Oct 13 Fmr Water Min Latif Rasheed elected president Sent letter to Coordination
Framework PM candidate Mohammed al-Sudani to form new govt
(Musings On Iraq 1 Yr After Elections Iraq Finally Has A 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missing from tax authority Was withdrawn from Rafidain Bank in Aug and Sep 2021 and sent to 5 companies Scandal originally announced in Sep
(Musings On Iraq PM Sudani Plays Politics With Iraq’s Latest Corruption Scandal)
(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)
Oct 20 Report Man in Baghdad said Defense Min soldiers confiscated his house Soldiers
working for political parties confiscated real estate in 3 areas of Baghdad More than one investigation launched into matter but blocked by parties Officers also extorted money from alcohol stores and nightclubs
Oct 27 PM Sudani’s cabinet was confirmed by parliament with 21 ministers
(Musings On Iraq 1 Yr After Elections Iraq Finally Has A New Govt)
Oct 28 Report Sadr won 73 of 329 seats in parliament in 2021 election Wanted majority govt
Jun Sadr ordered MPs to resign Jul stormed and occupied parliament Aug occupied parliament again Sadr challenged idea about Shiite controlled state as he was going to exclude most of the Shiite parties Sadr played upon instability before to achieve his goals where he caused crisis to undermine opponents Sadr hoped KDP and Sunni list would resign with him but didn’t Instead KDP and Sunnis talked with Coordination Framework Sadr pushed reforms to mobilize his base Sadr convinced many he was protest leader which helped him win election After 2018 vote expanded control of state but didn’t help his base High unemployment amongst Sadrists despite control of state and expansion of govt workers meant jobs didn’t keep pace with population growth
Oct 30 PM Sudani met with Integrity Commission and said his govt would work to fight
corruption
Nov 1 Kurdistan Islamic Union MPs resigned from KRG parliament Said extending term of
legislature was illegal
Nov 2 Report PM Sudani fired all the top officials named by PM Kazemi New intel head
close to Hashd New Joint Ops Command head was close to Hashd leader Abu Muhandis Head of PM’s media office went to Kataib Hezbollah
Nov 2 Report Sudani wanted to replace special grades roughly 10,000 positions with mostly
Dawa members Under PM Maliki Dawa had 70% of special grades Then Sadrists took most of them Positions have constantly been expanded to allow them to be filled by ruling parties
Nov 28 PM Sudani announced Muhandis General Company Controlled by pro-Iran Hashd
Gave them entry into Iraqi economy and govt contracts
Nov 30 IS said its leader Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi was killed and Abu al-
Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi was its new leader
Dec 6 Hashd controlled Muhandis General Company got 1.2 mil acres of govt land in
southern Iraq free
Dec 7 2 protesters killed in Dhi Qar by police demonstrating against activist getting 3 yrs for
insulting Hashd
Dec 21 Report PM Kazemi’s anti-corruption committee tortured detainees 1 might have died
from torture 2020 Human Rights Min said prisoners were tortured 2021 parliamentary comm said suspects tortured Some arrests appeared to be political going after opponents of Kazemi ally Sadr Committee told detainees that if they paid back stolen money or turned over assets would be released Money then taken by officials Committee was disbanded by court in Mar 2022
2023
Jan 5 Report US asked Iraqi banks to join network to stop money smuggling out of Iraq but
only around 20 banks joined and some of them still smuggling Banks created fake airline tickets from travel companies and used them to buy dollars in Central Bank auctions to be smuggled out of Iraq Around $100-$250 mil smuggled out of Iraq every week At least ½ money went to Iran Rest to 3 neighboring countries Oil sales are turned into dollars and almost immediately auctioned off and then sent out of Iraq
Jan 5 Report Iraq facing housing crisis and sky rocketing prices Real estate used to launder
money Analyst said $1 bil used to buy 55 properties in Baghdad and another $1 bil for other properties
Jan 10 Report Southern marshes shrinking and being polluted Experts warned if south didn’t
get more water and land managed better marshes could disappear Would lead to further migration to cities Jul 2022 govt said water reserves dropped 60% from 2021 Lack of fresh water meant sea water moving northwards Sea water destroyed 24,000 hectares of farm land and 30,000 trees in south Climate change reducing rainfall Increasing temperatures which is evaporating reservoirs and streams UN said Iraq 5th most vulnerable country to climate change Iraq talked with neighbors about increasing water down rivers with no results
Jan 10 Report KRG cut price of its oil which was already discounted Came after Iraq Supreme
Court ruled KRG’s oil deals illegal KRG changed way companies calculated invoices to shift risks to them
Jan 11 Report Parliament’s finance comm said 2023 budget would add more than 3.5 mil new
jobs Salaries would go from 42 tril dinars to 60 tril dinars Used by political parties for patronage and theft Would be unsustainable in long run
Jan 12 Human Rights Watch Criticized KRG for arresting journalists in Irbil Dohuk Sheikhan
before Aug 2021 protests and sentencing of 3 journalists activists to 6 yrs in Irbil
Jan 12 Report 2023 budget would include 450,000 new jobs All patronage for ruling parties
and unsustainable
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s New Govt Pushes For Huge Increase In Govt Jobs For Patronage)
Jan 12 Report Many positions in Defense Min being changed by new ruling parties to meet
quotas Said loyalty to politicians more important than competency
Jan 12 Report Restaurants and malls in Baghdad used for money laundering by corrupt
politicians and figures under US sanctions
Jan 15 PM Barzani said PUK had mismanaged Sulaymaniya Officials interfered in
province’s revenues and manipulated them for their own gain Said reason why govt workers not paid Said PUK would not turn over suspects in assassination of Peshmerga officer in Irbil
(Musings On Iraq KRG’s PM Barzani Blasts The PUK)
Jan 17 Metro Center for Journalists Rights reported 431 violations against journalists in
KRG 24 physical attacks upon journalists 64 arrests, 1 media outlet shut down 6 cyber attacks 2 rocket attacks
Jan 18 Former Electricity Min Fahdawi said 100,000 workers in ministry redundant
Jan 20 Report US trying to block dollars being bought at Central Bank of Iraq auctions and
sent to other countries like Syria Russia Lebanon Treasury and Federal Reserve officials sent to Iraq to enforce new rules All dollar purchases now have to be entered into e-form and confirmed by US and Iraqi officials 80% of requests denied last 2 months Central Bank of Iraq banned 4 banks from taking part in auctions
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Suffers As Dollar Increases In Value)
Jan 21 Report Around 200-300 buyers who purchase dollars for political parties and then
move them out of Iraq ISF arrested a number of buyers in Baghdad Buy $2.5 mil-$5 mil/day
Jan 21 Report New US restrictions on buying dollars causing crisis for Iraqi govt Oil main
source of revenue and sold for dollars Were then converted into dinars at Central Bank of Iraq auctions New rules slowed process meant govt couldn’t pay govt worker salaries and other bills
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Suffers As Dollar Increases In Value)
Jan 23 PM Sudani fired head of Central Bank of Iraq over devaluation of dinar Scapegoated
because dinar pegged to dollar which was increasing due to Fed Reserve raising interest rates to fight inflation in US
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Suffers As Dollar Increases In Value)
Jan 25 Federal Supreme Court said Baghdad sending monthly payments to KRG was illegal
Suit filed by independent MP from Basra aligned with Coordination Framework Abdul Mahdi Kazemi and Sudani govts all sent monthly payments to KRG without budget agreement
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Sending Money To Kurdistan Throwing Wrench Into PM Sudani’s Govt)
Jan 28 Report Oil trader Trafigura Group stopped doing business with KRG Tried to
renegotiate contract but KRG PM Barzani dropped out of meeting Tafigura advanced millions to KRG starting in 2015 as region got into dispute with Baghdad over budget and oil contracts Jun 2022 KRG owed $3.5 bil to oil buyers $620 mil stuck in Lebanese banks due to country’s financial crisis
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jan 31 Sudani govt said it wanted to return all displaced and close all displaced camps in 6
months
(Musings On Iraq Sudani Latest PM To Claim he Will End Iraq’s Displaced Problem)
Feb 14 Report Jul 2021 KRG Natural Resource Min told oil companies had to stop flaring
natural gas at oil fields in 18 months Didn’t happen Would mean oil companies would have to invest in natural gas equipment when KRG was not regularly paying them and owed them millions Was due to KRG’s failed oil policy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Feb 21 Iraq signed deal with Crescent Petroleum to develop 3 natural gas fields PM Sudani
said Iraq wanted to be self-sufficient in natural gas production by 2026
Feb 22 Lahur Talabani said he would claim co-head of PUK after Irbil court decision ruled in
his favor over matter Jul 2021 Bafel Talabani declared himself sold president of PUK and moved to push Lahur out of his position
Mar 2 Report Oil production in KRG fell for 3rd yr in a row 2019 KRG production peaked at
484,000 bar/day Was down to 438,000 bar/day in 2022 Problem is KRG still not consistently paying oil companies They warned production could continue to drop if not paid consistently and on time Natural Resource Min has made unilateral changes to cut profits to oil companies to pay for its bloated public sector Needs $600 mil/mo to pay KRG govt workers KRG raised pipeline fees on companies Changed prices formula to reduce amount paid to companies KRG also largely cut off from budget payments from Baghdad because can’t agree on oil policy and budget KRG also billions in debt Oil prices fell end of 2022 which imposed more financial problems on KRG Khor Mor gas field attacked in 2022 that cut back expansion of field KDP and PUK in political dispute over control of KRG and has blocked building pipeline to Khor Mor to Turkey
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 8 Around 1000 street cleaners went on strike in Irbil over not being paid for 6 months Part
of KRG’s financial woes due to failed oil policy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 9 PM Sudani agreed to send 400 bil dinars to KRG despite Supreme Court ruling that
sending money to regional govt illegal Was done to maintain Kurdish support for Sudani’s govt
(Musings On Iraq Sudani Govt Sends Budget Payments To Kurds To Keep Ruling Coalition Together)
Mar 22 Displacement Min Jabro said Sudani govt wanted to end displacement problem in 6
mo Said govt needed to rebuild fmr war areas provide security services infrastructure to encourage people to return Didn’t happen
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Wants To End Displacement In 6 Months)
Mar 25 Intl Arbitration Court ruled Turkey violated bilateral treaty with Iraq by exporting
KRG’s oil Turkey halted both Iraqi and KRG oil flows through pipeline Iraq wanted Turkey to pay $58 bil in damages Court only said Turkey had to pay $1.4 bil Court also said Iraq had to pay Turkey around $600 mil for unpaid fees on using pipeline
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Wins Arbitration Case Against Turkey Exporting KRG’s Oil)
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Mar 25 Turkey closed pipeline to Iraq after lost arbitration court Refused to open it for
months afterwards
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Now Stating The Obvious, It’s Up To Turkey To Re-Open Oil Pieline)
Mar 27 Parliament amended Election Law to return to old system of having each province be
a single voting district Helps large parties win elections
(Musings On Iraq Coordination Framework Moves To Re-Write Iraq’s Election Rules)
Mar 27 Turkey shut down oil pipeline to Iraq in retaliation for losing arbitration case Denied
KRG of its main source of revenue
Mar 28 Report Claims Iraq wanted to be ambiguous over whether it had WMD to deter
Iran and that secular Saddam wouldn’t work with Islamist Al Qaeda persist but not true Iraq tried to hide its WMD from inspectors When started to come clean UN and US believed that proved Iraq hiding its programs and punished it to try to get more info but backfired Made Iraq not want to cooperate 1994 Iraqi Intel Service made contact with bin Laden in Sudan Iraqis met bin Laden in 1995 Asked for Iraq to broadcast Salafi preacher into Saudi Arabia and asked for joint ops vs US in Saudi Arabia Saddam okayed radio broadcasts Intel service wanted to look into further cooperation with bin Laden After he was deported from Sudan and went to Afghanistan in 1996 intel service said it still had contact with him Nothing came of it Iraq supported other jihadist groups Saddam opposed to Salafis in Iraq but willing to work with them in other countries if helped Iraq’s interests
Mar 29 Report Wars devastated Iraq’s infrastructure Made it more vulnerable to climate
change Temps continue to rise and water declining leading to constant droughts Water reserve down 50% in 2023 New Turkish dam cut 60% of water down Tigris Dried up wetlands in south Iraq Rising temps and droughts also increased sand/dust storms Environ Min said sand/dust storms increasing each yr Most farming based upon small farms that rely upon rain Declining due to droughts Led to desertification Iraq losing 100 sq km of arable land Desertification forcing farmers to abandon land and move to cities Oil dependency led Iraq to ignore climate change Failed to capture natural gas created at oil wells Releases carbon emissions that increase global warming and Iraq’s temperature and water problems Oil companies have refused to follow rules on gas emissions
Apr 14 Report Sadr froze his movement over sinful acts by followers Said would last at least a
year Never happened
Apr 18 Displacement Min closed displaced camp in Ninewa Said it was part of govt plan to
end displacement Gave 300 families 2 days notice Locked aid workers out of camp
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Wants To End Displacement In 6 Months)
Apr 24 Hashd controlled Muhandis General Company took over around 20 blocks of
property in west Baghdad
Apr 26 PM Sudani said that with gas auctions and deal with Total Iraq would be self-
sufficient in natural gas and be an exporter in 3-5 yrs
May 9 Report Feb 2023 Iran shipped military aid to Syria with help of Iraq using
humanitarian aid after earthquake in Syria as cover Trucked equipment across Iraq using pro-Iran Hashd units and Quds Force Arms shipments started day after earthquake Included Chief of Staff of Hashd Commission Abu Fadak
May 14 PUK ended boycott of KRG cabinet Started in 2022 over rivalry with KDP over
controlling region PUK gained nothing
May 22 KDP said vote took place to re-activate KRG Election Comm for Nov voting PUK
said there was no vote after speaker of KRG parliament from PUK cancelled session Was reversed by her deputy Led to fight between MPs
May 25 Oil Min signed contracts with four oil traders that bought much of KRG’s oil exports
Part of Baghdad-Irbil oil deal
May 30 Federal Supreme Court ruled that KRG parliament extending its term in 2022 was
unconstitutional and all its decisions afterwards were null and void
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Supreme Court Could Stall KRG Elections And Threaten Federalism)
Jun 4 Irbil court sentenced PUK’s Counter Terror chief Halabiaye and 5 others for
assassination of colonel on KRG Security Council Was killed in Oct 2022 after he switched to KDP
Jun 29 Sadrists stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad after and Iraqi in Sweden burned
the Quran Protests would last for a week Marked Sadr’s return to politics after he failed to form the new govt in Oct 2022
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Finally Returns To The Political Scene By Telling His Followers To Protest In The Streets)
Jul 2 Malaysia’s Petronas told Oil Min it wanted to sell its shares in Gharraf oil field in Dhi
Qar Was not happy with business in Iraq Latest oil company to withdraw from country
(Musings On Iraq Malaysia’s Petronas Latest Oil Company To Want Out Of Iraq)
Jul 3 Report 1000s of dead fish appeared in Maysan due to high salinity and water pollution
Major cause lack of water down Tigris River
Jul 3 Report Member of Election Comm said ruling parties would exploit state’s resources in
election campaigns which was illegal
(Musings On Iraq Ruling Parties Seek To Control Iraq’s Election Comm Before Dec Vote)
Jul 6 Oil Ministry said Iraq wanted to achieve self-sufficiency in natural gas by 2028
Jul 11 Sadrists protested outside presidential palace in Basra Demanded that Asaib Ahl Al-
Haq vacate the complex Sadrists and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq longtime rivals Was warning to Sadr’s opponents that he was back on the political scene
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Finally Returns To The Political Scene By Telling His Followers To Protest In The Streets)
Jul 11 After Iran cut off natural gas exports to Iraq twice during the summer Sudani govt
announced it would trade crude and heavy fuel to Iran in exchange for electricity and gas to fuel power plants Iran couldn’t use the crude Iraq deposited money to pay Iran but Tehran couldn’t access all of it due to US sanctions Was meant to stave off protests
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Blames US For Power Shortages To Defer From Its Own Failings)
Jul 11 UN warned current heatwave could reduce Iraq’s southern marshes to lowest level in
yrs
Jul 12 Water Min said Iraq in talks with Turkey over water shortages Min said it had 2 plans
1st to release more water from dams and reservoirs for farming 2nd was better distribution and water management Iraq had no water reserves to release
Jul 15 Sadrists attacked 20 Dawa and State of Law offices in 10 provinces Warning to his
rivals that Sadr was back on political scene Came after State of Law figure said Ayatollah Sadiq al-Sadr worked with Saddam
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Finally Returns To The Political Scene By Telling His Followers To Protest In The Streets)
Jul 16 Sadrists attacked 5 Dawa offices Badr offices in Baghdad and Najaf Grenade thrown
at Labor Min office who is from Coordination Framework
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Finally Returns To The Political Scene By Telling His Followers To Protest In The Streets)
Jul 20 Moody’s report Iraq had weak credit due to poor institutions and governance Weak
institutions made policy ineffective and hurt competitiveness Oil dependence made it vulnerable to energy market Political fragmentation and outside tensions high youth unemployment make it high risk IMF said non-oil economy shrunk 9% last qtr 2022 IMF said Iraq needed fiscal discipline Structural reform
Jul 20 Sadrists stormed Swedish embassy in Baghdad for 2nd time after Quran stomped on in
Sweden Swedish ambassador expelled Iraq cut diplomatic relations with Sweden and suspended contract with Ericsson
Jul 21 Report Water Min said water reserves reached all time low Iraq on verge of large scale
water scarcity UN said Iraq 5th most vulnerable to climate change Said 90% of rivers polluted Would only meet 15% of water demand by 2035 Almost 70% of marshes dried up
Jul 25 Defense Comm said large displacement from villages and rural areas due to water
shortages
Jul 25 KRG Finance Min Janab said KRG’s income not enough to pay its govt workers
Blamed new budget for taking away 50% of region’s domestic income KRG wasn’t delivering money to Baghdad Was due to KRG’s failed oil policy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Jul 31 World Bank predicted problems for Iraq’s econ in 2023 GDP would shrink due to
predicted oil production cuts Little reform Not much growth in non-oil sector and corruption would restrain long term growth Criticized budget for excessive spending Said budget didn’t include diversification of economy
Aug 2 100s of doctors protested in Sulaymaniya and Halabja over not being paid by KRG for
Jun and Jul Due to KRG’s failed oil policy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Aug 8 Water Min spokesman said water reserves at lowest level in history Said water levels
almost half level of 2022 Said water down coming form Tigris and Euphrates Early in 2023 ministry said water reserves dropped from 60 bil to 5 bil
Aug 9 Report Think tank said lack of political will in Baghdad has meant no solution to water
crisis Said govt neglected problem Talks with other countries over last 20 yrs inconsistent Water Min is not considered important by Iraqi elite Accepted promises by Turkey that dams would not harm Iraq when they did 2019 memo of understanding with Turkey and Syria over water never followed Waer Min told not to talk with Iran about water Iraq almost completely dependent upon Tigris and Euphrates because rainfall so law 90% of water comes from 2 rivers 71% of river water comes from Turkey 7% from Iran 4% from Syria Water down rivers dropped almost 50% from 2019 to 2020 Lack of govt plan has increased drought Turkey and Iran continue to build more dams which will negatively impact Iraq Since 1974 Turkey built 22 dams Iran built more than 10 Climate change cut annual rainfall by 30% and will get worse
Aug 12 PM Sudani said Iraq would end reliance upon Iranian natural gas by 2026 Claimed
strategic plan would reduce need for imports Claimed all problems with Iran had been settled
(Musings On Iraq Iraq Blames U.S. For Power Shortages To Defer From Its Own Failings)
Aug 13 Water Min said water down rivers increased after talks with Turkey Said good
management could address water crisis Said more water in storage to cover all projects Storage system was actually running dry
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Water Storage Which Was Supposed To Help Get Through 3rd Yr Of Drought Running Dry)
Aug 14 UN Development Programme warned Iraq losing 400,000 dunums of farmland each
yr Iraq ranked 5th most vulnerable to climate change Said temperatures increased in Iraq 2-7 times faster than other countries 2020-21 driest seasons in 40 yrs Water down Tigris down 29% Euphrates down 73%
Aug 14 Report No tourist business in Anbar’s Lake Habaniya because water dried up due to 4
yrs of drought
Aug 16 PUK announced changed party’s bylaws Allowed Bafel Talabani to consolidate
control over it
Aug 17 Report Ruling parties using money they stole to fund their election campaign
(Musings On Iraq Ruling Parties Seek To Control Iraq’s Election Comm Before Dec Vote)
Aug 20 Parliament’s water committee said water storage levels reached dead level Blamed
govt for not making deals with foreign countries to increase water flow down rivers
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Water Storage Which Was Supposed To Help Get Through 3rd Yr Of Drought Running Dry)
Aug 24 Iraq announced preliminary deal to import natural gas from Turkmenistan to fuel
power plants No infrastructure existed to deliver the gas Analysts said would take 2 yrs to build pipelines that would go through Turkey
Aug 26 Parliament’s oil committee said it supported Sudani govt’s goal to nearly double oil
production to 8 mil/bar/day by 2027 Also wanted to become self-sufficient in natural gas Said it expected huge foreign investment to finance plans
(Musings On Iraq Sudani Govt Wants To Make Iraq More Oil Dependent)
Sep 4 KRG said federal funds not enough to pay region’s govt workers Baghdad sent $382 bil
KRG needed $717 bil for all its bills KRG officials attacked budget for being unfair Was due to KRG’s failed oil policy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Sep 11 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Iraq facing emergency over climate
change Said Iraq losing its resources like dates and water
Sep 14 Report US Treasury officials told Central Bank of Iraq it needs to impose new rules on
banks for fraud money laundering and breaking sanctions by sending money to Iran
Sep 19 Report Pollution in Tigris River 90% Lack of water down river failing to flush out
pollution Water Min had no solution
Sep 21 Democratic Forces for Change party accused 2 lists of putting their people into
Election Comm Feared they would use them to cheat in Dec election
(Musings On Iraq Ruling Parties Seek To Control Iraq’s Election Comm Before Dec Vote)
Sep 21 Report Closing of Turkish pipeline causing economic problems in KRG Had to fire
workers and cut salaries Oil companies began layoffs 80% of KRG’s income came from oil
Sep 22 Sulaymaniya teachers went on strike over KRG not paying them Due to KRG’s failed
oil policy
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Oct 4 Report Hashd groups were keeping 2000 displaced families from returning to Dour in
Salahaddin Claim it was because of lack of security Were no security problems in Salahaddin
Oct 8 Report Baghdad Green Belt project to plant 100s of trees to combat climate change
barely completed Iraqi govts talk about tackling environment but do little
Oct 8 Report French research center said 36 Iraqi billionaires 16,000 millionaires Were heads
of political parties Militia cmdrs Directors of companies affiliated with them and foreign countries MPs Ministers Lived life of luxury
Oct 10 Report MP said ruling parties still manipulating Central Bank of Iraq dollar auctions
through banks they controlled
Oct 16 Report Nature Iraq warned southern marshes disappearing Comes as Iraq facing worst
drought in years Officials said more than 85% of Dhi Qar marshes dried up Programs to address problem not working
Oct 16 Report Hezbollah al-Nujafa fighter killed in Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon
Oct 18 Pro-Iran groups attacked Al-Asad airbase in Anbar and Al-Harir airbase in Irbil
targeting US troops for Washington’s support of Israel in Gaza War
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Groups Renew Attacks Upon US Targets In Retaliation For Gaza War)
Oct 19 Report Water Minister said neighboring countries weren’t following agreements to
increase water flow down rivers Sudani govt claimed Turkey had increased water flow during summer to help with drought
Oct 23 Biden admin said Iran facilitating attacks upon US troops in Iraq and Syria Said
groups were carrying out attacks with backing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Nov 4 Report Shabak Hashd collecting voter cards east of Mosul claiming it was for security
Also collected voter cards in Mosul suburb Gogjali
Nov 9 Report DNO told KRG oil companies will not produce for exports until late payments
re resolved KRG owes oil companies over $300 mil for 2022 and 2023 oil exports
(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Kurdistan’s Failed Independent Oil Strategy)
Nov 9 Fighting between Asaib Ahl Al-Gaq and Sadr’s Saraya al-Salm in Basra 2 killed
Nov 10 ExxonMobil singed transfer agreement with Oil Min to sell its last shares in West
Qurna 1 filed to PetroChina Afterward ExxonMobil will be completely out of Iraq Already exited KRG ExxonMobil latest major oil corporation to depart
(Musings On Iraq ExxonMobil Latest Major Oil Company To Leave Iraq)
Nov 13 Sadr called for his followers to boycott the Dec provincial elections in hopes to
delegitimize them
(Musings On Iraq Sadr Calls For Boycott Of Iraq’s Dec Election)
Nov 21 Report Almost 1 mil students in Sulaymaniya out of school for 2 mo due to teachers’
strike over KRG not paying them 2016 teachers went on strike for same reason KRG dependent upon budget payments from Baghdad Got money but only enough to pay for current salaries not past ones
Nov 21 Pro-Iran groups fired ballistic missile at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar wounded 8 US
personnel Biden admin struck several Hashd targets in retaliation 8 killed 4 wounded
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Nov 15-21, 2023)
Nov 27 Report Gaza War increased splits between pro-Iran groups Sudani govt embarrassed
by on going attacks by factions against US forces in Iraq Some groups wanted to escalate attacks others against Groups used to meet as part of Coordination Framework but now act as the Islamic Resistance Kataib Hezbollah said it, Ansar Allah al-Awifya, Harakat al-Nujaba, Al-Shuhada Brigades were the Resistance Didn’t include Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi and Hezbollah al-Nujaba)
Nov 29 Report Election Comm said it expected lowest turnout ever for an Iraqi election in
Dec Said it was aware of political parties illegally using govt funds and exploiting their influence
Nov 29 Report Parties in Diyala buying voter cards to cheat in Dec election Other parties
intimidating voters
Nov 29 Sudani govt said it was trying to deal with parties blackmailing voters by offering
services in return for their voter cards MP said parties paying 75,000-100,000 dinars to buy a single voter card
Dec 3 Pro-Iran groups fired rockets from western Ninewa at US military base in eastern Syria
Dec 5 Report Pro-Iran groups divided over where to take attacks on US forces Kataib
Hezbollah mocked Asaib Ahl Al-Haq as cowards Kataib Hezbollah listed Resistance factions and didn’t include Asaib Ahl Al-Haq
(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)
Dec 6 Sadrists attacked Hikma offices in 3 parts of Baghdad and in Diyala and Basra after
Hikma leader criticized Sadr’s boycott of 2023 provincial elections
(Musings On Iraq Sadrists Attack Their Rivals Before Iraq’s Dec Election)
Dec 7 Pro-Iran groups fired rockets at Green Zone for first time since October 2022
Dec 16 Special voting for security forces and displaced took place in provincial elections
Reports security forces threatened by commanders and govt officials if didn’t vote Was widespread fear of lowest voter turnout in post-03 Iraq
(Musings On Iraq Special Voting For Iraq’s Provincial Elections Occurs Amongst Continued Cheating)
Dec 16 Report Parliament’s migration committee said ruling parties used money for displaced
in election campaigns Labor Min said Badr threatened poor if didn’t vote for it wouldn’t get govt aid
Dec 22 Pro-Iran groups launched drone at Israel but show down over Jordan 1st reported
attempt on Israel
Dec 24 Pro-Iran groups claimed attack upon natural gas platform in Israel 1st reported
successful attack
Dec 25 Drone strike on Irbil airport by pro-Iran groups wounded 3 US soldiers
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Dec 22-28, 2023)
Dec 26 Biden admin struck Kataib Hezbollah in 3 areas of Babil and Harakat al-Nujaba in
Wasit 1 killed 24 wounded Retaliation for drone attack on Irbil Airport that wounded 3 US soldiers
(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Dec 22-28, 2023)
Dec 28 PM Sudani said he was going to move towards having US led Coalition withdraw
from Iraq
Dec 30 PM Sudani said he would move towards asking the US led Coalition to leave Iraq after
Biden admin retaliated against Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba that killed 1 Hashd member for attacks on US forces
(Musings On Iraq Iraq May Ask The US-Led Coalition To Leave)
2024
Jan 4 US struck Harakat al-Nujaba in Baghdad Killed dep cmdr of Hashd’s Baghdad Belt Ops
Accused of planning attacks on US forces
Jan 5 PM Sudani said committee would be formed to talk about US led Coalition withdrawing
form Iraq
Jan 11 Report PM Sudani told US officials he wanted US forces to stay in Iraq despite his
calls for withdrawal Got State Dept cable that said Sudani’s advisors told US officials that talk about withdrawal was to appease public
Jan 13 Fmr Pres Trump criticized Bush admin for not taking Iraq’s oil after the 2003 invasion
Said US was the only country that destroyed other places and then didn’t take anything to get paid for it
Jan 15 Iran fired missiles at alleged Mossad base in Irbil Hit civilian home leading to dead and
wounded
Jan 15 PM Sudani said he wanted US led Coalition to leave Iraq
Jan 15 Fmr PM Abadi said no agreement between ruling parties over US withdrawal Criticized
attacks on US forces in Iraq because they were invited by Baghdad
Jan 20 Pro-Iran groups fired 15-20 ballistic missiles at Asad airbase in Anbar Wounded 4 US
soldiers and 1 Iraqi soldier Largest attack by factions to that date
Jan 23 Sayid al-Shuhada Brigades announced a naval blockade of Israel in the Mediterranean
Jan 23 US struck Kataib Hezbollah in Anbar and Babil in retaliation for ballistic missile strike
on Asad airbase in Anbar
Jan 25 Report US and Iraq agreed to form committee to start talks over American withdrawal
Jan 27 Sudani govt held first talks with US about future withdrawal Suspended next day when
pro-Iran groups killed 3 US soldiers in drone strike in Jordan
Jan 29 Iranian Rev Guards’ Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani met with pro-Iran groups in Baghdad
Told them to halt attacks after 3 US soldiers killed in Jordan to avoid retaliation against Iran Led to Kataib Hezbollah announcing ceasefire
Jan 30 After being blamed for attack on US troops in Jordan that killed 3 Kataib Hezbollah
announced halt to attacks on US forces
(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)
Feb 1 Report Iranian Revolutionary Guard cmdr visited Iraq to try to de-escalate things after
pro-Iran groups killed 3 US soldiers in drone strike in Jordan Led to Kataib Hezbollah announcing truce Coordination Framework MP said it and Tehran both thought factions went too far with attack on Jordan
Feb 2 US struck Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib al-Imam Ali in Qaim, Anbar Killed 11 Wounded
42 Retaliation for drone strike in Jordan that killed and wounded US troops
Feb 2 Harakat al-Nujaba said it would continue attacks on US forces
Feb 4 Senior Asaib Ahl Al-Haq leader assassinated in Maysan Part of rivalry with Sadr
(Musings On Iraq Sadrists And Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Return To Violence In Southern Iraq)
Feb 5 Basra Gov Eidani re-elected Setback for Coordination Framework and Asaib Ahl Al-
Haq that wanted to control province and its oil and gas resources
(Musings On Iraq Coordination Framework Loses In 3 New Provincial Govts In Iraq)
Feb 7 US drone strike in Baghdad killed Kataib Hezbollah commander Blamed for planning
attacks on US troops
Feb 10 Report After Gaza War began emergency session of Hashd held led by Hashd chief of
staff Abu Fadak Islamic Resistance In Iraq announced and attacks began on US troops in Iraq and Syria afterward Facilitated by Hezbollah and Iran Hezbollah’s Kawtharani coordinated actions Sudani govt made deal with Hashd for truce to allow talks for US withdrawal PM Sudani reportedly told US Sec State Blinken his govt couldn’t take pressure from both US and Iran and that it would lose in the end Shiite MP said pro-Iran attacks had nothing to do with Gaza but gaining more power for Hashd within govt
Feb 10 Coordination Framework won all the top positions in Maysan ending Sadr’s control of
province
Feb 14 Shell withdrew from $11 bil contract to build Nebras Integrated Petrochemical
Complex Deal signed in 2015 Was supposed to be completed by 2021 Didn’t happen
Feb 17 Reports Ninewa Gov Dakhil said political parties and Hashd controlled province’s
institutions and exploited them via corruption to make money for themselves Officials said Ninewa tourism and commercial projects had to pay off parties, Asaib Ahl Al-haq, Harakat al-Nujaba, Sayid al-Shuhada, Babylon Brigades Many Christian provinces taken by Hashd
Feb 21 Report Sadrists had been fighting Asaib Ahl Al-Haq since Dec election Started in
Basra Offices were burned People killed Assassinations Govt did nothing
Mar 4 At conference PM Sudani claimed that Iraq would be self-sufficient in oil derivatives
such as natural gas by May 2024
Mar 18 Report KRG did not send full data on workers/pensioners to Baghdad to get budget
payments because full of ghost workers and people getting multiple salaries Example some men listed as divorced women on pension lists
Mar 24 Report Strikes by KRG govt workers spreading around Sulaymaniya and Halabja
provinces over not being paid for months
Mar 26 Report 400,000 govt workers eliminated from KRG payrolls for getting 2 or more
salaries 1 official said some public workers got 3-4 salaries Were 1000s of ghost workers
Apr 4 Report Due to disputes with Baghdad over budget KRG only paid its govt workers 9 out of
12 times in 2023 Only 1 out of 3 times in 2024
2 comments:
Kurd crude exports to Ceyhan still stopped , probably until the Turkish Elections. If Erdogan loses then the 50 year agreement is over I hope. Kurds are ganged up on from all sides except USA it seems to me.
Hopefully the KRG's exports will restart soon because the region is screwed without it. It's all up to Turkey to restart them.
Post a Comment