Oil Company and Oil Min officials including fmr Oil Ministers Shahristani and Luaibi
(Musings On Iraq Australian Arrested In Iraqi Corruption Case)
Nov 18 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Green Zone Killed 1 child Wounded 5 others Kataib
Hezbollah said if US troops stayed in Iraq they would be attack then said no reason to strike Green Zone Sayid al-Shuhada said rocket attacks message to US that ceasefire was over Rockets came after 3 members of Kataib Hezbollah arrested for previous rocket strikes
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Nov 19 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s leader Qais Khazali announced that ceasefire with the U.S. was over
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Nov 22 Report Quds Force Cmdr Gen Qaani met with pro-Iran Hashd factions about halting attacks
upon US in Iraq out of fear of Trump retaliation
(Musings On Iraq Iran Warns Its Allies About Attacking US Targets In Iraq)
Nov 22 Report PM Kazemi met with Quds Force Cmdr Gen Qaani Asked him to mediate between
Hashd factions and Al-Fatah list to stop criticism of him and attacks in Baghdad Reports that Iran told Hashd groups to stop increasing tension with US
Nov 23 Oil Ministry said that long term oil contracts would have to be pre-paid Meant to generate
more money for govt Buyers would have to sign 4-5 yr contracts KRG used prepayment system but led to unsustainable debt KRG went more than $1.5 bil debt to oil traders By end of 2019 KRG had $3.441 bil debt Caused by drop in oil prices in 2014-15 just as it started selling future oil sales to traders
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Nov 23 Financial adv to PM Kazemi said Iraq imported 4 tril dinars in goods/mo Needed 7 tril
dinars/mo to cover govt expenses and salaries Govt in econ crisis due to COVID and drop in oil prices
Nov 24 Finance Min Allawi said Iraq remained in economic crisis due to low oil prices Said govt
needed to make more budget cuts Only got 1/10 of borders customs Said border crossings full of corruption Minor clerk positions at crossings sold for $50,000-$100,000 each
Nov 26 Fatah protesters brought down concrete wall outside Green Zone Hashd members then
stepped in and stopped them from storming Green Zone again Were protesting elections which they claimed were fraudulent after poor showing
Nov 27 Sadrists held rallies across Iraq to show support before 2021 elections Claimed they were
the force for political change and reform Followers in Nasiriyah attacked sit-in square Killed 8 and wounded 69
(Musings On Iraq Sadrists Attack And Kill Protesters While Proclaiming They Are The Saviors Of Iraq)
Nov 29 After pro-Iran Hashd tried to kill PM Kazemi with a drone strike Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s
Khazali warned against accusing any Resistance Faction of the attack Said would lead to major crisis Questioned whether PM was even targetåœed
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Nov 29 Report Official said Kataib Sayid al-Shuhada suspected of drone strike œon PM Kazemi
Dec 1 ISF began raids and arrests of activists in Dhi Qar after sit-in square was attacked by Sadrists
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Goes After Activists In Dhi Qar Rather Than Sadrist Killers)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Intervenes To Protect Nasiriya Protesters From Police)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Dec 1 Report Kataib Hezbollah tried to become dominant pro-Iran group Aug 2020 Raba Allah
affiliated group appeared Burned Dijlah TV office in Baghdad Other affiliated groups emerged Attacked opponents of Iran on social media Involved in attacking liquor stores and night clubs
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Dec 2 Kirkuk teachers protested over KRG not paying salaries
Dec 2 Human Rights Watch Kazemi govt said it wanted to close 17 displaced camps holding 60,337
people Warned closing camps was leading to homelessness and poverty
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Dec 3 Protests started again in Sulaymaniya over govt not paying public workers Security forces
used tear gas rubber bullets and water cannons
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 3 Iran cut its natural gas exports to Iraq by 75% Reduced electricity supply in Iraq
Dec 3 Activist assassinated in Maysan
Dec 4 Report 1000s protested in Sulaymaniya over KRG not paying salaries Part of KRG financial
crisis due to mismanaged economy Low oil prices Dispute with Baghdad over oil and budget since 2014 PM Maliki stopped monthly budget payments as a result KRG didn’t pay govt salaries for 2 months Wanted to borrow more to cover salaries Oil prices collapsed putting KRG into billions in debt to oil traders and lenders PM Kazemi made deal with KRG where it was to turn over half its customs revenues in exchange for $271 mil/mo payments Baghdad made 2 payments to KRG but it didn’t send anything in return
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Dec 4 Protests in Dhi Qar that included Sadrists Demonstration in Basra Wasit Diwaniya Baghdad
Dec 5 Report Dep Head of Hashd in Anbar threatened to cut off hands of Anbar Ops cmdr after he
told Hashd not to post pictures of Abu Muhandis PM Kazemi said he was creating commission to look into matter Real dispute over control of border crossings and money they generated
Dec 5 Dep police chief in Maysan assassinated Was investigating Hashd assassination teams
Dec 5 Activist shot and injured in Baghdad Another protester shot at in Najaf IED in front of home
of Dhi Qar activist
Dec 5 Student protests restarted in 4 parts of Sulaymaniya over not getting monthly govt stipends
Dec 5 KDP PUK Gorran Kurdistan Islamic Group Kurdistan Islamic Union offices burned by
protests in Said Sadiq KDP guard killed one demonstrator Asayesh raided media office for covering protests
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 7 Report Intl Coalition dropped Iraqi F-16s from strikes due to mismanagement and corruption at
Balad Air Base Had poor maintenance Most Iraqi pilots disqualified from flying because didn’t get enough training hours because so few jets operational Officials said only 7 F-16s could fly and had to cannibalize parts from others Base declined after Lockheed Martin technicians left due to Hashd attacks on base Returned but then left again after new attacks Iraq denied any problems
Dec 7 Protests in 3 parts of Sulaymaniya over jobs services corruption 1 town KDP PUK Gorran
Kurdistan Islamic Group Kurdistan Islamic Union offices burned 1 protester killed NRT HQ raided for covering protests
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 7 Report Dhi Qar activist said that PM Kazemi’s committee to investigate attacks on protesters
was actually trying to stop demonstrations via arrests
Dec 8 KRG limited Internet to try to stop organizing protests in Sulaymaniya
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 8 8 protesters killed by police in Sulaymaniya Protesting services jobs paying govt salaries
Dec 9 Govt and Gorran offices burned and 1 protester killed in Chamchamal during protests Also
demonstrations in 6 other areas in Sulaymaniya and 2 in Dohuk over jobs services paying govt salaries
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 10 KRG banned protests to try to stop demonstrations in Sulaymaniya
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 11 Over last two days Kurdish security forces killed 7 protesters in Sulaymaniya
(Musings On Iraq Protests In Iraq’s Kurdistan Over Economic Conditions And Mismanagement)
Dec 12 Pro-Iran group fired mortars at Baghdad International Airport
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Dec 8-14, 2020)
Dec 12 Report Oct Iran told Iraqi allies to stop attacks on US fearing retaliation by Trump Admin
Asaib Ahl Al-Haq carried out attacks anyway
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 14 People of God thought to be front group for Kataib Hezbollah said ISF should not protect
liquor stores in Baghdad Nov-Dec seven stores attacked
Dec 14 Sit in protest in Nasiriya ended after reports Sadrists and govt threatening activists 20
arrested in a week
Dec 15 Report Sadr wanted to end protests and pressure Hashd rivals Joined 2019 protests but then
turned on them Joining activists gave him standing with avg Iraqis over other politicians
Dec 15 Jul 2014 Pres Barzani set up commission for KRG independence Sep 2017 referendum held
Was massive failure for KDP and KRG Caused tension between KDP and PUK Barzani resigned KRG accepted Supreme Court that said referendum unconstitutional Tried to repair relations with Baghdad Feb 2020 Bafel and Lahur Talabani named new leaders of PUK 2018 KDP won 45 seats in KRG elections 21 for PUK 12 for Gorran Took 8 months to form new KRG Gorran gave up opposition and aligned with PUK to gain govt positions Tried to repair relations with Iran and Turkey by expanding economic ties and allowing attacks on Kurdish opposition
Dec 15 Activist assassinated in Baghdad
Dec 16 Report Nov-Dec 7 liquor stores attacked 4 of them were bombed in Baghdad Nov massage
center attacked Jun Kataib Hezbollah leader Tweeted support for attacks on liquor stores Nov Sadrists marched in Tahrir Square and burned alcohol bottles and warned about selling liquor
Dec 16 Report Some believed attacks on liquor stories done by pro-Iran groups to try to control
business Over last month 15 stores in Baghdad bombed Most run by Christians and Yazidis
Dec 16 Parliament’s security comm expected increase in assassination attempts on activists Said
hit lists were being circulated Dec 15 activist killed in Baghdad Another activist released after being kidnapped and tortured Forced to say that protesters were trained at US Embassy
Dec 16 Report Talked with displaced forced out of camp in Ninewa Said went home and found
homes destroyed 75% said didn’t want to go home as a result 34,000 displaced forced out of 11 camps closed by Kazemi govt Govt wanted to close 3 more with 26,000 displaced Are 180,000 in 25 camps in KRG that didn’t follow order
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Dec 17 Report Head of farmers union in NDiyala said that 60% of farmers in village lost orchards due
to IS attacks Couldn’t go into fields due to lack of security
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Dec 17 Report Since Aug 19 activists assassinated 7 kidnapped Another 29 assassination attempts
Baghdad Basra Dhi Qar had most incidents Led to 200 activists bloggers journalists fleeing to KRG Turkey Lebanon
Dec 19 Iraq devalued dinar to help deal with economic crisis
Dec 20 Rockets fired at Baghdad’s Green Zone Some missiles fell short and wounded a U.S. soldier
Claimed was revenge for Hashd killed in US air strike in Jan Would lead to arrests of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq members
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Dec 15-21, 2020)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 20 Report Alcohol shops forced to pay bribes to Hashd or be attacked Last 2 months shops
attacked and 3 owners killed
Dec 20 Report MPs said they would not allow PM Kazemi to cut govt salaries or pensions Said they
would get rid of most austerity measures Draft budget included 50% cut in govt salaries due to economic crisis
Dec 21 ISF arrested Azirjawi commander of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s missile unit and 3 other members
for Dec 20 and Sep rocket attacks on Green Zone
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Kazemi Might Finally Be Standing Up To Pro-Iran Groups)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 22 Asayesh closed NRT office in Irbil and Sulaymaniya with no warrant for covering protests
Dec 22 2 activists had houses bombed in Dhi Qar Blamed Sadrists
Dec 22 Trump pardoned 4 Blackwater guards convicted in 2007 of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in
Baghdad
Dec 23 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq cmdr and 3 other members arrested for rocket attacks on Green Zone
Nothing happened to them Would start threats and protests by Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 23 Trump threatened Iran after attack on Green Zone Said rockets came from Iran Said if one
American killed US would retaliate
Dec 24 Report Iranian Rev Guard Quds Force Cmdr Qaani recently visited Baghdad to warn pro-
Iran Hashd factions to stop attacks on Americans in Iraq out of fear of Trump retaliation
(Musings On Iraq Iran Warns Its Allies About Attacking US Targets In Iraq)
Dec 25 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq posted videos of armed men on social media Then had men hit streets of
Baghdad Said waiting for leader Khazali to give word and they would attack Interior Min and free members arrested Dec 21 for rocket attacks on Green Zone
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 25 PM Kazemi deployed Counter Terror Service to Baghdad to respond to Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
threats and put Federal Police on alert Tweeted that he was ready to take on outlaws threatening his govt
Dec 25 National Sec Adv Araji held talks with Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and got it to back down from
threats vs PM Kazemi
Dec 25 Asabi Ahl Al-Haq leader Khazali said that tensions with Kazemi govt had been resolved but
pro-Iran groups had right to attack Americans Kataib Hezbollah said it would cut off Kazemi’s ears
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Kazemi Might Finally Be Standing Up To Pro-Iran Groups)
Dec 26 PM Kazemi backed down in confrontation with Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and released members
arrested for Baghdad rocket attacks
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Kazemi Might Finally Be Standing Up To Pro-Iran Groups)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 26 Khataib Hezbollah held parade in Baghdad over members killed by US airstrike in 2019
Threatened to cut PM Kazemi’s ears off over confrontations with Hashd
Dec 26 Report Judicial Council was investigating Central Bank of Iraq and 13 private banks for
money laundering and terrorist financing Central Bank sold dollars in auctions which were bought using fake invoices to launder money Because elite also manipulated auctions and laundered money problem never fixed
Dec 27 Report Iran cut natural gas exports to Iraq from 50 mil cub meters to 5 mil Iraq lost around
6550mw of electricity as a result
Dec 27 PM Kazemi sent delegation to Iran to ask for help with Hashd factions firing rockets at
Green Zone and Iraqi bases
Dec 28 Report Iran said it cut natural gas exports to Iraq because it was owed more than $6 bil $3
bil was blocked due to sanctions $2 bil was overdue $1 bil was for breaking contract
Dec 28 Report 10 power stations closed due to cut in natural gas imports from Iraq and lack of
spare parts
Dec 28 Report KRG Dep PM Q Talabani said KRG would export 250,000 bar/day in oil for
Baghdad in return for monthly budget payments KRG made same deal multiple times and never fulfilled promise
Dec 29 Dhi Qar activist’s house bombed
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Dec 29 Report 24 hrs after Interior Min met with ISF in Basra they attacked protesters demanding
jobs in oil industry
Dec 30 Hashd leader Abu Muhandis met with Kataib Hezbollah Cmdr in Iran’s Quds Force
Dep Natl Sec Adv and Babylon Brigades leader Agreed to have Kataib Hezbollah men march on US embassy in Green Zone Muhandis told Natl Sec Adv Falah Fayad of plan Quds Force cmdr Gen Suleimani asked Badr head Amiri and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq leader Khazali to take part Adv to PM Abdul Mahdi said he was open to letting protest into Green Zone Discussed attacking embassy Some wanted to storm embassy and take hostages Some wanted Iraq to cut diplomatic relations with US Aftermath of US strike on Kataib Hezbollah
Dec 30 Trump met with natl sec team He decided to kill Gen Suleimani in retaliation for Pro-Iran
groups’ attacks on Americans 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 31 Pres Salah said constant crises in Iraq showed structural problems with govt Said political
system created after 2003 was broken and didn’t serve the public
2021
Jan 1 Mine found on oil tanker near Khor al-Zubayr port in Basra Experts said mine made by
Iranian Revolutionary Guard
(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)
Jan 2 Iran unhappy with new Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani Didn’t have connections with Iraqis
that Gen Suleimani had Only met with Iraqis a few times Iraqi politicians said Qaani only gave orders and delivered messages Qaani worked in Afghanistan beforehand Quds Force commanded Hashd units during war vs IS Had Hashd attack opponents in Iraq Talked about getting rid of some Hashd units and merging others Then protests started and Suleimani assassinated Abu Muhandis gave Iran $100-$135 mil/mo by stealing money from Hashd Comm Muhandis used Qi Qard to steal money from govt salaries and ghost Hashd Raised another $10-$15 mil Iran couldn’t fund Hashd anymore Hashd got into smuggling Charging taxes at checkpoints Drug trade Land ownership Businesses Competition between Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Harakat al-Nujaba over leadership of Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Jan 4 Report Kazemi govt couldn’t pay govt salaries for months in 2020 Govt salaries and
pensions were around $5 bil/mo Govt workers tripled since 2004 Around 40% of workforce employed by govt Used for political patronage Couldn’t provide jobs for 700,000 people who entered workforce each year Dec devalued diner which increased prices because Iraq relied upon imports Dec Iran cut electricity and natural gas supplies to Iraq that led to power shortages Couldn’t pay bills because of US sanctions on Iran Iraq going through foreign reserves to pay bills IMF predicted that Iraqi economy would shrink -11% in 2020
Jan 4 Report Pro-Iran Hashd changed tactics in 2020 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Harakt
al-Nujaba stopped taking public credit for attacks on US in Iraq 9 new groups announced who said carried out attacks
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Jan 4 Report Half the ISF in Diyala ghost employees Officers got half the salaries in return for
letting them stay on leave Defense Min replaced 2 high ranking commanders in NEDiyala
Jan 4 Report Parliamentary comm said $239 bil sent out of Iraq illegally since 2003
Jan 5 KRG suspended salaries of 10,609 govt workers getting more than one salary Suspended
21,588 for that offense
Jan 5 Head of New Generation said he was beat by KDP MPs during KRG parliament session
after he demanded Natural Resource Min answer questions
Jan 5 ISF intel arrested Dhi Qar activist for burning tires during demonstrations
Jan 5 Report Adv to PM Kazemi said Iran’s Gen Suleimani felt like he ran Iraq and came
and left as he pleased without a visa Pro-Iran Sabreen News said groups would take care of adviser Fatah demanded advisor be fired and charged in court
Jan 6 PUK accused KDP of shutting it out of KRG administration Blamed KRG-Baghdad
problems on KDP
Jan 7 Activist in Nasiriya arrested as part of govt crackdown on protests Restarted demonstrations
in city
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Intervenes To Protect Nasiriya Protesters From Police)
Jan 8 Head of Hashd Comm Falah Fayad sanctioned by US for human rights abuses vs protesters
and corruption
Jan 8 2nd day of protests in Nasiriya demanding release of activist arrested Jan 7 Police fired tear
gas to break up crowd Lawyer/activist had house broken into and killed
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Intervenes To Protect Nasiriya Protesters From Police)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jan 8 Report Dec 2020 Transportation Min signed deal with Daewoo to build Faw Port Project 1st
brought up in 1978 then stalled Daewoo finished 1st stage of port Then Hashd demanded Chinese company take over project that had no experience building ports Hashd organized protest outside Transportation Min demanding Chinese company get deal Oct body of Daewoo manager found hanged in Basra under suspicion it was a murder
Jan 9 3rd day of protests in Nasiriya demanding release of activist arrested Jan 7 Police fired live
bullets into crowd but they were able to take Haboubi Sq Solidarity marches in Wasit Diwaniya Babil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Intervenes To Protect Nasiriya Protesters From Police)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jan 9 Activist’s body found dismembered after being kidnapped
Jan 9 Displacement Min said it would close all the displaced camps in 2021 Said had
comprehensive plan for return while previous govts had none Claimed 100% of displaced voluntarily returned Said it was rebuilding areas provided jobs reconciliation Intl Rescue Comm said some were forced to leave camps Said most had no homes jobs infrastructure Govt had no plan other than close camps Didn’t close all
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Jan 10 4th day of protests in Nasiriya demand release of activist arrested Jan 7 Police used live fire
to disperse crowd Army unit arrived to protect demonstrators from police 1 policeman killed
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Army Intervenes To Protect Nasiriya Protesters From Police)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jan 10 Report KRG said it paid govt workers 8 of 12 months in 2020 Baghdad covered 36% of
those payments Skipped paying workers Apr Jul Sep Nov
Jan 11 1000s protested in Baghdad Called for reforms jobs ending corruption ISF closed protest
square in Dhi Qar
Jan 11 Australian police charged 2nd oil executive for paying $78 mil in bribes in Iraq to get
contracts Was executive from Leighton Holdings
Jan 13 US sanctioned Hashd Commission chief of staff Abu Fadak from Kataib Hezbollah Said he
was involved in rocket attacks on US targets in Iraq Helped train Bahrani terrorists Fought in Syria Fadak led Hashd protest into Green Zone after Kataib Hezbollah members arrested by PM Kazemi for rocket attack on Green Zone
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Groups Name New Acting Head Of Hashd)
Jan 13 Report after Tikrit freed in 2015 armed groups kidnapped 707 people Eventually more than
10,000 went missing 4 armed groups accused Some believed to be held in secret prisons Was referring to pro-Iran Hashd
Jan 14 Report World Food Programme said 2.6 mil Iraqis not eating enough in 2020 Food
insufficiency mostly due to poverty rate which was around 40% Much higher figure than govt
Jan 15 Grenade thrown at activist’s house in Dhi Qar
Jan 15 Report Displacement Min said it would close all displaced camps in 2021 Said there was a
plan to return people Said previous govts had no plan Over last 6 months 66,600 displaced returned home 29 of 76 camps still open Said would increase food rations to displaced Claimed 100% voluntary returns Claimed it was rebuilding homes providing jobs helping reconciliation Intl Rescue Comm said some people were forced to leave camps Said many displaced had no homes no jobs infrastructure destroyed economy bad in home areas
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Jan 15 Dual suicide bombing in central Baghdad left 32 dead 110 wounded Last such deadly
incident occurred in same neighborhood in Jan 2018
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Jan 15-21, 2021)
Jan 16 Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy counted 385 violations against
journalists in 2020 in KRG Said KRG took harsh measures to silence press freedom and dissent 163 journalists and outlets stopped from reporting 74 arrests 48 reporters threatened and assaulted 4 channels shut down 4 journalists imprisoned
Jan 16 Report After US sanctioned Hashd Comm head Falah Fayad and his deputy Abu Fadak
Fayad told Hashd Kazemi responsible Some Hashd leaders asked Kazemi to write a letter saying he rejected sanctions otherwise they would consider him an enemy Kazemi refused not wanting problems with US
Jan 18 Report Foreign Min Hussein said rocket attacks on Green Zone embarrassed the govt Said
people were arrested for some of the attacks Asked Iran to help stop rockets Warned US might take action if its embassy was hit
Jan 18 Head of PUK bloc in parliament said KRG would export 250,000 bar/day of oil for Baghdad
as part of budget in return for monthly payments It didn’t sell the oil
Jan 19 Report After Gen Suleimani and Muhandis killed by US Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba all competed to take over leadership of Hashd Kataib Hezbollah appeared to be behind IED attacks on convoys working for US Asaib Ahl Al-Haq used front group to fire rockets at Green Zone Oct 2019 Hashd began creating front groups to hide responsibility for attacks on US in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Jan 19 2 political parties formed out of protest movement 1 registered to run in next elections
Jan 20 Report Since 2003 Iraq’s industry declined Insecurity corruption negligence lack of
protections cheap imports all contributed PM Kazemi said industry needed to be revived Govt had plan to rebuild 12 factories Nothing happened
Jan 20 Report Pro-Iran groups launched Internet campaigns against activists Many accounts had
pictures of Iran’s Gen Suleimani or related to Kataib Hezbollah Some run by political parties
Jan 21 Tribes accused Hashd of killing dozens of civilians in Salahaddin after mass grave found in
south with more than 50 bodies Accused Hashd of kidnapping people after freed areas from IS
Jan 21 Police raided school in Nasiriya to arrest protesters PM Kazemi apologized for what
happened
Jan 21 Gorran MP said $78 bil had been taken out of 46 banks and laundered since Mar 2016
Included $12 bil from 4 banks in KRG
Jan 22 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Baghdad International Airport Some fell short and hit
residential area
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Jan 22-28, 2021)
Jan 23 New militia group Alwiya Alwaad Al-Haq took responsibility for drone attack upon Riyad,
Saudi Arabia
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Jan 24 Qi Card head Hussein found guilty of abusing public funds Qi Cards used to distribute
govt salaries and pensions Up to 70,000 fake Hashd fighters registered to company allegedly by Abu Muhandis to steal money
(Musings On Iraq Qi Card Allegedly Involved In Ghost Hashd Fighter Scheme)
Jan 26 MP from Kurdistan Islamic Union said 43,000 Peshmerga on duty but 200,000 got salaries
Said Coalition aid to Peshmerga was taken by political parties Said PUK and KDP not interested in unifying Peshmerga or carrying out any reforms
Jan 27 Electricity supply down in all provinces due to Iran stopping natural gas supplies end of
2020 Caused power production in Iraq to drop by 1/3 IS has been attacking infrastructure Blew up power lines in Diyala Ninew Salahaddin Anbar that cut power in Ninewa Salahaddin Kirkuk Diyala
Jan 28 KRG began paying workers but with 21% pay cut
Jan 28 PM Kazemi announced death of deputy head of IS Issawi Killed by Counter Terror Service in
Kirkuk Was Wali of Iraq 17 of his associates found in Kirkuk and Salahaddin over last 5 months
Jan 28 Mosul’s Old City still in ruins Bodies still pulled from rubble Explosives still around People
tried to sell property but no buyers
Jan 28 Activsts house bombed in Dhi Qar
Jan 29 Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Kataib Hezbollah working in west Syria Got new
missiles from Iran
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jan 29 Report 2 drone strikes on Saudi Arabia Could have come from Kataib Hezbollah’s base in
Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr Pro-Iran channels in Iraq supported attacks
Jan 31 Iraq ranked 8th most corrupt country out of 179 in Transparency International’s Corruption
Perceptions Index
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Ranked In Bottom 10 In World In Corruption Index)
(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 31 Report Head of parliament’s finance committee rejected cutting govt salaries Agreed to
income tax but at lower % Cutting salaries major part of attempt to fight budget deficit caused by drop in oil prices
Feb 4 Report Hashd raided a ship off of Basra Part of pressure campaign to force companies to pay
them extortion money
Feb 4 Report Iraqi cmdr said IS rebuilding in Hamrin area between Salahaddin Diyala Kirkuk
Rugged environment provided cover for insurgency Women moved money food and messages for group
Feb 5 Clash between protesters and ISF in Nasiriya Demanded to know what happened to
kidnapped activist Another activist kidnapped in Karbala
Feb 5 Parliament’s finance com got rid of cuts to govt salaries and pensions in draft budget Did cut
presidencies budget by 20% Cut borrowing as well Increased budget for development Increased social and security spending Parliament refused to make budget cuts during economic crisis due to drop in oil prices
Feb 7 Protest in Dhi Qar over kidnapped activist Protester shot by gunmen in Nasiriya
Feb 8 Babil activist wounded in assassination attempt Sadrists blamed Protest square in Najaf
attacked 3 activists assassinated in Dhi Qar
Feb 10 KRG PM Barzani said journalists and activists who had been arrested during 2020 protests
were spies
(Musings On Iraq Latest Example Of Lack Of Media Freedom In Iraq’s Kurdistan)
Feb 11 Activists house bombed while another wounded in assassination attempt in Dhi Qar 1
protester killed in Wasit demanding governor resign
Feb 11 Report KRG said it started reviewing its oil contracts Said open to re-negotiating them Said
would turn over all its oil export revenue to Baghdad if Baghdad paid for production transportation and KRG’s debts Didn’t happen
Feb 11 Displacement Min said 10 displaced camps in KRG would close soon KRG said that wasn’t
happening Baghdad had no authority over camps in KRG
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Feb 12 Exxon sold stake in Bashiqa field Was one of 6 deals signed with KRG in Nov 2011
Exxon now only working on two blocks
(Musings On Iraq Exxon Withdraws From Another Oil Deal With Iraq’s Kurdistan)
Feb 13 Wasit police filed 80 complaints against protesters Wanted damages from activists
Feb 14 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba said Turkey violated Iraq’s
sovereignty with its forces in KRG Said quasi-occupation Called on Turkey to withdraw Justification for rocket attacks on Turkish bases in Ninewa
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Feb 14 Fmr Public Works Min Gharib from 2006-10 given 2 yrs for manipulating $25 mil in
contracts Dir Gen of ministry also given prison term
Feb 15 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Irbil Airport Half missed and landed on residential area 2
civilians killed 8 wounded including a US soldier Asaib Ahl Al-Haq might’ve been responsible
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Feb 15-21, 2021)
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Feb 15 Report 10 arrested for killing 2 activists 2 journalists and a director Also attacked Basra
governor’s house Attempted to assassinate a police colonel Extorted money from oil companies in Basra Attacked logistical convoys working for US 1 was a police commissioner 3 were govt workers Were part of a Hashd group
Feb 16 2 journalists given 6 yrs in prison in KRG for reporting on 2020 protests Claimed their
confessions were faked and forced Part of KRG crackdown on journalists and activists
(Musings On Iraq Latest Example Of Lack Of Media Freedom In Iraq’s Kurdistan)
Feb 20 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at Balad Air Base in Salahaddin wounding 2 contractors
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Feb 15-21, 2021)
Feb 11 Integrity Commission said 63 ministers had been accused of corruption Only 4 were
convicted
(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)
Feb 22 Police fired into protesters in Nasiriya killing two despite PM Kazemi order that live ammo
not be used on demonstrations Were demanding governor resign
(Musings On Iraq 3 Protesters Killed By Police In Dhi Qar)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Feb 23 Report State Dept spokesman said US would hold Iran responsible for any proxy attacks upon
Americans in Iraq Came after rocket attack upon Irbil
Feb 24 Report Dec 2020 7 protesters killed by KRG security forces Protested over economy and govt
workers not being paid Party offices were attacked and burned KRG arrested organizers and shut down TV stations for covering demonstrations Feb 2021 5 journalists and activists given 6 yrs in prison each for reporting and participating in protests Sign of restricted democracy and limited free speech in KRG Since 2014 KRG’s economy broken down and leading to splits between public and KDP-PUK 2015 austerity measures started which cut down on govt jobs available for youth especially those not connected to KDP-PUK
Feb 24 Report Sunni politicians have been courting Gulf States and Saudis for money for 2021
election Wanted to run as one list but hard because of factionalism Were 2 main lists One led by Speaker Halbusi backed by Saudis Another led by Khanjar backed by Qatar and Turkey Osama Nujafi lost his backing
Feb 24 Report Feb 15 Irbil hit by rockets Asaib Ahl Al-Haq appeared to be responsible Kataib
Hezbollah criticized attack Asaib Ahl Al-Haq appeared angry Iran was calling for stop to attacks
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Feb 25 Police fired into crowd in Nasiriya killing one despite PM Kazemi order that live ammo not
be used on demonstrations Was 3rd killed in city Were demanding governor resign
(Musings On Iraq 3 Protesters Killed By Police In Dhi Qar)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Feb 25 Report 90% of money smuggled out of Iraq done by politicians and govt officials
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Touts Reforms That Haven’t Happened To Claim Economic Crisis Over)
Feb 25 Report Jan drone attack on Saudi Arabia came from Iraq Awliya Waad al-Haq claimed
responsibility Said it was revenge for Jan bombings in Baghdad
Feb 26 Police fired into crowd in Nasiriya killing 6 Total 12 killed Were demanding governor
resign Iraq Human Rights Comm said situation was out of control and govt doing nothing
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Feb 26 Dhi Qar governor resigned over deadly protests that wanted him out PM Kazemi assigned
National Security Agency head Asadi as interim governor
(Musings On Iraq After 6 More Protesters Killed PM Kazemi Seeks To Control Explosive Situation In Dhi Qar)
Feb 26 US hit Kataib Hezbollah camp along Iraq-Syria border in retaliation for attacks upon US
targets in Iraq 1 KH member killed
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Feb 27 Resistance factions of pro-Iran Hashd threatened to retaliate against US for strike against
Kataib Hezbollah camp Gave ultimatum to PM Kazemi to take action against US
Feb 27 Head of Harakat Al-Nujaba’s political council threatened Foreign Min Hussein Said he didn’t
understand politics or the Resistance and didn’t want to be part of Iraq because he was a Kurd Was response to Hussein saying there was no resistance in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Feb 27 Report PM Kazemi said appointing Nat Sec Adv Asadi governor of Dhi Qar would bring
about major changes Said would investigate protests and attacks on demonstrators Activists said since Crisis Cell Kazemi created in Dec 2020 were 35 bombings and assassinations in province
Feb 28 Asayesh charged journalist for defaming it due to comments made at his trial where he was
given 6 yrs in prison for reporting on protests
Feb 28 Police fired at protesters in Najaf Protest in Dhi Qar
Mar 1 Protests in Baghdad Maysan Basra in support of demonstration in Dhi Qar after 6 protesters
killed by police gunfire
Mar 1 Report Iraq started sending 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to Lebanon even though deal over
deliveries not completed Lebanon would pay in Lebanese dollars that could only be spent in Lebanon Iraq was supposed to buy Lebanese goods and services with money Iraqi fuel couldn’t be used in Lebanon’s power plants Lebanon would have to trade Iraqi fuel for usable fuel
Mar 2 With price for Iraqi crude passing $60/barrel PM Kazemi claimed economic collapse was
over and White Paper which was never implemented led to important reforms
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Touts Reforms That Haven’t Happened To Claim Economic Crisis Over)
Mar 4 KRG Security Council claimed 5 jailed journalists and activists were connected to PKK
Claimed had weapons training Were imprisoned for protesting KRG and reporting on protests Part of move by KDP/KRG to crackdown on dissent
Mar 4 Report 2 leaders of death squads in Basra had warrants for them but not arrested Escaped to
Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr Kataib Hezbollah military base Used front companies and businessmen allowed them to operate Feb PM Kazemi said some death squads arrested in Basra and involved in killing of journalist and activist Some parties pushed for their release Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq controlled deaths quads
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 4 10 Dhi Qar police arrested for killing protesters
Mar 5 Pope visited Iraq
Mar 5 Report Majority of KRG Security Council objected to statement that said 5 journalists/activists
arrested were connected to PKK claimed statement was political move by KDP
Mar 8 Report Feb Irbil airport hit by rockets Killed Iraqi and Filipino contractor KRG arrested 2 for
attack who said they worked for Kataib Sayid al-Shuhada Front group claimed responsibility Asaib Ahl Al-Haq might have been in command of attack Later Ain Al-Assad base hit by rockets
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Mar 9 Son of activist kidnapped in Baghdad Note left saying activist had to return to Baghdad to get
his son back Protests in Dhi Qar
Mar 10 Farmers in Jalawla sub-dist in NEDiyala said Hashd were bulldozing fields to make
security zones Was supposed to be stopped but continued
Mar 10 Gunmen assassinated father of kidnapped lawyer/activist in Maysan Protest in Diwaniya
demanding release of arrested activists
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Mar 11 Sadr called for protecting protesters Said he was against kidnapping and assassinating
activists Sadr had followers join protests then turned on them and attacked them Now tried to reconcile with them
Mar 11 Protests in Maysan and Muthanna after activist assassinated in Maysan
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Mar 12 Protests in Dhi Qar demanding accountability for assassination of activist Protest in Najaf
demanding governor be dismissed
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Mar 13 Report Hashd factions in Albu Dora Salahaddin blocking displaced from returning
Controlled trade Extorted money from people Controlled fishing and farms south of Tikrit
Mar 15 Report Split within protest movement over whether to take part in elections or boycott
Mar 21 Court issued warrants for 2 critics of PM Kazemi govt Charged with insulting govt
institutions
Mar 22 Report constant attacks on activists Hampered organizing political parties for election
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Mar 24 Report PM Kazemi’s anti-corruption comm was going to issue warrants for 7 senior Hashd
leaders and 5 others for assassinations currency smuggling corruption Shiite parties got Kazemi to stop
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Touts Reforms That Haven’t Happened To Claim Economic Crisis Over)
Mar 25 Rab Allah held parade in Baghdad with 40-50 vehicles and weapons against PM Kazemi
and devaluation of dinar Threatened to cut off Kazemi’s ear Part of Kataib Hezbollah
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Mar 25 Report Sallyport had $2 bil contract with Pentagon to service Balad Air Base since 2014
Fuel trucks to base were being attacked by Hashd Advisers to company Mantid Intl suggested deal with Iraqi company connected to PM Abadi and Dawa Sallyport signed another fuel deal with company run by Balad base commander and National Sec Adv Fayad who got Hashd to stop attacks on trucks Sallyport said Balad cmdr stole over $1 mil in equipment from base Sallyport signed another deal with company connected to Maliki
(Musings On Iraq PM Maliki Accused Of Taking Kickbacks On Defense Contract)
(Musings On Iraq US Company Paid Off PM Maliki To Service And Rob Iraqi Military Base)
(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)
Mar 25 Warrant issued for fmr Babil Gov Abadi for falsifying docs on land grants meant for
martyr families and Saddam era political prisoners Mar 2020 sentenced to 7 yrs in prison for forging ID papers but never sent to jail
Mar 27 Pro-Iran Hashd gave ultimatum to PM Kazemi to take action against US for Feb airstrikes
against Hashd
Mar 28 Report Pro-Iran Hashd controlled many border points to earn money Finance Min Allawi
said govt officials political parties gangs and businessmen worked together to steal from border crossings Hashd and political parties had own tariffs on trade Border agents inspectors police took bribes from companies that wanted to skip official tariffs Mandali crossing with Iran controlled by Badr Kataib Hezbollah controlled cigarette trade Zerbatiya crossing with Iran controlled by Asaib Ahl Al-Haq PM Kazemi tried to take control of crossings with little effect Kataib Hezbollah used to control Baghdad Airport Expelled but still controlled air shipments
(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)
(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)
Mar 28 Peshmerga brigade in Sulaymaniya protested over not being paid for 2 months KRG
couldn’t pay bills due to disputes with Baghdad over oil and budget Reporter arrested for covering protest
Mar 28 Dhi Qar protest organizer escaped assassination attempt
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Mar 29 Report Competition to get security contracts for convoys carrying supplies for US Some
attacks on convoys part of negotiations to get hired Security companies connected to political parties Gang connected to Asaib Ahl Al-Haq arrested in Basra for bombing convoys but more than half escaped thanks to AAH
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Apr 1 Muthanna activist kidnapped Hashd blamed
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Apr 3 Iraq and Lebanon agreed to oil deal Iraq would send oil Lebanon would pay with medical
services Lebanese govt didn’t control those services and couldn’t use Iraq’s crude for its power plants Would use Iraqi oil to buy petroleum from companies
(Musings On Iraq Iraq-Lebanon Sign Trade Deal That Doesn’t Make Any Sense)
Apr 3 Bomb went off at ceremony for killed protesters in Dhi Qar 3 injured
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Apr 4 Gunmen shot at home of activist in Babil
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Apr 4 Report provincial budgets KRG 10.9 tril dinars Dhi Qar 1.3 tril dinars Babil 1.1 tril dinars
Diyala 867 bil dinars Najaf 757 bil dinars Diwaniay 732 bil dinars Karbala 704 bil dinars Wasit 653 bil dinars Maysan 478 bil dinars Muthanna 376 bil dinars Ninewa 124 bil dinars Anbar 95 bil dinars Salahaddin 68 bil dinars Budgets used to be based upon population now politics with Sunni provinces getting least amount of money
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Dumps Economics Reform And Fiscal Responsibility With 2021 Budget)
Apr 6 PM Kazemi said he wouldn’t run in 2021 vote Still wanted to be PM
Apr 7 Report Rab Allah that threatened to cut ears off PM Kazemi part of Kataib Hezbollah Oct
2020 attacked KDP office in Baghdad Nov attacked massage parlors in Baghdad
Apr 7 Report Quds Force Cmdr Gen Qani told Hashd leaders to stop attacks on US in Iraq Wanted
to revive nuclear deal Factions didn’t listen
Apr 7 Joint Ops Command investigation into killing of protesters in Dhi Qar in Feb released 7
police officers arrested as a result Said regimental commander should be sent to court
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Apr 8 Sayid al-Shuhada Brigade attacked massage center in Baghdad after owner Tweeted
about brigade commander
Apr 12 KRG Finance Min Janab told KRG parliament govt didn’t have money to pay govt salaries
even if KRG got its share of 2021 budget Said budget cuts needed KRG missed paying salaries 5 times Oct 2020 PM Barzani told parliament KRG had $28 bil debt $7.25 bil owed to foreign/domestic loans $8.96 bil owed in salaries $3.91 bil owed to Trade Bank of Iraq and Kurdistan Intl Bank
Apr 13 IS started Ramadan offensive Lethality of attacks down due to lack of resources and
inexperienced members
Apr 14 Pro-Iran groups launched drone strike on Irbil airport hangar used by CIA Fired rockets at
Turkish army base in KRG
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Apr 15 Pro-Iran groups fired rockets at Turkish base in Dohuk Killed 1 Turkish soldier
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Apr 15-21, 2021)
Apr 15 Report Aug 2019 Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi named Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi
his successor Was born in Ninewa in a Turkman town Iraqi intel said he was kept away from the front to protect him Was judge and supervised Dept of Soldiers Set up institute to train judges and clergymen in Mosul when city occupied by IS He supported enslaving Yazidis He claimed he joined ISI in 2007
Apr 16 Over $1 mil found in IS hideout in Ninewa Used by IS’s Finance Office
Apr 18 Iraq Human Rights Commission said ISF carrying out arbitrary arrests and torture mostly in
Sunni areas Denying family visits to prisons
Apr 20 Iran’s fmr ambassador to Iraq said that attacks on US forces in Iraq would continue until all
Americans withdrew from country
Apr 20 PM Kazemi suspended order by Finance Min to tax govt salaries Was part of economic
reform program to deal with financial crisis due to collapse of oil prices
Apr 21 Report Exxon wanted to sell its stake in West Qurna 1 to 2 Chinese companies Oil Min
wanted Exxon to buy stake but uninterested Exxon originally had 60% share in West Qurna 1 after won bid in 2009 Exxon sold part of its shares in 2013 2018 Shell sold its shares Part of major oil companies withdrawing from Iraq due to red tape slow payments lack of infrastructure
Apr 22 Report Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq created new groups and posted them on
Telegram to carry out attacks upon US targets in Iraq Mar 2020-March 2021 26 new groups appeared Used Telegram and Sabereen News to publicize groups and attacks
(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)
Apr 22 PM Kazemi cancelled 1,128 projects Said any project with 0-35% completion rate or
missed deadlines would be stopped
Apr 23 Iraq signed deal with Total for gas hub and infrastructure Water pumping for oil fields
Solar power plant No details No discussion of finances Didn’t give Total exclusive rights Oil Min originally signed deal with Exxon for water pumping but fell apart because Iraq couldn’t pay for it
Apr 23 Report Kazemi govt tried to shut down all displaced camps in Iraq Had no real plan for
those that couldn’t return home
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Apr 23 Human Rights Watch report Said conviction of 3 journalists in KRG in Feb for organizing
illegal protests flawed 2 held without sufficient evidence KRG PM Barzani accused them of being spies and saboteurs before trial
Apr 23 9 new political parties met in Babil to talk about elections and forming coalition to
represent protests 1 was Imtidad that would win seats in parliament Banned Communists for being part of establishment
Apr 26 Report Large lists deliberately not registering candidates Election Comm already extended
deadline twice Most ruling parties against early elections Part of delaying strategy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Parties Try To Delay 2021 Vote Again)
Apr 28 Report World Food Org found Yazidis returning to Sinjar and then leaving Lack of
rebuilding services community reconciliation and jobs stopped people from going back
May 3 Parliament’s education comm said 90% of graduate degrees from abroad were forged MP
said people paid bribes to get degrees
May 3 Kataib Sayid al-Shuhada split from Kataib Hezbollah Worked with Iran 2008 designated as
global terrorist group by US Oct 2014 it threatened Saudi Arabia July 2018 said it would send fighters to Yemen Claimed attacks on US in Iraq
May 3 Report MPs threatening to amend election law over new district voting Start of attempts to
delay early vote by ruling parties
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Parties Try To Delay 2021 Vote Again)
May 3 Report Political parties formed out of protest movement would participate in 2021 elections
May 4 US govt said Lockheed Martin contractors withdrew from servicing Iraqi F-16s in Mar due
to security threats Came after Hashd attacked bases Some returned
(Musings On Iraq Attacks By Pro-Iran Groups Force American F-16 Contractors To Withdraw)
May 4 Head of KRG Retirement Dir said 7000 govt workers suspended for getting 2 salaries
May 4 Oil Min said KRG not sent any customs or oil revenue to Baghdad as obligated under 2021
budget
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government Doesn’t Intend To Follow 2021 Budget)
May 8 Protest leader Wazi in Karbala assassinated Would lead to new wave of demonstrations 2
activists escaped assassionation in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
May 8 Report US Delta team and Kurdish Counter Terrorism Group assassinated Gen Soleimani
and Abu Muhandis in 2020 US started planning to kill Soleimani in 2017 White House began talking about assassination in 2018 Pentagon opposed Plans to kill Soleimani sent to Trump Dec 2019 after Hashd rocket attack killed a US contractor
May 8 Pro-Iran Hashd hit Ain al-Assad base in Anbar with a drone
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
May 9 Protesters burned front gate of Iranian consulate in Karbala after assassination of Karbala
activist Wazni Demonstrations also in Karbala Diwaniya Baghdad Activists in Dhi Qar said they would boycott 2021 election Cmdr 13th Hashd Bgd later accused of killing Wazni
(Musings On Iraq Protest Parties Withdraw From 2021 Election After Activist Assassinated)
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 10 State of Law office in Babil and Iranian consulate in Karbala set on fire after Karbala
activist Wazni assassinated
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 10 Human Rights Comm said 89 assassination attempts against demonstrators since 2019
Journalist shot in Diwaniya for covering protests
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
May 10 Lockheed Martin withdrew F-16 maintenance crews after rocket attacks on Balad Air Base
some went to Irbil Rest went back to US
(Musings On Iraq Attacks By Pro-Iran Groups Force American F-16 Contractors To Withdraw)
May 10 Iraq asked to buy Exxon’s share of West Qurna 1 oil field Part of Exxon’s withdrawal from
Iraq because of unhappiness with business environment
May 10 3 parties formed out of protest movement said they were withdrawing from election over
assassination of Karbala activist Wazni
(Musings On Iraq Protest Parties Withdraw From 2021 Election After Activist Assassinated)
May 11 Activist Waeli killed by sticky bomb in front of his house in Dhi Qar 2nd activist killed in a
week Protests in Maysan Muthanna Wasit Basra
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 11 Pro-Iran group hit Irbil airport with drone Used by U.S. Joint Special Ops Command
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
May 12 Clash between protesters and police in Karbala after activist assassinated
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 13 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq attacked Falcon Intelligence Cell office in Basra after it tried to arrest a
militiaman for killing an activist PM Kazemi ordered investigation Nothing happened
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 13 Police arrested protesters in Babil demonstrating after assassination of Karbala activist
Led to clashes
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 14 IS started campaign against Iraq’s power grid blowing up two power towers in Anbar
Would be attacks over next few months in Anbar Baghdad Diyala Kirkuk Ninewa Salahaddin against infrastructure
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Electricity Grid Shuts Down During Summer Heat)
May 14 PM Kazemi ordered army to find protesters held in Hashd prisons and release them
May 14 Ashab Ahl Kahf connected to Asaib Ahl Al-Haq claimed it fired missiles from Syria into
Israel
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
May 14 Protests in Karbala Baghdad Dhi Qar over assassinated activist
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 15 Oct-May UN documented 48 assassination attempts against activists 32 died Govt did
nothing 20 protesters kidnapped Protests met with excessive force arbitrary arrests torture limiting freedom of expression and media UN counted 487 deaths 7715 injured
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 16 Meeting of activists in Karbala after assassination of protest leader in Karbala Deep
division over whether to participate in 2021 election Decided to march May 25
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 18 Protest in Karbala Said they would boycott 2021 election
May 21 Report Iran tried to solidify control over Hashd after death of Quds Force cmdr Gen
Suleimani Formed smaller groups Provided training At least 250 Hashd went to Lebanon in 2020 for training by Hezbollah and Quds Force Now believed to be behind recent rocket attacks
May 21 Head of KRG parliament’s finance comm said KRG couldn’t pay govt workers without
budget money from Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Kurdistan Can’t Pay Its Bills)
May 22 Report Gulf Keystone paid kickbacks to KDP politburo member to get oil deal in KRG
Politician got 10% of company’s revenue for 25 yrs
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
May 22 Iraqi Resistance Coordination Comm said it would increase attacks upon US for not
withdrawing from Iraq
May 22 Report KRG changed payments to oil companies without telling them beforehand Oil
executive said that would hurt future investment Extended payments from 15 days to 60 days after end of month Overdue invoices would be paid at slower rate Companies had to reduce production as a result of slow payments in 2020 Due to KRG financial crisis caused by budget dispute with Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Kurdistan Can’t Pay Its Bills)
May 22 Dhi Qar activist wounded by sticky bomb Led protests in Nasiriya
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 23 Pres Salah said $150 bil in oil had been smuggled out of Iraq since 2003
May 24 Protests in Dhi Qar Basra Maysan over electricity and jobs Tents burned in Nasiriya
May 25 Protest in Baghdad over assassination of activist 2 protesters killed by police PM Kazemi
ordered no live ammo Police ignored PM Protests in Basra Kirkuk Dhi Qar over lack of services
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 26 Muslih cmdr of Hashd Anbar ops arrested for killing of Karbala activist Attacks on other
activists Hashd and Badr’s Amiri in talks with PM Kazemi over arrest Rocket attacks on Ain Al-Asad base in Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Has 3rd Confrontation With Pro-Iran Hashd Factions)
May 26 Hashd forces inside and out of Green Zone mobilized in show of force to demand Hashd
cmdr Muslih be released PM Kazemi called out security forces as well
May 26 2 NRT journalists arrested in Sulaymaniya for reporting on PUK officials and Asayesh
May 28 Female activist shot and wounded in Baghdad Dec 2020 was kidnapped and tortured
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 28 2 people arrested for assassination of Karbala activist
May 29 Report Apr Hashd drone hit hangar at Irbil airport used by CIA Drone found afterward and
likely built in Iran May Ain al-Asad base hit by drone US considered strikes major escalation by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
May 29 Muslih cmdr of Hashd Anbar ops had men set up tents near Karbala sit-in protest to
kidnap and arrest activists Blew up car of activist Tried to assassinate another Muslih threatened activist Wazni Then arrested for his murder
(Musings On Iraq New Wave of Protests In Iraq Over Executions Of Activists)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Has 3rd Confrontation With Pro-Iran Hashd Factions)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
May 29 Brother of activist wounded in grenade attack in Kufa Najaf
May 29 Mass grave in Ninewa found with 500-600 victims of IS Believed to be victims killed at
Badush prison in 2014
May 31 UNAMI recorded 32 assassinations of activists since Oct 2019 21 others wounded
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jun 1 Report Interior Min officials defamed each other on social media Published files on each
other and then demanded bribes
Jun 2 Report Iran exported agricultural products worth $11 bil to Iraq over last 5 yrs Thought
contracts used to smuggle US$ to Iran to get around sanctions
Jun 2 Report Agriculture and industry collapsed in Iraq due to water shortages poor planning cheap
imports Rising poverty levels Population boom Economy based on oil Hardly any money spent on development 3.26 mil govt workers Didn’t include govt contract/temp workers Oil revenues couldn’t cover operating expenses 2021 budget had 88 tril dinars in operating costs vs 81 tril dinars in oil revenues Kazemi govt introduced White Paper but went nowhere Public sector declining Banks used to distribute wages or buy US$ Oil market predicted to decline which would cause crises in Iraq
Jun 3 Human Rights Watch report PM Kazemi tried to close all displaced camps Closed 16 so far
Only 2 left Only 1/3 in camps wanted to leave Of those returned only 1/3 living in their homes Many in camps IS affiliates Often blocked from govt aid Fear being evicted if return
(Musings On Iraq Kazemi Govt Runs Into Problems Trying To Close Displaced Camps In Iraq)
Jun 4 Report US worried about drone attacks by pro-Iran groups Apr Irbil airport hit May Irbil
airport and Ain Al-Assad base hit
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Jun 5 Report Parliament’s agriculture comm said Iraq losing 100,00 dunams of farmland out of 32
mil every year due to desertification Caused temperatures to rise due to absence of vegetation
Jun 6 Drone attack on Ain Al-Assad base in Anbar by pro-Iran group
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Jun 6 KRG said it would send part of its oil and non-oil revenues to Baghdad Said would pay KRG
govt workers every month when got budget money from Baghdad KRG did neither
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Jun 7 Charges against Hashd Anbar cmdr and head of Tufuf Brigade Muslih dropped by judiciary
Was arrested for rocket attacks upon Ain Al-Asad Base and assassination of Karbala protest leader Wazni
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Has 3rd Confrontation With Pro-Iran Hashd Factions)
(Musings On Iraq PM Kazemi Fails At 3rd Confrontation With Pro-Iran Hashd)
Jun 7 Intel officer assassinated in Baghdad Might have been done by Hashd in retaliation for PM
Kazemi trying to take border crossings from Hashd
Jun 8 60 Gorran members left party in Irbil after it aligned with PUK for 2021 election Part of
discontent over party joining ruling parties and leaving opposition
Jun 8 Judicial Council said investigation into killings of protesters started Nothing came of it
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jun 9 Report Judges released Hashd Anbar cmdr and head of Tufuf Brigade Muslih accused of
rocket attacks upon Ain Al-Asad Base and assassination of Karbala protest leader due to political pressure
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Has 3rd Confrontation With Pro-Iran Hashd Factions)
(Musings On Iraq PM Kazemi Fails At 3rd Confrontation With Pro-Iran Hashd)
Jun 9 report Govt had recordings of Hashd Anbar cmdr and head of Tufuf Brigade Muslih calling
assassins of Karbala protest leader Activist’s family had threatening messages by Muslih He also confessed Judges said no convincing evidence against him
Jun 9 Report 2020 Iran said it was cutting funding to Hashd Had to find new sources of money Set
up loan offices for govt workers and pensions that offered bad terms to earn money
Jun 11 Azm list head Khanjar Tweeted that displaced from Jurf al-Sakhr in Babil would return in
days Didn’t happen Was campaigning for election
Jun 12 2 generals arrested for taking bribes to waive customs at Um Qasr port in Basra
Jun 12 Kataib Hezbollah spokesman said sometimes Resistance factions acted without Iran’s orders
Said not ashamed of being under Iranian leadership
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 12 Report Iraq-Lebanon oil deal running into problems Lebanon was supposed to pay with
medical services, agricultural products Couldn’t provide any of them Deal was to support Lebanon even though it couldn’t pay
(Musings On Iraq Iraq-Lebanon Sign Trade Deal That Doesn’t Make Any Sense)
Jun 13 Kataib Hezbollah told US had to leave Iraq Said ignored parliament’s call for US withdrawal
Said Resistance would attack Americans Warned against foreigners infiltrating Iraqi intel Was attack upon PM Kazemi who headed intel agency
Jun 13 Pro-Iran Hashd held parade Showed off drones Used drones since 2014 in war vs IS 2019
Hashd launched drone attack on Saudi oil installation 2021 Alwiya Alwaad Al-Haw claimed drone attack upon Saudi Arabia Got advanced drones from Iran
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Jun 13 PUK said presidency its position Would re-nominate Barham Salah for 2nd term KDP said
presidency didn’t belong to any party KDP wanted all Kurdish positions
Jun 14 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali tried to position himself as Shiite leader Khazali
said he was an ally of Iran not proxy Said he followed Iraqi national interests Wanted to be leader of Resistance factions Kataib Hezbollah still said followed Iran
(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)
Jun 14 Govt workers struck in Sulaymaniya over not being paid Patients and families protested
because hospital lacked supplies Result of KRG economic crisis due to dispute with Baghdad over budget and oil
Jun 15 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali threatened continued attacks upon US until it withdrew from
Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jun 15 Amnesty International Report Called on KRG to end arbitrary arrests Harassment of protests
Aug 2020 protests began in Sulaymaniya Dohuk Irbil over corruption lack of services govt not paying salaries KRG responded by mass arrests including journalists
Jun 15 Parliament’s finance comm and Finance Min Allawi complained KRG not following 2021
budget Not exporting oil in return for monthly budget payments Cabinet approved budget payments anyway PM Kazemi wanted Kurdish support for his govt
Jun 17 Fmr Unaoil executive ordered to pay $560,000 in damages by UK judge Admitted to paying
$17 mil bribe to win contract to build pipelines and buoys in Basra
Jun 17 Report Minister said he just signed contracts given to him Said they had already been
approved by staff When he questioned them staff would complain When he rejected deal political parties would threaten him 1st parties controlled govt through ministries and top officials Now parties control bureaucracy so doesn’t matter who ministers are Parties compete over special grades in ministries who have real power Parties given points for how many seats win in elections Points determine how many positions they get in govt Major cause of corruption 2018 parliament’s transparency comm said $320 bil lost since 2003 2020 Finance Min Allawi said $100-$300 bil had been sent overseas Sr official said 25% of ministry’s budget spent on fake contracts Another 25% went to payroll corruption 2013 est 10-25% of govt workers ghost employees used by parties to steal money 2020 Finance Min Allawi est 300,000 ghost workers in govt Contracts often go to businesses tied to ruling parties Electricity Min signed $21 mil contract with fake company to build power station in Nasiriya Min signed $8 mil deal with another fake company 2016 technocratic ministers appointed Meant more power went to bureaucrats Now special grades have been main issue in govt formation process more than ministries
(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)
Jun 17 Interior Min Ghanimi claimed most assassins of activists were outside of Iraq and couldn’t
be arrested
Jun 18 New Baghdad-Irbil budget deal made PM Kazemi wanted to start sending money to KRG
before it sent oil revenues to Baghdad Wanted Kurdish support for his govt
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Jun 19 Babil Governor Mandil said displaced couldn’t return to Jurf al-Sakhr because of IEDs Real
reason large Kataib Hezbollah base and along pilgrimage route to Karbala and Najaf
Jun 19 Report 7 villages in south Kirkuk empty of people because of IS threats Mayor of Daquq
said more people were leaving
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jun 22 Report Oct 2019 Men threw Molotov cocktails at ISF in Baghdad Killed 2 ISF Security
forces then fired into protesters Included snipers 32 protesters might have been killed Govt claimed didn’t know who fired by PM Abdul Mahdi found out Gunmen were admonished and then sent to Kirkuk by Dep Cmdr Joint Ops Command Health Min blocked autopsies of dead Govt offered compensation to dead protesters Govt blocked investigations Govt announced investigation into violence vs protesters Found 149 activists and 8 ISF killed in 8 provinces 107 activists killed in Baghdad mostly from head wounds due to snipers Govt covered up who snipers were Came from ISF 87 ISF officers removed for attacks on protests Baghdad Ops Command head Cmdr 11th Div Cmdr 1st Federal Police Div Cmdr 45th Inf Brigade Cmdr 2nd Rgt Cmdr Federal Police Command Rgt all removed
Jun 24 Report More than 70 power towers blown up in last 18 mo by IS across 5 provinces
Jun 24 Nasiriya court issued warrants against families who protested about their relatives killed in
protests
Jun 25 PM Kazemi said he would not send budget payments to KRG Then said he was sending
advance to KRG to pay for govt workers Made deal for Kurdish support
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Jun 26 Report ISF in Interior and Defense Ministries would use their positions to support candidates
in 2022 elections in exchange for favors Happened every election
Jun 26 Report 1 day after protests started Oct 2019 Iran’s Gen Suleimani arrived in Baghdad Told
Abdul Mahdi govt needed to deal with demonstrations Led campaign by Hashd vs activists Many people fled to Turkey and KRG as a result
(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)
Jun 27 Biden admin carried out retaliatory strikes upon Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayid al-
Shuhada sites said to house drones in Anbar and eastern Syria 4 Shuhada fighters killed in Anbar
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 27 KRG Court of Appeals upheld 6 yr sentences for 5 journalists and activist for 2nd time Were
arrested for reporting and taking part in protests Another journalist give 7 yrs in prison even though didn’t go to court Also arrested for covering protests
Jun 28 Electricity Min Hantoosh resigned over power outages Iran stopped electricity and natural
gas exports because Iraq owed $4 bil Led to huge drop in power output
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Electricity Grid Shuts Down During Summer Heat)
Jun 28 Iraqi military spokesman condemned US airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayid al-
Shuhada Said breach of Iraqi sovereignty 4 Hashd killed Was response to Hashd attacks upon US forces in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Gives Warning to Kataib Hezbollah To Stop Rocket Attacks In Baghdad)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Jun 28 Report Pro-Iran Hashd met in Baghdad Agreed to halt attacks upon US in Iraq Didn’t happen
Jun 28 Report 2020 KRG sold oil for $28.10 per bar vs $41.96 Brent price Paid $1.76 bil to oil
companies $1.114 bil in fees tariffs interest to pipeline operators KRG made $2.345 bil
Jun 29 Report Sadrists got control of secretary gen of PM’s office May 2019 sec gen said all acting
officials would be replaced by permanent ones Replaced by Sadrists that gained deputy ministers senior officials heads of state bodies that control contracts budgets appointments
Jun 29 Secretary of KRG’s cabinet said debt rose to $31 bil due to advances by oil traders and
unpaid govt salaries Oct 2021 debt was $28 bil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 29 Protests in Dhi Qar Basra Maysan over electricity shortages
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Electricity Grid Shuts Down During Summer Heat)
Jun 29 Iranian electricity exports to Iraq stopped Natural gas exports to fuel power plants were
already reduced Done because Iraq owed billions to Tehran for exports
Jul 1 Report Some activists would run in 2022 election Said election law that created small voter
districts opened opportunities for new candidates
Jul 2 Iraq lost 99% of its electricity production Most provinces went without power Were protests
in Baghdad Basra Dhi Qar Maysan Muthanna Wasit over power outages
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Electricity Grid Shuts Down During Summer Heat)
Jul 3 Lukoil told Baghdad it wanted to sell its stake in West Qurna 2 Part of move of major oil
companies out of Iraq frustrated by red tape payment issues lack of infrastructure
Jul 3 Report Oil Min Jabbar said BP thinking about withdrawing from Iraq
Jul 3 Protests in Diyala Karbala Basra and Maysan over electricity 1 killed by police in Maysan
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Electricity Grid Shuts Down During Summer Heat)
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 3 Badr’s Amiri called for Kazemi govt to end US presence in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present)
Jul 5 MP said political parties covered up theft of 19 bil dinars by fmr head of committee on
displaced and 2 offices in Displaced Min
(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)
Jul 5 IS forcing out families from Azim northwest Diyala
Jul 5 Report Hashd destroyed 3000 acres of farmland in area of Khanaqin dist Diyala to set up
security zones
Jul 6 MP said candidates trying to buy votes through brokers
Jul 8 Bafel Talabani sought to replace Asayesh and Zenyari leaders loyal to his cousin Lahur
Talabani Bafel and Lahur deployed rival security forces to Sulaymaniya leading to stand off Bafel and Lahur co-head PUK
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 8 Warrants issued for killers of journalist and govt adv Hisham al-Hashemi Joint Ops command
said it arrested people involved with rocket attacks on Ain al-Asad base Nothing happened afterward
Jul 9 Protests in Karbala Maysan Wasit over electricity shortages
Jul 9 Baghdad activist kidnapped and tortured after wrote online about assassinations of protesters
Jul 9 Report Quds Force head Gen Qaani met with Hashd in Jun Told them to stop attacks on US
while nuclear talks happening 1 leader refused to
Jul 10 Baghdad sent budget payment to KRG despite it not meeting its obligations PM Kazemi
made political deal with Sadrists and KDP to pay KRG in return for political support and hope that he would get 2nd term
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Jul 10 Journalist/activist kidnapped in Baghdad after receiving threats Was tortured and released
later that day
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 11 PUK media named Bafel Talabani new president of party Also new heads of PUK intelligence
and counter terror unit named replacing allies of Lahur Talabani Bafel trying to push Lahur out of leaders of party 2 co-led PUK
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 11 Head of Qi Card company and other officials from banks given 3 yrs in prison for stealing
more than 13 bil dinars
Jul 11 PM Kazemi visited journalist/activist kidnapped and tortured in Baghdad day before Meant
to show sympathy for activists while PM did nothing to stop attacks
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 12 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said it had new plan to confront US in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jul 12 PUK media named Bafel Talabani president of party Part of dispute with Qubad Talabani for
control of PUK
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 13 Report Iranian Rev Guards intel chief met with Hashd leaders in Iraq Warned them not to go
too far with attacks upon US but to start attacks upon US forces in Syria Gave maps of US bases in Syria
(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)
Jul 13 PUK security raided 2 media outlets that were pro-Lahur Talabani Arrested some workers
Part of power struggle between Bafel and Lahur Talabani for control of PUK
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 14 2 activists targeted with bomb in Nasiriya
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 15 Moqtada al-Sadr announced that his party would boycott the 2021 election He wanted the
vote to be delayed and concessions from the other leaders
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Ends Election Boycott After Gaining No Concessions)
Jul 16 Co-head of PUK Lahur Talabani said he was giving up on power struggle with co-head Bafel
Talabani
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 16 PM Kazemi said police officer in Interior Min arrested for assassination of journalist
Hishamal-Hashemi Officer never showed up to court
Jul 17 PUK stripped Lahur Talabani of all his powers Part of struggle for control of PUK between
Lahur and Bafel Talabani
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 17 Report PM Kazemi announced on TV killer of journalist and analyst Hisham al-Hashemi
arrested Was Interior Min officer who confessed to killing Said he was assigned to assassinate Hashemi Said he came from area of Baghdad where Kataib Hezbollah has HQ
Jul 17 Activist stabbed in Dhi Qar in assassination attempt
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 18 Protests in Baghdad and Dhi Qar demanding accountability for killers of activists
Jul 19 IS suicide bomber hit market in Sadr City Killed 35 3rd mass casualty bombing in Baghdad in
2021
Jul 20 Lahur Talabani said he temporarily turned over power to his cousin Bafel Said rivalry
between two was decided within party
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Jul 20 Activist’s house bombed in Dhi Qar
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 21 Report KRG govt salaries not paid or cut since Mar 2020 Due to budget dispute with
Baghdad which cut off monthly payments
Jul 23 Son of Basra activist kidnapped Was found dead two days later
Jul 24 Iraq-Lebanon trade deal signed Iraq would send 1 tons of oil to Lebanon for services which it
couldn’t provide
(Musings On Iraq Iraq-Lebanon Sign Trade Deal That Doesn’t Make Sense)
Jul 24 Azm head Khanjar said had plan to return displaced to Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr but his rivals
stopped it Empty election promise Entire population of Jurf displaced by Kataib Hezbollah that turned it into military base
Jul 25 KRG PM Barzani said KRG public workers would be paid full salaries if PM Kazemi
continued to send monthly budget payments
Jul 25 Villages in Hamrin along Diyala-Salahaddin border emptying due to IS attacks
Jul 25 Son of activist kidnapped Jul 23 found dead in Basra His mother campaigned against young
people joining Hashd She got death threats and had been targeted before
Jul 26 PM Kazemi met Pres Biden in Wash DC Biden said US training and aid would continue but
combat ops would end by end of 2021
Jul 26 Dhi Qar activist escaped assassination attempt with IED
Jul 28 Electricity Min said hadn’t received any power from Iran for a month Dec 2020 Iran cut
natural gas exports to Iraq for power plant as well
Jul 28 Allawi withdrew from elections called on other parties to boycott as well Iraqi National
Dialogue Front also withdrew
Jul 29 Quds Force Cmdr Gen Qani told pro-Iran factions to de-escalate attacks upon US targets in
Iraq Didn’t happen
Jul 29 Dep head of KRG parliament’s integrity comm reported on pension fraud Found 80 people
paid cabinet minister pension when only 33 qualified 148 given dep minister pensions when only 67 should have 331 paid govt adv pensions Only 177 should have
Jul 29 KDP official in Khanaqin dist said over 5000 Kurdish families fled since 2017 due to IS Are
up to 40 empty villages in dist
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jul 31 Activist’s house in Babil bombed and destroyed
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 1 Report Lukoil ExxonMobile BP tried to divest from oil investments in Iraq Part of majors
leaving Iraq due to red tape lack of infrastructure etc
Aug 2 Kazemi govt announced it would continue monthly payments to the KRG even though it
wasn’t complying with the 2021 budget
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad To Send Budget Payment To KRG For 2nd Time)
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Aug 4 KRG economic adv said 115,000 govt workers taking 2 salaries 15,000 promoted illegally to
receive higher pay
Aug 4 Report Spokesman for Kataib Hezbollah said goal of resistance factions pro-Iran Hashd was
to expel US from Iraq 4 pro-Najaf Hashd brigades demanded PM Kazemi allow them to leave Hashd unless pro-Iran groups halted attacks on US followed rule of law didn’t run in elections
Aug 7 Report KRG Finance Minister said govt still owes public workers unpaid wages and would
become govt debt 2020 KRG workers not paid 5 months 4 months only got 25% of pay 1st 6 months of 2021 wages cut 21% Jul 2021 1st time got full pay Due to budget/oil dispute with Baghdad and debt over oil exports
Aug 8 Iraq accused Iran of cutting water on Sirwan and Karun Rivers Water Minister said caused
water shortage in Diyala and lowered level on Shatt al-Arab
Aug 8 Activist shot in Wasit in assassination attempt
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Aug 10 Electricity Min announced Iran cut off all electricity exports to Iraq Said caused by drought
Aug 11 Daquq Mayor in Kirkuk said 45 villages empty after army pushed Peshmerga out of area in
Oct 2017 Said being used by IS
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Aug 13 IS knocked out power in West Baghdad by blowing up power tower in Tarmiya NBaghdad
Aug 14 KRG said PM Kazemi agreed to send another monthly budget payment Sent payment in
Jul KRG was not complying with budget requirements Kazemi sent money to gain support of Kurds
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad To Send Budget Payment To KRG For 2nd Time)
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Aug 15 Head of pro-Najaf Ansar al-Marjariya attacked pro-Iran Hashd for taking orders from
Tehran
Aug 25 Report PUK decided to force Lahur Talabani to leave Iraq Could come back in 2 weeks Part
of dispute with cousin Bafel Talabani for control of party
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
Aug 26 Oil Minister issued order for National Oil Company to take control of 7 state owned oil
companies
Aug 26 Iraq signed deal to build solar power plants
Aug 27 Moqtada al-Sadr ended his election boycott after getting nothing from the other party
leaders
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Ends Election Boycott After Gaining No Concessions)
Aug 27 PUK ordered former co-chair of party Lahur Talabani to leave Iraq until 2 weeks after 2021
election results announced
(Musings On Iraq Fight Over Control Of PUK Continues)
Aug 29 Report 100,000 claims for compensation in Mosul made Govt Hadn’t paid 3% of them yet
80% of basic infrastructure rebuilt in city
Aug 29 Mayor of Dhululiya Salahaddin said border between Salahaddin and Diyala controlled by IS
Aug 30 Former member of Election Comm arrested for trying to fix Oct 2021 election
Aug 30 Report Baghdad sent 2nd budget payment to KRG despite it not following obligations PM
Kazemi in political deal with Sadrists and KDP to send money to KRG in return for political support and hope that he would get 2nd term
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad To Send Budget Payment To KRG For 2nd Time)
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Aug 31 Defense Min Anad said Turkey had right to attack PKK in Iraq Said PKK was not Iraqi Said
Turkey should deal with PKK within Turkey first
Aug 31 Extortion group arrested for trying to manipulate elections
Sep 1 PM Kazemi said online operation to manipulate election working for political parties and
involving members of Election Comm had been broken up
Sep 1 Electricity Min announced lost 5000mw of power because of cuts in Iranian natural gas
exports to fuel power plants
Sep 1 Head of New Generation Movement was blocked from entering KRG parliament on 1st day of
new session
Sep 2 PM Kazemi said KRG would continue to receive monthly budget payments from Baghdad
until after Oct 2021 election and new govt formed Kazemi made political deal with Sadrists and KDP to pay KRG in return for support for his govt and hope that he would get 2nd term
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad To Send Budget Payment To KRG For 2nd Time)
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Sep 2 Assassination attempt on family of protest activist in Maysan
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Sep 2 PM Kazemi said KRG would continue to receive monthly budget payments Kazemi wanted
Kurdish support
Sep 3 ISF evacuated village in Kirkuk due to IS attacks
Sep 4 Meeting of protest groups in Baghdad Said they would boycott Oct 2021 elections
Sep 6 Politicians warned that 6 mil voting cards were missing and could be used to fix
upcoming election
Sep 6 Report Sadrists began campaign amongst followers to educate them on how where and who
to vote for Created phone app
Sep 7 Fmr Ninewa Gov Nujafi given 7 yrs for corruption
Sep 8 Report Dec 20202 US approved financing for Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas to develop
Khor Mor gas field Before US had been opposed to KRG’s independent energy deals Trump admin approved to try to wean Iraq from Iranian natural gas
Sep 9 PUK security forces raided two companies in Sulaymaniya aligned with Lahur Talabani Part
of power struggle for control of PUK Security forces then threatened NRT for reporting raids
(Musings On Iraq Fight Over Control Of PUK Continues)
Sep 11 Report Natl Sec Adv Araji said Kazemi govt made truce with pro-Iran Hashd groups to stop
targeting US in Iraq Was supposed to last until Oct elections Didn’t cover attacks on convoys working for U.S. Didn’t happen
Sep 12 PM Kazemi told security forces to investigate reports of vote buying
Sep 12 Sayid al-Shuhada said it had no ceasefire with Kazemi govt to not attack US targets
Sep 13 Hashd head Fayad said 30,000 Hashd who had been terminated were brought back Part of
patronage network
Sep 14 Poll found only 29% intended to vote in upcoming election Think tank did poll
Said 60% intended to vote 2022 election had lowest voter turnout since 2003
Sep 15 Head of Election Comm promised free and fair elections Said gotten reports of people
selling voter cards and armed intimidation of voters
(Musings On Iraq Voter Fraud Underway In Iraq Before October Election)
Sep 15 Candidate banned from election for buying voter cards
Sep 15 Report Dozens of election violations reported in last 2 wks Govt offices and vehicles being
used for campaigns Candidates offering work for votes Hashd announced 30,000 cancelled Hashd fighters would be returned to payroll likely to get their votes
Sep 15 Report Ruling parties running independent candidates to dilute votes Campaign started in
Dhi Qar and spread to Baghdad to destroy posters of independents
Sep 16 Report National Investment Comm said more than 1000 projects with 0% completion rate
Another 800 with 5% completion rate PM Kazemi ordered projects stopped with less than 30% completion rate Led to 40-50 projects to be closed MP on construction comm said govt gave contracts to companies that can’t do work mostly to steal money
(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 17 Report new restrictions on foreign ownership of Iraqi companies deterred investment 2019
law said foreigners could only own 49% of a company After Stock Exchange enforced law trading went down Contradicts claim by Kazemi govt it was trying to increase private sector
Sep 18 General Manager of state marketing organization for oil said KRG had not sent any money
to Baghdad as required under 2021 budget PM Kazemi was still sending KRG monthly budget payments in return for its political support
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad To Send Budget Payment To KRG For 2nd Time)
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget)
Sep 19 20 MPs requested investigation into 4 tribal Hashd leaders in Ninewa and Anbar accusing
them of forcing their men to vote for candidates or be fired One Hashd cmdr in Qayara telling men had to get 5 relatives to vote for him or be fired
(Musings On Iraq More On Cheating Before Iraq’s Oct Election)
Sep 19 Oil Ministry announced new deal to capture natural gas from 2 oil fields with Baker Hughes
Sep 21 MP called on Kazemi govt to stop power station contract in Basra Chinese company got
contract to build 3000mw station Plant only had capacity of 300mw and cost $5 bil twice original price Financed by UK loan
Sep 22 Report Candidates telling Hashd members to obtain voter cards or be fired One party set up
camp to give youth jobs in Hashd in return for their votes One candidate allegedly got 22,000 voter cards Hashd cmdr in Mosul threatening people if they don’t vote for him
(Musings On Iraq More On Cheating Before Iraq’s Oct Election)
Sep 23 Report In Anbar party paying people to get voter cards Directors of Hit Education and
Baghdadi district fired for not promoting a certain party Parties made deal with polling officials to get illiterates to vote for them One party opened 20 offices to pay young people to obtain voter cards Also giving out contracts through Sunni Endowment and Electricity Min in return for votes
(Musings On Iraq More On Cheating Before Iraq’s Oct Election)
Sep 23 MP from Kurdistan Islamic Group said KRG didn’t consider 2021 budget binding legal
document but understanding it didn’t have to follow
(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG)
Sep 23 KRG court found journalist guilty of defamation after criticized KRG and police Got 1 yr in
prison Part of KRG crackdown on media
Sep 25 Kataib Hezbollah said attacks on US had to continue to preserve security of Iraq Said KRG
had turned into safe haven for US and Israeli agents and conspirators
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Sep 26 Report Candidates illegally using govt buildings and vehicles for campaigns Given out
clothes and generators in return for votes Hashd faction told men they had to bring in voter cards or be fired
Sep 26 Election Comm said it would calculate voter turnout by number of people with voter cards
not number of eligible voters Meant to boost % which was predicted to be at a record low
Sep 26 Oil Min called for KRG to export 250,000 bar/day of oil for govt or send cash equivalent as
required by budget PM Kazemi was sending KRG monthly budget payments so no reason to comply
Sep 27 Report Ruling parties companies Electricity Min officials worked together to steal money
from contracts Jun Iraqi businessman called by Sadrist MP Demanded 15% of earnings once deal finalized MP said Electricity Min belonged to Sadrists and couldn’t do anything without party’s approval Foreign company official said it was ordered to sign subcontracts with local companies to get govt deal
Sep 29 Police tried to stop Hashd cars from going wrong direction on road Led to gun battle 6 police
wounded in Karbala
Sep 29 Female candidate in Basra said candidates were buying voter cards for more than $200/each
Sep 30 Report Halbusi elected speaker in deal with Fatah and Iran Didn’t follow through with
promises so Iran dropped support and gave it to Khamis Khanjar Halbusi went to UAE for support
Oct 2 Election Comm said Hashd could not take part in special voting with ISF because didn’t send
data on members Raised suspicion of 1000s of ghost Hashd used to steal salaries Hashd didn’t take part in special voting in 2018 either
(Musings On Iraq Hashd al-Shaabi Will Not Be Able To Vote In Iraq’s Special Voting For The Security Forces)
Oct 5 Report Iraq ranked 3rd in Pandora docs in number of offshore companies used for illegal
activities Political financier and Azm list head Khamis al-Khanjar had companies in UK Virgin Islands Khanjar worked with Saddam and Uday in 90s to smuggle in products to get around sanctions After 03 expanded into manufacturing banking financing real estate 2015 warrant issued for him for connections with IS Dec 2019 sanctions by US for corruption
Oct 5 Report Bombs and threats being used in election campaigning Shop in Nasiriya bombed
when refused to put up poster of Sadr Recording posted of Sadrists threatening person if didn’t put up party posters PKK kept parties out of their areas in Sinjar
Oct 9 Diwaniya activist found dead 4 days after kidnapped
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Oct 10 Early elections for parliament held Sadr won first place Voter participation only 32% Lowest
since 2003 invasion
(Musings On Iraq Revised Election Returns For Iraq’s Oct 2021 Election)
(Musings On Iraq 2021 Election Reshuffles Iraq’s Political Deck)
Oct 11 Election Comm said voter turnout 41% Based on registered voters rather than eligible voters
to raise % 2018 voter turnout 44%
Oct 11 Kataib Hezbollah claimed voter fraud in election
Oct 12 Fatah PUK Islamic Party National State Forces all claimed fraud in election Protests in
Basra and Diyala Around 8000 voting stations would have manual recount
(Musings On Iraq Manual Recount In Iraq, Parties Start Forming Alliances, Early Election Results)
(Musings On Iraq Losers In Iraq’s Election Not Taking Results Well)
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Terrified Of Being
Excluded In Sadr’s Majority Govt)
Oct 12 Head of Gorran in parliament said he would resign after won no seats in
election
Oct 13 Election Comm started manual recount of 8000 polling stations
Oct 14 Iran halted natural gas exports to Iraq again Electricity Min told some gas powered
electricity stations to turn off turbines as a result
Oct 15 Report Hashd lost seats in 2021 election Fatah went from 48 seats in 2018 to 20 in 2021
Badr got 5 seats Asaib Ahl Al-Haq got 10 seats Bloc that represented Jund al-Imam won 5 seats Kataib Hezbollah party won 1 seat Badr’s Amiri rejected election results Jund al-Imam head called on Election Comm to prove there was not fraud
(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)
Oct 17 Hikma protested in Baghdad Wasit Basra against election results
Oct 17 Maliki called elections illegitimate and void due to low voter turnout Called for protests
Oct 17 Kataib Hezbollah spokesman called for PM Kazemi to be put on trial for election results
Claimed they were fraudulent
Oct 17 Fatah accused UAE for manipulating election results
Oct 18 Iraq cut its winter crops in half due to drought Water in some areas of Diyala completely cut
off by Iranian dams
Oct 18 Pro-Iran Hashd blocked roads in Khalis Diyala Fatah announced protests outside Green Zone
after bad showing in election Also protests in Kirkuk and Diwaniya over results
Oct 19 Dohuk journalist and an activist give 1 yr each Accused of inciting violence and illegal
gatherings for protesting and reporting on them
Oct 19 Protests in Baghdad Kirkuk claiming election fraud
Oct 20 Fatah members protested outside Green Zone rejecting election results Sit ins outside Basra
and Dhi Qar Election Comm HQs
Oct 21 Election Comm ordered voting recounts in Baghdad Basra Irbil Ninewa after complaints
Election Comm members in Maysan got death threats from Hashd
(Musings On Iraq Protests Continue In Iraq Over Election Results)
Oct 21 4 activists and teachers from Dohuk convicted of conspiracy Got 1 yr in prison for protesting
5 others acquitted Were kept in jail for 1 yr before trial Part of crackdown on protests
Oct 22 Report 36% of eligible voters took part in election Lowest since 03 Sadr’s Sairoon went from
54 seats in 2018 to 73 in 2021 Meant reports of Sadr’s increased popularity untrue Fatah went from 48 to 16 seats Fatah won moves votes 670,000 than Sadr who got 650,000 New system ended transferring extra votes to candidates within same party Before parties would run multiple candidates in same areas they were popular so could use excess votes in other areas to get members elected Sadr planned well for election Nominated candidates for each dist Organized supporters to vote for them Had phone app for followers Other parties ran multiple candidates for same district State of Law and KDP also prepared for new system resulting in better results Fatah had each member of alliance run own candidates
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Refuses To Accept Results And Recount Process Due To Poor Showing In Iraq’s Oct Election)
Oct 23 Fatah supporters tried to storm the Green Zone over its poor election results Turned back by
security forces
(Musings On Iraq Protests Continue In Iraq Over Election Results)
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Terrified Of Being
Excluded In Sadr’s Majority Govt)
Oct 23 Election Comm ordered
voting recount in Kirkuk after complaints
Oct 23 Ninewa Gov Jabouri said all displaced in province would return to their home areas by Nov
Part of govt effort to end displacement by kicking them out
Oct 24 Report Fatah won 670,00 votes and 17 seats Sadrists got 650,000 votes and 73 seats Fatah
had 48 seats in 2018 Sadrists 54 seats Under old election law candidates could redistribute their votes to others from the same party New election law stopped that Fatah didn’t study new law and acted like old one still in effect Sadrists predicted votes in each voting district named candidates for each one and got supporters to come out and vote Had mobile phone app to help voting Fatah ran multiple candidates in same districts undermining votes because made up of different parties that all wanted to win seats
Oct 25 Election Commission began manual recount in Ninewa after complaint accepted over results
Oct 25 Protests in Wasit Maysan Basra Dhi Qar to commemorate 2 yr anniversary of protest
movement
(Musings On Iraq Marches Commemorate Anniversary Of Iraq’s Protest Movement)
Oct 26 IS attacked mostly Shiite village in Diyala Beforehand kidnapped 2 from village who refused
to pay taxes Afterward tribesmen attacked nearby Sunni town backed by Hashd Bulldozed and burned houses Baghdad sent ISF to control situation
Oct 28 Pro-Iran Hashd protested in Baghdad over poor showing in election
Oct 28 KRG PM Barzani said Baghdad owed it $3.1 bil from budget Said it was illegal for Baghdad
to cut off payments in 2020 KRG was cut off for not meeting oil export quota in budget PM Kazemi sent money anyway to get Kurdish support
Oct 29 Report Kurdish youth left KRG in 1000s for Europe looking for jobs Many went to Belarus
first Poland declared state of emergency in Sep Refugee group said 37,000 Iraqis had left country through unofficial means in 2021
Oct 30 Report Pro-Iran Hashd blamed UAE UN Election Comm PM Kazemi for their poor
showing in election Fatah won 670,000 votes vs 650,000 for Sadr but lost seats because Fatah ran too many candidates in each dist 1 dist in Basra Fatah ran 2 candidates so lost to Sadrist Dist in Baghdad Fatah ran two candidates and lost to Sadrist
Oct 31 Pro-Iran group fired rockets at intelligence HQ in Baghdad while PM Kazemi visiting
(Musings On Iraq Oct Saw Another Drop In Violence In Iraq)
Oct 31 Sadr Tweet called for majority govt Couldn’t form one
Nov 1 Fatah rejected 2021 election results and the recount process Demanded ballots be recounted
manually
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Refuses To Accept Results And Recount Process Due To Poor Showing In Iraq’s Oct Election)
Nov 2 2 sentenced to death for killing 2 reporters in Basra in 2020 2 suspects confessed to killing
protesters in Basra in 2019
Nov 2 KRG said PM Kazemi agreed to send $137 mil to pay for KRG govt salaries PM Kazemi
wanted Kurdish support
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Nov 2 Report After IS attack in Muqdadiya Diyala 57 homes burned and 300 displaced
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Nov 3 Bafel Talabani sent letter to PUK media saying Lahur Talabani expelled from party
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
(Musings On Iraq Fight Over Control Of PUK Continues)
Nov 3 US govt report IS attacks down Recruited amongst displaced Lacked resources and
popularity Worked in small cells DIA said IS wanted to control territory and rebuild Treasury Dept est IS still had tens of millions of $ Smuggled oil Kidnapped for ransom Extorted money
Nov 3 US govt report ISF corrupt at every level Were personal vendettas Infighting between units
and between Defense and Interior ministries Conflicts between ISF and Hashd
Nov 3 Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said Hashd executed Sunni civilians in village in Diyala
in retaliation for IS attack Several other villages were threatened by Hashd
Nov 4 Lahur Talabani sent letter to PUK leadership saying he was still co-president Reversed
several decisions made by Bafel Talabani
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
(Musings On Iraq Fight Over Control Of PUK Continues)
Nov 4 Report No one charged with Hashd attack on Sunni village in Diyala Village emptied of
people Pro-Iran parties in Diyala downplayed damage and number of people killed Blamed IS for violence Source said 1 ISF arrested but then tribe got him released 11 killed 13 wounded in attack on village 60 houses burned ISF did nothing during attack Diyala Gov from Badr said IS attacked the village Kataib Hezbollah spokesman in Diyala said PM Kazemi IS and Baathists responsible backed by evil countries Tribe said that fields around town should be destroyed to stop future attacks
Nov 5 Fatah supporters protesting the election results tried to storm the Green Zone Shot at police
who fired back 2 police killed and 21 wounded by gunshots Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Brigade cmdr killed Over 100 injured
(Musings On Iraq Deadly Clashes Outside Baghdad’s Green Zone Over Election Results)
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Terrified Of Being
Excluded In Sadr’s Majority Govt)
(Musings On Iraq
Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Nov 5 Kataib Hezbollah’s Unit 10,000 published names of 17 ISF member who guarded Green
Zone
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Nov 5 PUK Politburo approved expelling Lahur Talabani from party and 3 of his allies
(Musings On Iraq Latest Dispute Over Control Of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)
(Musings On Iraq Fight Over Control Of PUK Continues)
Nov 6 Sabereen News threatened to kill ISF members who protected Green Zone after Fatah
supporters tried to storm Green Zone and 2 protesters killed by police
(Musings On Iraq Deadly Clashes Outside Baghdad’s Green Zone Over Election Results)
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Terrified Of Being
Excluded In Sadr’s Majority Govt)
Nov 7 Drone strike by pro-Iran groups on PM Kazemi’s home in Baghdad Kazemi and 5 of his
bodyguards injured
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Makes An Attempt Upon The Life Of PM Kazemi What Will Come Next?)
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Nov 7 Kataib Hezbollah cmdr said was cheaper ways to attack PM Kazemi them using a drone Said
no one would waste a drone to attack PM Were posts on pro-Iran social media mocking PM Asaib Ahl Al-Haq claimed attack was faked Badr blamed US for attack
(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)
Nov 7 Quds Force Cmdr Gen Qani arrived in Baghdad to calm situation after attempt upon PM
Kazemi’s life Met with Kazemi and Pres Salah telling them Iran upset with attack Told Hashd factions to backdown accept election results and unify Shiite parties
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Factions Told To Backdown By Tehran and Shiite Parties After Attempt Upon PM Kazemi’s Life)
Nov 7 Quds Force Cmdr Gen Qani met with Coordinating Framework including Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s
Khazali Kataib Hezbollah’s Himdawi Coordinating Framework admitted Hashd involved in drone attack upon PM Kazemi and would turn over 3 involved In return police behind killing of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq member outside Green Zone would be prosecuted
(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Hashd Becoming A Regional Force For Tehran)
Nov 8 PM Kazemi met with Coordination Framework Leaders admitted that a pro-Iran Hashd group
carried out drone strike on his house Said it would turn over 3 Hashd members responsible
Nov 9 Integrity Comm arrested head of Mosul Mosque Reconstruction Committee and other
members Forged receipts for reconstruction work on 37 mosques to steal 2 bil dinars
Nov 9 Report Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani upset with drone attack on PM Kazemi’s house Qaani
met with Pro-Iran Hashd and told them to stand down and accept election results and join other Shiite parties in one bloc Iranian Foreign Min said it would help find those responsible for drone strike
Nov 9 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali threatened to boycott politics if election results not changed
Blamed Israel and US for drone attack on PM Kazemi
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Nov 11 Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani said election results had to be respected Said investigation
needed into assassination attempt on PM Kazemi Was response to pro-Iran Hashd who were protesting election and tried to kill Kazemi
Nov 13 Badr’s Amiri claimed cheating in election Said Election Comm couldn’t run voting Said
voting machines were used to cheat Thought Israel might be involved
Nov 14 Iraqi govt said it would develop Akkas gas field in Anbar to attract foreign investment 2011
field was auction to South Korean company but dropped due to war vs IS
Nov 16 Report Shiite parties lost 2.5 mil votes from 2018 to 2021 elections Went from 190 to 128
seats Sadr lost 617k votes Fatah lost 902k votes Hikma lost 348k votes State of Law lost 204k votes Nasr lost 1 mil votes
Nov 18 Sadr called for Hashd to be disbanded Aimed at his rivals within pro-Iran camp while
forming new govt
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Calls For Hashd To Be Disbanded In Latest Move Against Foes During Iraq Govt Formation Process)
Nov 19 After Sadr called for Hashd to be disbanded announced his Promised Day Brigades was
dissolved Kataib Hezbollah responded by saying its Popular Defense Brigades were disbanded Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Calls For Hashd To Be Disbanded In Latest Move Against Foes During Iraq Govt Formation Process)
Nov 19 Kataib Sayid al-Shuahda announced new recruiting drive to fight against US in Iraq
Nov 20 Fatah filed lawsuit ith Federal Court to annual election results claiming there was cheating
(Musings On Iraq Fatah Terrified Of Being
Excluded In Sadr’s Majority Govt)
Nov 20 Kataib Hezbollah sent message to UN Said there could be civil war if
parties marginalized
Was in response to Sadr calling for majority govt and Hashd to be disbanded
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Nov 21 University students in Sulaymaniya Halabja Kalar Ranya started protests demanding KRG
resume monthly stipends
Nov 22 PUK police tried to break up student protests demanding resumption of monthly govt
stipends in Sulaymaniya by force
Nov 22 Report Asaib Ahl Al-Haq linked Ashab al-Kahf took responsibility for most attacks on
convoys working for US Attacks down since summer Came after Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani warned pro-Iran Hashd about incidents Kataib Hezbollah linked group stopped claiming attacks afterward Used to claim the most attacks
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Nov 23 PUK police fired into air and used tear gas to break up protests demanding resumption of
monthly govt stipends outside Sulaymaniya Univ Burned down PUK HQ and Rudaw office in Sulaymaniya city Protests spread to Irbil
Nov 23 Election Comm agreed to 870 more manual recounts at voting stations in Dhi Qar Najaf
Muthanna Ninewa Baghdad after complaints by parties
Nov 23 UN rep to Iraq said no evidence of voter fraud
Nov 24 Water Min said that Iran had completely stopped water flow to Iraq Said Turkey and Iran
both violated intl agreements on water
Nov 24 PUK said KRG facing economic crisis and opponents were exploiting protests over unpaid
govt salaries for their own gain
Nov 24 Student protests burned Gorran HQ in Sulaymaniya Demonstrating against unpaid govt
stipends
Nov 24 Report KRG has had budget deficits for yrs Rising debt Economic mismanagement
Dysfunctional relationship with Baghdad Despite oil selling for over $70/bar and KRG exporting over 400,000 bar/day of oil remained dependent upon budget payments from Baghdad to pay govt salaries KRG didn’t develop private sector Remained oil dependent Govt largest employer When govt runs into economic problems affects public leading to protests 2014 KRG began independent oil exports over objections of Baghdad PM Maliki cut budget payments which led to deep cuts in KRG spending
Nov 25 PUK commander killed in Sulaymaniya Was close to Lahur Talabani who was expelled from
PUK leadership
Nov 30 Election Comm ended recount and appeals Only 5 seats changed PUK and Fatah won 2
more seats each Azm picked up 1 seat
(Musings On Iraq Revised Election Results Do Not Change Standing Of Iraq’s Lists)
Nov 30 Kataib Hezbollah said PM Kazemi’s house was not targeted Said he wasn’t home and
explosion faked
Dec 1 Coordination Framework rejected election results Claimed Election Commission cheated
Dec 1 Report Businessmen complained had to pay 14-15% fees to Hashd to bring in goods to Mosul
30 Hashd Brigade controlled scrap metal in city Those that refuse to pay get threatened and bombed Hashd took cut of reconstruction money sent from Baghdad PM Kazemi ordered Kataib Imam Ali Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq to close their offices in Mosul but ignored
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 2 Report Iraqi govt report said Tigris and Euphrates could run dry by 2040 Dams in Turkey
Syrian Iran cut water Climate change also issue Water Min said water could decline by 30% by 2013 During summer Iraq got 40 bil cubic meters of water flow when needed 53 bil cubic meters
Dec 3 Report Govt investigation of Fatah protests outside Green Zone over election results released
Nov tried to storm Green Zone Fired at police and killed 2 of them 21 other police wounded by gunfire by Fatah
Dec 4 Investigator looking into Hashd cmdr accused of killing activist was killed himself
Dec 7 Motorcycle bomb in Basra killed and injured 8 Pro-Iran Hashd death squad blamed Was
trying to kill intel officer investigating group
Dec 7 Report KRG PM Barzani used front company to buy $18.3 mil pharmacy in Miami Barzani’s
real estate in KRG believed to be worth $1.27 bil Owned mansions in California and Virginia worth $75 mil
Dec 8 PM Kazemi visited Basra after motorcycle bomb Accused death squad who was targeting
intel officer investigating group
Dec 8 Report Iraq looking to diversify electricity imports because Iran often cuts supply with no
warning In talks with Saudi Arabia Turkey Jordan Kuwait 2019 made initial deal with Gulf States Not completed Finalized deal with Jordan in 2020 but not connected
Dec 8 Sadr called for dissolution of unruly Hashd forces Aimed at his political rivals
Dec 10 Report Dec motorcycle bomb in Basra PM Kazemi said it was assassination attempt on ISF
officer Sadr said it was Hashd Mar and Jun intel officers assassinated in Baghdad Likely by Hashd
Dec 12 Report KRG owed almost $5 bil to electricity companies Hindered business and expansion
KRG Electricity Min said debts so big couldn’t pay them KRG also owed billions to oil traders and companies Turkey and creditors
Dec 15 Alliance for the People made up of New Generation and Imtidad parties announced Iraq’s
first post-03 opposition list
(Musings On Iraq Beginnings Of Iraq’s First Post-03 Opposition Party)
Dec 15 Report KRG in intl arbitration over gas contract with Genel Energy Hasn’t paid companies on
time followed schedules or repaid debts Led to decline in investment in KRG energy KRG didn’t have gas strategy Didn’t understand the business
Dec 15 Report Human Rights Comm said 5 mil orphans in Iraq 4.5 mil children in poverty 1 mil kids
in labor market due to poverty
Dec 15 Report PM Kazemi released Asaib Ahl Al-Haq cmdr arrested for assassination attempt on
Kazemi
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Dec 15 Protests in Najaf and Diwaniya Demanded governor and mayor resign
Dec 16 Norwegian Refugee Council warned Iraq suffering low rainfall and climate change
threatening disaster 50% of families in drought areas needed food aid 20% of families in drought areas didn’t have food for everyone 37% of wheat and 30% of barley farmers said crops would drop 90%
Dec 16 Report 2 groups rejected working with new Iraqi state Baathists and Salafi-Jihadists
Jihadists considered new Iraqi state heretical Baathists were banned Both talked about a new state under their control Political Salafis clerical and nationalist Islamists were willing to work with new system under conditions and didn’t have consistent message Didn’t see Sunnis in govt as apostates Jihadists wanted to change society to fit its image Especially true for IS Jihadists opposed elections Political Salafis willing to take part in voting IS went through 3 stages 1st 03-04 was little cohesion amongst insurgents Were different groups with shifting membership Allowed cooperation between groups Former regime members dominated early insurgency After Saddam captured in Dec 03 many Baathists joined Islamist groups Nationalist groups like Army of Mohammed funded by Baathists slowly radicalized 2004 1920 Revolution Brigades and Islamic Army emerged 1920 Revolution Brigades led by former regime members and aligned with Assoc of Muslim Scholars and Islamic Party Islamic Army ex-soldiers who were Salafis When Zarqawi created Tawhid wal Jihad was mostly foreigners and small Recruited Iraqi Salafis May 04 Ansar al-Sunna members began joining Zarqawi He worked with other groups in 2 battles of Fallujah 04-06 Al Qaeda in Iraq worked with some groups and competed with others Wanted to dominate Iraq Insurgency changed after 2nd Battle of Fallujah Reconsidered fighting Sunnis boycotted Jan 05 election which led some to reconsider participating in politics Brought them into conflict with Zarqawi Al Qaeda in Iraq began demanding others pledge allegiance to Zarqawi 05 members of Islamic Army and Army of Mohammed began joining Al Qaeda in Iraq Dec 05 80% of Sunnis voted Islamic Army guarded polling stations Was blow to Al Qaeda in Iraq Ramadi Shura Council led by cmdr in 1920 Revolutions Brigade used elections to start revolt vs Al Qaeda in Iraq Al Qaeda in Iraq began assassinating Shura Council members Leader of Shura Council fled Albu Mahal tribe in Qaim rose up against Al Qaeda in Iraq but put it down US recruited Sunnis into ISF led to another split within insurgency Tribes in Ramadi began joining ISF Al Qaeda in Iraq attacked recruiting centers and new police 1920 Revolution Brigades put together anti-Al Qaeda in Iraq coalition Al Qaeda in Iraq defeated it Other insurgent groups began asking Al Qaeda to rein in Zarqawi Zawahiri wanted Zarqawi to join 1920 Revolution Brigades and Assoc of Muslim Scholars Zarqawi ignored Zawahiri Jan 06 Al Qaeda in Iraq announced Mujahadeen Shura Council with 6 other groups Start 06 some insurgent groups began talks with US Ended after Feb 06 Askari shrine bombing by Al Qaeda in Iraq Evidence bombing done to stop reconciliation between insurgency US and Iraqi govt 06-14 IS moved to coercively force other groups under its control 06 Anbar Awakening started 06 ISI announced Moved to dominate other groups Called for all Sunni fighters scholars sheikhs to pledge allegiance to ISI Attacks on other groups and groups joining Awakening increased 07 several insurgent coalitions formed Many began talks with US Start of Sahwa increased ISI attacks upon them US withdrawal from cities hurt insurgent groups trying to reconcile with govt US withdrawal from rural areas led to many insurgent groups to demobilize Left Baathists and Jihadists as main groups 2010 IS started new plan of tribal engagement and defeating its rivals Killed over 2000 Awakening members Started new wave of suicide bombings vs Shiites After US withdrew from Iraq ISI began new bombing campaign Expanded into Syria 2011 also when PM Maliki began moving against rivals which increased tensions and new people joined insurgency 2013 Maliki crackdown on protests led to re-emergence of insurgency Islamic Army Mujahadeen Army Naqshibandi re-emerged 2013 ISIS announced Zawahiri condemned new name Led to break with Al Qaeda Many groups worked with ISIS to seize Mosul in Jun 2014 After Mosul fell IS went after all rivals groups Almost all defeated disappeared or joined IS Left IS as only insurgent group in Iraq
Dec 21 KDP and PUK blocked New Generation MP from entering KRG parliament
Dec 23 Dhi Qar governor resigned after protesters shot
Dec 23KRG spokesman said KRG couldn’t pay govt salaries for Nov and Dec unless Kazemi govt
sent monthly budget payments KRG asked for 6 months of salaries from Baghdad Kazemi said would only provide 2 months of salaries
Dec 23 Report Hashd would get 2.4 tril dinars in 2021 budget Was more than Justice Foreign Affairs
Culture Water Planning Transportations Ministries and more than Ninewa Dhi Qar Najaf Diwaniya combined
Dec 27 Supreme Court threw out Coordination Framework’s claims of election fraud and ratified
the results Framework accepted decision Sadr called for majority govt again
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Court Rejects Election Fraud Claims, Certifies Results So Govt Formation Process Can Seriously Start)
Dec 29 Finance Min Allawi speech Said Iraq’s oil revenues would eventually decline due to global
change to clean energy and govt wouldn’t be able to pay public workers Could lead to massive lay offs in 10 yrs Hoped this could drive govt to promote private sector 7 mil govt workers and pensioners World bank said youth unemployment 36% Private sector made up 40-50% of jobs but many were underemployed or temps
Dec 30 Transportation Min signed deal with Daewoo to build Faw Port in Basra Project 1st brought up
in 1978 and stalled for yrs Hashd protested deal demanding Chinese company with no experience in port building get contract Daewoo manager found hanged in Basra Suspicion that he was murdered MP said some parties were trying to control contract
2022
Jan 4 Report Iran continued to limit natural gas exports to Iraq over unpaid bills Led to electricity
shortages in Iraq Electricity Min said Iranian gas supplies went from 50 mil to 8.5 mil cubic meters/day Cost Iraq 4000mw of power
Jan 5 Iraqi govt agreed to buy ExxonMobile’s share in West Qurna 1 oil field Setback for Iraq’s oil
industry as Western companies divesting
(Musings On Iraq ExxonMobile Withdraws From Iraq’s Oil Industry)
Jan 5 Report Oil exploration and drilling in KRG declined in 2020 KRG didn’t earn enough money
to pay its bills to oil companies 1st half of 2021 KRG earned $688 mil/mo from oil sales After paid debts to oil traders oil companies tariff and transit fees to Turkey and KRG pipeline operators only had $290 mil/mo left Had to pay $617 mil/mo for public sector Owed more than $4 bil to trading companies that gave KRG advances on oil sales Owed $4 bil to electricity producers May 2020 announced it would pay oil companies it owed money for 2019-20 at different schedule Companies angered Dec 2021 KRG still owed $460 mil to 5 oil companies Financial crisis partially helped by PM Kazemi resuming monthly budget payments of $138 mil since Jul Aug 2021 KRG producing 42,900 bar/day of natural gas from Shaikan field Growth at field was slower than expected 1 of major oil fields Tawke saw 15-20% drop in oil production/yr 1 of major oil companies in KRG Genel Energy ended 2 contracts due to years of delays Company sought arbitration against KRG for breaking 2 contracts
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jan 5 Fmr Dep Electricity Min given 6 yrs for taking bribes MP said corrupt officials stealing from
Mosul sewage project
(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 8 Khamis al-Khanjar and his Azm Alliance agreed to join with his longtime rival Speaker
Halbusi and his Taqadum list
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Takes 1st Step Towards Forming New Govt With Election of Speaker of Parliament)
Jan 9 Speaker Halbusi re-elected to office Sadrists and Coordination Framework both claimed they
were majority to form new govt
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Takes 1st Step Towards Forming New Govt With Election of Speaker of Parliament)
Jan 9 Report Large blocs offered independents bribes to to join them Attempt to form largest bloc
Jan 11 State of Law and Kataib Hezbollah threatened bloodshed and hard days for the country if the
Shiite parties were split meaning Sadr went ahead with a majority government and excluded the two parties and other rivals Two days later attacks began on Sadr’s allies
(Musings On Iraq Coordination Framework Turns To Courts And Violence To Form New Govt)
Jan 14 Human Rights Watch criticized KRG’s arrest and trails of journalists Said cases flawed
Several recent trials had political interference Part of crackdown on dissent within KRG after 2020 protests
Jan 14 Grenades thrown at Taqadum and Azm Alliance officers KDP official survived assassination
attempt Both incidents in Baghdad Likely work of Coordination Framework to intimidate Sadr’s allies to abandon him during govt formation talks
Jan 14 Iraq removed from EU list of high risk money laundering and terrorism financing Financial
adv to PM Kazemi said Iraq free of money laundering It wasn’t
Jan 17 2 Kurdish banks bombed in Baghdad Part of Coordination Framework threatening Kurds to
abandon Sadr in govt formation talks
Jan 18 Report Coordination Framework under pressure from Iran to remain united and not give into
Sadr’s demands Iran warned Framework what it could lose if excluded from govt Sadr was demanding Maliki be shut out of govt Maliki had largest party within Framework
Jan 18 Hashd called for protests against PM Kazemi’s order for Hashd to withdraw from Ninewa
Plains Hashd already ignored order by PM Abdul Mahdi to do leave
Jan 20 Protest in Baghdad against political system Accused Coordination Framework of corruption
Demanded Maliki be put on trial Opposed PM Kazemi staying in office
Jan 25 Iraq ranked 25th most corrupt country out of 180 in Transparency International’s Corruption
Perceptions Index
(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)
Jan 25 Report Iran’s Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani and Hezbollah’s Kawtharani had been in Iraq
trying to form new govt Failed to meet with Sadr and convince him to join Coordination Framework Also didn’t solve disputes within Framework
Jan 27 Report Speaker Halbusi’s house in Anbar hit by rockets Came after campaign started
accusing Halbusi of being connected to IS Also claimed Halbusi was for relations with Israel Part of campaign by Coordination Framework to intimidate Sadr’s allies while forming govt
Jan 27 Activist’s body found in Basra after kidnapped 2 days before Shot in head
Feb 2 Report Front group affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah claimed to have launched drone attack
on Abu Dhabi
Feb 3 IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi killed by US in Syria
Feb 3 Report KRG extended natural gas pipeline towards Turkish border Was hoping to eventually
export gas to Turkey Khor Mor field in Sulaymaniya supplied gas to power plants in Sulaymaniya and Irbil Planned to add pipeline from field to Dohuk 2013 KRG signed deal with Turkey to export gas Never happened KRG didn’t produce enough gas for its own needs Was also Chamchamal gas field
Feb 3 Alwiyat al-Waad al-Haq took responsibility for drone attack on UAE Believed to be front for
Kataib Hezbollah
Feb 9 Report Ayatollah Khamenei told Coordination Framework it had to remain united and
members like Badr’s Amiri could not join with Sadr in new govt Jan Framework asked Khamenei if members could join with Sadr
Feb 9 Report Iraq finished paying reparations to Kuwait for 1990 invasion Was $52.4 bil
Feb 12 KRG started charging higher tariffs on oil companies Could mean millions of dollars in new
fees for companies May 2021 KRG said it would slow pace of paying companies Jul said it would start charging for gas flaring from oil fields Companies already paid $4-$7 per/bar in tariffs KRG was desperate for money after yrs of economics problems due to oil and disputes with Baghdad
Feb 13 Report When Maliki 1st became PM in 06 agreed to engage Arab world Jul 06 Maliki made
1st foreign trip Was to Saudi Arabia Met with King Abdullah who refused to meet Maliki again King called Maliki a liar and believed he was an Iranian agent Iraqis told Saudis that Maliki was working for Iran Saudis believed Shiites tools of Iran Bush and Obama failed to get Saudis to improve relations with Iraq 07 Saudis funded Allawi a Maliki rival Backed Allawi in 2010 election Maliki thought Saudis were trying to overthrow him
(Musings On Iraq review A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, The Saudi Struggle For Iraq)
Feb 13 Report Aid groups said number of Yazidis returning to Sinjar dist in Ninewa down Turkey
has been targeting area because of PKK Yazidis killed and wounded by Turkish strikes Sinjar not rebuilt Lacked jobs and services Only 30% of Yazidis returned
Feb 14 Report Totals $27 bil deal stuck in contract disputes 2020 Total agreed to invest in 4 oil and
gas projects in Basra for 25 yrs Oil Min didn’t clear deal with depts before signing it Cabinet needs to ok deal Total supposed to spend $10 bil on Ratawi field in Basra Oil Min wanted Iraqi National Oil Company to be partner in deal Total said no Total also supposed to build solar power plant Develop natural gas processing facility Build $3 bil water injection project to help southern oil production
Feb 15 Federal Supreme Court ruled that KRG’s oil and gas contracts were unconstitutional KRG
PM Barzani said the ruling was illegitimate
(Musings On Iraq Baghdad-Irbil Talks About KRG’s Oil Industry Likely To Go Nowhere)
(Musings On Iraq Kurdistan Continues To Defy Iraq’s Central Govt Over Oil Industry)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 15 ISF evacuated 5 villages in Makhmoul Mts in Salahaddin due to IS activity
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Feb 22 Rapid Response Force officer arrested for firing into crowd of demonstrators in Nasiriya
Feb 23 Report Oil Min Jabbar said Iraq would increase ability to export oil and use natural gas for
electric power plants Iraq produced 27 bil cubic ft of natural gas/day Didn’t have ability to exploit it Still imported 20 mil cubic ft/day of gas from Iran
Feb 27 Report Ericsson paid bribes to IS in Iraq 2011-19 created slush fund Took Def Min officials on
foreign trips Member of Barzani family paid $1.2 mil by company
Mar 2 Report Political parties said they wanted to investigate those responsible for killing protesters
and bring them to justice Created investigative comm Pushed by Imtidad Party created out of protest movement Govt said 560 protesters killed Were 11 previous investigative comms Nasiriya committee accused 5 sr ISF officers of being behind violence Also found Hashd responsible for violence Activist said all the committees had same fate with political interference that stopped anything from happening
Mar 3 Federal Supreme Court ruled PM Kazemi’s anti-corruption committee headed by Gen Ragheef
invalid Created in 2020 to investigate corruption and important crimes Committee was later accused of torture and politically motivated arrests
Mar 3 Report Federal Supreme Court abolished anti-corruption committee Lawsuit filed by political
parties that wanted to stop its work Was setback for PM Kazemi Was question about what committee did because didn’t look into corruption files but specific people Questioned about people convicted under committee Sep 2021 PM Kazemi stopped committee’s work Head of Baghdad Investment Comm Dir of Key Card Company Fmr Ninewa Gov Akoub Head of Al-Hal Party Karbuli Dep Min of Electricity Head of Public Retirement Authority all arrested Were accusations of human rights abuses Gov Akoub said his brother was tortured by committee Others reportedly tortured as well
Mar 10 Report Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sent letters to KDP and Sunni parties
threatening them for working with Sadr to try to form majority govt
Mar 10 IS announced new leader Abu Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi eldest brother of dead
IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdad
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 Sunnis parties threatening them for working with Sadr
Mar 13 Iran fired missiles at Irbil claiming they were targeting Israeli center Iranian ambassador to
Iraq threatened more attacks saying there were Mossad bases in Irbil Likely threat to KDP for aligning with Sadr in govt formation process
Mar 23 Human Rights Report LGBT Iraqis are routinely attacked by family members and armed
groups without punishment
Mar 28 KRG PM Barzani said that KRG would eventually export natural gas to Turkey and Europe
KRG had been talking about that since 2012
Apr 4 Mass grave found in Najaf Dated from 1991 uprising
Apr 5 Report Jan 2022 Oil Min officials talked about increasing oil exports to 3.7 mil/bar/day by
end of yr Delays in infrastructure projects meant officials now only talking about increasing exports by 200,000 bar/day
Apr 6 Report Virginia lawyer worked for Nechirvan Barzani Found 300 properties from Virginia to
Dubai owned by Barzani and associates 4 properties bought in Virginia worth $20 mil from trust associated with Barzani’s wife 2 more properties bought for $3 mil from trust for man that worked for Barzani Husband of Barzani’s aunt owned 288 apartments in building in Dubai worth over $100 mil Records show husband didn’t have enough money in accounts to buy that many properties
Apr 9 Fmr Ninewa Gov Nujafi given 7 yrs in absentia for mismanaging public funds Used money to
pay for his Ninewa Guards May 2015 parliament removed Nujafi as governor 2018 given 3 yrs for collaborating with Turkey
Mar 1 Court gave fmr Babil Gov Abadi 6 yrs in prison for taking residential land for his own use Also
auctioned and illegally confiscated land belonging to Finance Min
May 17 KRG judicial council said KRG’s 2007 oil and gas law was constitutional Response to
Federal Supreme Court ruling law was unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq Kurdistan Continues To Defy Iraq’s Central Govt Over Oil Industry)
May 19 Oil Ministry told energy companies in KRG had to sign new contracts with state marketing
office Part of Baghdad’s attempt to enforce Feb Supreme Court ruling that KRG oil law and contracts unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq Kurdistan Continues To Defy Iraq’s Central Govt Over Oil Industry)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
May 23 38 Kurdish villages in Makhmour dist Ninewa empty due to IS threats
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
May 24 At Davos economic forum KRG PM Barzani said that KRG would follow constitution and
that overruled Supreme Court ruling that KRG’s energy law was unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq Kurdistan Continues To Defy Iraq’s Central Govt Over Oil Industry)
May 27 Report 2021 KRG earned $9.12 bil in oil revenues After payments to foreign operators
trading companies pipeline fees transit fees to Turkey only made $3.96 bil End of 2021 KRG owed $3.82 bil to oil traders that prepay for KRG’s oil exports
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 1 UN Report Attacks upon activists continued PM Kazemi govt did little about them Since 2020
only convicted 10 Hashd and ISF for killing protesters vs 1106 cases with no sentences 2021-22 26 attacks on activists including 1 assassination 2 other attempts
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Continued Killing And Intimidation Of Protest Activists In Iraq)
Jun 2 Report Oil Min sued 7 oil companies working in KRG after Supreme Court said that their
deals were unconstitutional
(Musings On Iraq Legal Battle Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil Over Oil)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jun 6 Electricity Min said Iran cut 35% of its natural gas exports to Iraq for unpaid dues Iraq owed
$1.69 bil to Tehran Gas used to fuel Iraq power plants
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Can’t Pay Its Bills And The Power Grid Suffers)
Jun 9 Sadr ordered his MPs to resign from parliament Led opponents to outmaneuver Sadr and form
Sudani govt
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Still Wants To Be Kingmaker In Forming Next Iraqi Govt)
Jun 9 Report Integrity Comm said 41 employees and customers involved in stealing $697 mil from
Agriculture Bank and Rasheed Bank in Maysan
(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)
Jun 9 US SEC investigating Ericsson over corruption case in Iraq in 2019 Company admitted to
paying IS protection money to do business in Iraq started in 2011 Also investigated for bribery
Jun 12 Sadr’s MPs resigned from parliament
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Still Wants To Be Kingmaker In Forming Next Iraqi Govt)
Jun 16 Report European think tank said IS still making millions from kidnapping drug smuggling
human trafficking selling antiquities
Jun 19 Pro-Iran groups used interview with ex-Sec State Pompeo who said killing of Gen
Suleimani and Abu Muhandis as proof that Iraqi intel took part in op Set off bombs in front of intel agency HQ in Baghdad
(Musings On Iraq Political Violence By Pro-Iran Groups Continues In Iraq)
Jun 22 Report 12 villages in Shirwan Basin in central Diyala threatened with displacement due to
IS threats
(Musings On Iraq The Islamic State’s Failed Comeback In Iraq)
Jun 23 64 of Sadr’s MPs were replaced in parliament Kataib Hezbollah’s Huquq Movement also
withdrew from parliament and had MPs replaced
Jun 27 Major oil service companies Schlumberger Baker Hughes Halliburton said they would
comply with Oil Min request not to work in KRG anymore
(Musings On Iraq Legal Battle Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil Over Oil)
Jul 2 Dhi Qar activist kidnapped in Sep 2020 found dead Likely killed by Hashd
(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)
(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)
Jul 5 Court in Baghdad annulled KRG oil contracts with DNO Genel Energy Western Zagros HKN
Part of Baghdad’s attempt to control KRG’s oil industry
(Musings On Iraq Legal Battle Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil Over Oil)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jul 5 Oil services companies Schlumberger Baker Hughes Halliburton said it would compley with Iraq
Supreme Court ruling to withdraw from KRG
Jul 15 Sadr held large Friday prayers to show his power to rivals in Coordination Framework
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Finally Pulls Off His Much-Anticipated March To Intimidate His Rivals)
Jul 16 Recording of Nuri al-Maliki released Said UK wanted to put Sadr in power Then he would be
assassinated and Sunnis would resume control of Iraq Said Iran trying to make Sadr the next Nasrallah Called Sadr a murderer for all the people his Mahdi Army killed
(Musings On Iraq Leaked Recordings Of Maliki Increase Political Tensions In Iraq)
Jul 17 Recording of Nuri al-Maliki released Said he would attack Najaf and Sadr’s HQ Said he
didn’t trust the ISF to provide security Said Hashd were a bunch of cowards
(Musings On Iraq Leaked Recordings Of Maliki Increase Political Tensions In Iraq)
Jul 17 After signing a deal to import power from Saudi Arabia Electricity Min Karim said Iraq could
become self-sufficient in electricity by 2025 and even export energy to Gulf States and Europe
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Electricity Minister Doesn’t Seem To Know What Self-Sufficiency Means)
Jul 19 Another recording of Nuri al-Maliki released Talked about working with Kataib Imam al-
Bazi against Sadr and shedding blood Maliki said Fatah leaders only cared about money
(Musings On Iraq Leaked Recordings Of Maliki Increase Political Tensions In Iraq)
Jul 19 Sadrists protested in Nasiriya against Maliki recordings Someone shot at house of State of
Law MP
Jul 21 Another recording of Nuri al-Maliki released Called Speaker Halbusi a Baathist
(Musings On Iraq Leaked Recordings Of Maliki Increase Political Tensions In Iraq)
Jul 25 Coordination Framework nominated State of Law’s Mohammed al-Sudani to be prime
minister Was nominated PM in 2019 and rejected
(Musings On Iraq Coordination Framework Picks Its Candidate For Iraq PM But Doesn’t Resolve Anything)
Jul 27 Sadrists stormed Green Zone and occupied parliament building Protested against PM
nominee Sudani
(Musings On Iraq Sadrists Take Over Iraq’s Parliament Building To Protest PM Candidate)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Steps Back From The Brink For Now)
Jul 29 Sadrists protested outside of 13 Hikma and Dawa offices in Baghdad and in southern Iraq
after Hikma head Hakim criticized Sadr
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Steps Back From The Brink For Now)
Jul 30 Sadrists stormed Green Zone 2nd time Started sit-in protest inside parliament building
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Steps Back From The Brink For Now)
Jul 31 Maliki and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali created Organizing Committee to Support Legitimacy
and Preserve State institutions Called on people to protest to defend the Iraqi state Claimed Sadr was threatening a coup to sieze the state
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Jul 31 Fatah’s Amiri warned that Coordination Framework protests could get out of control Called
for Sadr and Framework to show self-restraint
Aug 1 Coordination Framework called out its forces to protest in Baghdad Threatened to seize
Baghdad airport and PM’s house Reached outside of Green Zone and then Maliki and Khazali called the mobs off
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Steps Back From The Brink For Now)
Aug 2 Sadr told his followers to end sit-in inside parliament building but remain in Green Zone
Aug 3 Sadr gave speech calling for parliament to be dissolved and holding early elections as way
out of political crisis
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Abandoned Politics Out Of Frustration Now Wants To Return)
Aug 3 Protest activists sent message to Sadr asking for assurances and in return they would join
Sadrist protest in Baghdad’s Green Zone
Aug 4 Coordination Framework said it was open to Sadr’s call for early elections but he needed to
respect govt institutions meaning ending occupation of Green Zone and blocking sessions of parliament
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Abandoned Politics Out Of Frustration Now Wants To Return)
Aug 5 Activists protested against the political system in Baghdad
Aug 5 Sadrists held massive Friday prayer inside Baghdad’s Green Zone Called for early elections
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Abandoned Politics Out Of Frustration Now Wants To Return)
Aug 6 New Generation Movement called for protests in Sulaymaniya against corruption
Demonstration broken up by security forces Party’s HQ surrounded and members arrested
Aug 9 Maliki rejected Sadr’s call for parliament to be dissolved and new elections
Aug 12 Coordination Framework began sit-in protest outside Green Zone to counter Sadrist sit-in
inside Green Zone
Aug 16 Finance Min Allawi resigned Said corruption and lies were destroying Iraq Said Iraq facing
crisis of state and society Blamed the system created by US after 2003 Said govt run by people with no experience or skills in governing and management Bureaucracy controlled by party bosses oligarchs Hashd leaders Said he and PM Kazemi could do little because had no real control of govt Said stealing from the state was the real business of the elite
Aug 23 Sadrists protested outside Supreme Judicial Council building inside Green Zone to pressure
courts to dismiss parliament Courts already said didn’t have that power Gave into Sadr demands and said would hear case
(Musings On Iraq Sadrists Try To Pressure Courts To Dismiss Iraq’s Parliament)
Aug 25 Kazemi govt threatened new lawsuits against buyers of KRG oil
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 26 Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing Oil threatened new lawsuits against buyers of KRG
oil Said it was blocking loadings of illegal cargoes from Iraq meaning KRG exports KRG said its exports were unaffected
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 27 Diyala official said IS increased presence in SW of province along Baghdad border Said area
had empty villages and little security presence 500 families were displaced from southwest Diyala
Aug 28 Human Rights Watch KRG using defamation and incitement laws to clamp down on
protests Arbitrarily arrested activists journalists politicians Warned repression could lead to more social unrest
Aug 29 Sadr said he withdrew from politics again Ordered all his office closed Followers stormed
Green Zone again ISF killed 2 Sadrists Clashes started with ISF and then Hashd aligned with Coordination Framework in Baghdad Up to 12 killed Sadrist protests in Maysan Wasit Basra Dhi Qar Muthanna Diyala Diwaniya Burned Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Dawa Badr offices across south
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Descends Into Chaos With Open Fighting Betweenen Shiite Parties)
Aug 29 Sadr announced he was going on hunger strike until violence stopped
Aug 30 Fighting between Sadrists and Coordination Framework Hashd ended after Sadr called for
withdrawal Up to 30 killed 570 wounded in fighting
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Calls Off His Followers, What Comes Next In Iraqi Politics?)
Aug 30 Report if KRG didn’t get new investment its oil production would shrink Output already
down from 2019 to start of 2022
Aug 30 Report Foreign companies withdrew workers from Khor Mor natural gas field in
Sulaymaniya after repeated rocket attacks by pro-Iran groups
Sep 1 Clash in Basra between Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq killed 4 Afterward Sadr
warned AAH head Khazali to control his men Khazali then ordered closing all his offices in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
Sep 3 Report More than 1 tril dinars missing from govt account from 2021-22 Was account for fees
paid to participate in Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions Account was emptied
Sep 6 Report Less than 4 yrs after buying $27 mil mansion in Beverly Hills Barzani family is selling it
Mansour Barzani son of ex-KRG Barzani believed to be owner
Sep 20 Iraq’s State Organization for Marking Oil warned oil companies not to buy oil from KRG
after court ruling that said KRG oil deals were illegal
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Sep 22 Federal Supreme Court struck down order to create Iraqi National Oil Company Was
supposed to run operations for govt owned oil industry
Sep 25 State Administration Alliance formed between Coordination Framework KDP PUK
Sovereignty Alliance Babylon Bloc Agreed on consensus govt Would meet Sep 28 to dismiss Speaker Halbusi and then re-elect him
(Musings On Iraq New Iraqi Alliance, Will Sadr Join To Form Next Iraqi Govt?)
Sep 26 Report Qara Tapa director in Diyala said no IS bases in district Said just used area to move
through Sadiya Diyala director said no IS threat in his area Security expert said IS was in both areas Said 20 abandoned villages in Sadiya where no one would return because of IS Said Muqdadiya and Sadiya IS HQs in Iraq
Sep 27 Report KRG repaid $628 mil in debt to oil companies KRG owed $1.6-$1.7 bil to
oil firms
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 1 Activists protested in Baghdad Basra Najaf Diwaniya Wasit Dhi Qar Muthanna Maysan to
mark anniversary of movement Sadrists joined in Baghdad Were clashes with police in Baghdad and Basra
(Musings On Iraq Protesters Mark 3 Yr Anniversary Of Movement Marred By Sadrists)
Oct 4 Sadrists fired rockets and shot at Hashd HQ in Basra presidential palace 12 dead and wounded
Oct 9 KRG parliament extended its term for 1 yr after failing to hold elections on time
Oct 13 Fmr Water Min Latif Rasheed elected president Sent letter to Coordination Framework PM
candidate Mohammed al-Sudani to form new govt
Oct 15 PM designate Sudani said he would find out what happened to missing $2.5 bil missing from
tax authority Was withdrawn from Rafidain Bank in Aug and Sep 2021 and sent to 5 companies
Oct 24 Survey Iraq faced 2nd year of severe drought 90% said faced wheat failure due to water
shortages 25% said made no profit from wheat crop 4 out of 10 said harvested less wheat barley fruit vegetables in 2022 vs 2021 Iraq faced record low rainfall and increase temperature due to climate change Also reduced water flow down rivers due to neighboring countries
Oct 25 Iraq restarted work on Grand Faw Port in Basra Started in 2010 and never finished
Oct 26 Baghdad court annulled KRG contracts with Addax Petroleum ShMaran and Gulf Keystone
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
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