PM Sudani (2022-Present)

2022

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missing from tax authority Was withdrawn from Rafidain Bank in Aug and Sep 2021 and sent to 5 companies Scandal originally announced in Sep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 5^th 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 3^rd 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 7 Police officer convicted of assassinating analyst and govt advisor Hisham al-Hashemi in

Baghdad and given death penalty Officer was released instead

 

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

1^st to release more water from dams and reservoirs for farming 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 5^th 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 3^rd Yr Of Drought Running Dry)

 

Aug 14 UN Development Programme warned Iraq losing 400,000 dunums of farmland each

yr Iraq ranked 5^th 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 3^rd 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 Would use Iranian pipelines Deal not finalized until 2025

 

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 shot down over Jordan 1^st reported

attempt on Israel

 

Dec 24 Pro-Iran groups claimed attack upon natural gas platform in Israel 1^st 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 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Harakat al-Nujaba Sayid al-Shuhada Babylon Brigades Many Christian towns 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 Didn’t happen

 

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 30 Court overturned conviction of police officer for assassination of analyst and govt

advisor Hisham al-Hashemi due to lack of evidence Officer was given death penalty but was released instead

 

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

 

Mar 28 Report Hashd expanded control of Ninewa Controlled projects Blocked some

 

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

 

Apr 7 Report Integrity Comm told Central Bank of Iraq that private banks were getting large

loans for investments but instead bought dollars with them and then resold them for a profit

 

Apr 21 Report More than 151,000 people bought dollars for foreign travel but never left Iraq

Money sold on black market for a profit. $600 mil stolen as a result

(Musings On Iraq Latest Corruption Scandal In Iraq $600 Million Stolen Using Fake Foreign Travel)

 

Apr 25 Parliament said it would investigate Iraqi Ports Company and its work on Grand Faw

Port Allegations that $20 bil stolen from project

(Musings On Iraq Problems Completing Iraq’s Grand Faw Port And Development Road)

 

May 4 MP on finance committee said $10 mil stolen a month from Najaf airport

 

May 28 Displacement Min announced cabinet decided to close all displaced camps by Jun

Were 23 camps left Claimed displaced would voluntarily return to their home areas and govt would offer incentives Govt later extended deadline to end of Jul Had little money to help displaced

May 28 Carnegie Institute warned climate change and rising temps would cause huge crisis in

Iraq By 2025 predicted Tigris would be down 25% Euphrates down 50%

 

Jun 10 UNHCR said it was concerned about Sudani govt trying to close all displaced camps by

end of July

 

Jun 14 Displacement Min Jabro said displaced camps in Sulaymaniya would be closed by end

of Jun KRG would later reject order

 

Jun 17 Report Hashd trained Houthis in Iraq Camps managed by Iran and Hezbollah

 

Jun 18 Report Banks sign of failure of economic development in Iraq Full of corruption Banks

focus upon foreign trade and dollar auctions rather than supporting economy Most private banks controlled by ruling parties 3 state run banks controlled industry Didn’t offer many products to public Banks manipulated dollar auctions People had problems withdrawing money using credit cards

 

Jun 27 KRG’s Interior Min said region would not close its displaced camps by end of July as

ordered by Sudani govt

 

Jul 4 World Food Program Iraq lost 12 mil hectares of farmland due to climate change

 

Jul 6 Report KDP and PUK involved in money laundering and sending US$s out of Iraq for

years Used fake companies money exchanges fake bank accounts 2 instances of KRG officials caught trying to send millions into US

 

Jul 10 Report Hashd expanded influence in Ninewa Involved in corruption and extortion

Penetrated all govt institutions Took control of projects Imposed royalties

 

Jul 15 Report Planning Min said 1321 projects behind schedule Wasted huge amount of money

Corruption main problem

 

Jul 30 Biden Admin struck 47^th Hashd Brigade in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr 5 Hashd killed

 

Aug 4 Coordination Framework MP Jamali said that if names involved in Theft of the Century

revealed could affect political system Seemed to be admission that Framework politicians were involved

 

Aug 12 Agriculture Min Iraq has lost almost 60% of its farmland due to lack of water climate

change desertification

 

Aug 13 Parliament’s agriculture comm warned environmental disaster threatening southern

marshes due to lack of water and years of govt neglect Said negotiations with neighboring countries over water is not working

 

Aug 17 Reports Mass fish die off in Maysan marshes due to lack of water Dhi Qar reported

60% drop in fish population due to climate change

 

Aug 19 Warrants issued for officials working in PM Sudani’s office for wiretapping

politicians in ruling Coordination Framework and other govt officials

 

Aug 20 Maysan provincial govt said it lost 80% of its marshland due to drought

 

Aug 21 Report Iraq said it would produce 3.9mbd of oil from Jul-Sep to follow OPEC+ quotas

Produced 4.35mbd in May 4.49mbd in Jun 4.57mbd in Jul

 

Aug 22 Report Iraq switched from service contracts that limited profits for oil companies to

more competitive profit sharing ones in latest oil and gas deals

 

Aug 27 Report Intl Foundation for Energy Information and Natural Resources paper Said

Iraq’s oil production could reach 5.5 mil/bar/day by 2030 Gas production could double to 4.4 cubic ft/day Most growth will come from major oil fields in Basra Major barriers were lack of infrastructure export pipelines loading docks water pumping Iraq’s energy contracts discouraged investment Considered worst in MidEast Little new exploration and development in Iraq

 

Aug 29 Report Only man arrested in $2.5 bil Theft of the Century was able to post bail in

return for promise that he would pay back what he stole Only paid small amount and then disappeared Analysts didn’t think he would return for trial Threatened o expose others involved in theft

(Musings On Iraq Theft Of The Century Remains In Iraq’s Headlines)

Aug 29 Report officer in Iraq’s 5^th army Div stole all the weapons from his regiment 2023

10,000 rounds of ammo stolen from 9^th Div Weapons of 6^th Div HQ stolen last yr

 

Aug 30 UNAMI warned that half of Iraq’s population could face water shortages due to

drought by 2060

 

Aug 31 MP said water in southern marshes receded 70% More than half the livestock died

 

Sep 1 Iraq said it would cut oil production to make up for not following OPEC+ production

quotas Iraq never followed quotas and never made up for overproducing

 

Sep 3 Report New corruption scandal with railway repair and connection contract $22.5 bil

stolen

Sep 3 Report Irbil facing drought Great Zab River facing large shortage Wells drying up New

housing construction and population growth increased demand

 

Sep 4 Report US Treasury Dept told Central Bank of Iraq that Iraqi banks continued to avoid

US sanctions Banks manipulate money transfers and involved in money laundering

Sep 4 Report Integrity Comm head Hanoun gave press conference in Irbil about Theft of the

Century Nour Zuhair arrested for theft but then appeared to be traveling in Lebanon before his court date Zuhair threatened to expose the powerful who were involved in scandal Hanoun said files on the case disappeared Accused Judge Jaafar and Zuhair of being involved Called on parliament to question him about why Zuhair only charged with one crime when involved with other corruption Said Zuhair’s case was transferred to Judge Jaafar

(Musings On Iraq Theft Of The Century Remains In Iraq’s Headlines)

Sep 4 Report US Treasury Dept told Central Bank of Iraq Iraqi banks continued to avoid US

sanctions by making deals with Iran Money transfers manipulated Money laundering

 

Sep 5 Report Integrity Comm head Hanoun gave press conference in Irbil Accused Judge

Jaafar of involvement with Nour Zuhair and Theft of the Century Judge Jaafar issued warrant for Hanoun Judge Jaafar gave Zuhair bail and then he disappeared

(Musings On Iraq Theft Of The Century Remains In Iraq’s Headlines)

 

Sep 6 Report 2 arrested from PM Sudani’s office Mohammed Juhi Asst Dir of

Administrative Dept in PM’s office and Ali Matar member of National Security Agency Accused of involvement in eavesdropping op vs politicians and govt officials

Sep 6 Climate change threatening Iraq’s date crops Largest export after oil

 

Sep 9 Iraqi MP said that dollar smuggling continued with major political figures involved Anti-

corruption efforts failed

Sep 9 Report Wall St Journal quoted US officials Said more than 20 Iraqi banks sent dollars to

Iran Used front companies run by Hashd factions and fake invoices 80% of dollar transfers worth more than $250mil were untraceable

Sep 9 Nour Zuhair main figure in Theft of Century would be tried in absentia $2.5 bil stolen

from Tax Comm Scandal revealed Oct 2022 Zuhair admitted to stealing 1.6 tril dinars Returned 182 bil dinars Released on bail Disappeared

(Musings On Iraq Theft Of The Century Remains In Iraq’s Headlines)

 

Sep 10 Report Ruling parties imported rotten corn into Basra 20,000 tons of rotten corn seized

6,000 was already unloaded and approved by corrupt political parties

 

Sep 13 Report 5000 Kurds left for Europe Economy main reason Immigration started during

war vs IS in 2014 Faced delayed govt salaries high taxes lack of jobs in KRG

 

Sep 17 Report Judicial Supervision Authority retaliating against Integrity Comm head Hanoun

after he accused Integrity Court Judge Jaafar of involvement in Theft of the Century Judicial Authority said it was investigation Hanoun for illegal land deals in Maysan

 

Sep 18 Report Services and Reconstruction Comm in parliament reported that more than 1600

projects stalled in provinces outside KRG caused by corruption political disputes weak management security Some suspended as far back as Maliki’s govt (2006-14)

Sep 18 Report Iran spending millions to suppress protests in Iraq Gave money to Hashd that run

electronic armies on social media Threaten journalists and media outlets Plant fake stories Carry out assassinations of activists Started during 2019 protests

Sep 18 Report Investing in real estate being used to launder money and send US dollars to Iran

to avoid US sanctions

 

Sep 20 Report PUK head Pavel Talabani ordered commando raid to shut down Jawdir

Foundation led by Mullah Bakhtiar one of founders of PUK Source said Pavel wanted to eliminate old guard within party who he saw as rivals Came after he forced his cousin and co-PUK head Lahur Talabani out

 

Sep 26 Report Worries that Israel will strike Iraq Analyst said if Iraq drawn into war it would

be overmatched by Israel Another analyst said Iraqi Resistance attacks on Israel have no impact upon war Sayid al-Shuahda secretary general said he would send forces to Lebanon if war broke out Kataib Hezbollah said to have already sent fighters to Lebanon

(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Embarrassed By Iraqi Factions Who Are Increasing Attacks Upon Israel Leading To Worries Of Israeli Retaliation)

 

Sep 27 Report Iraq released false figures on oil production to show that it was complying

with OPEC+ quotas Aug said Iraq produced 3.904 mil/bar/day while quota was 3.91 mil/bar/day OPEC source said Iraq produced 4.228 mil/bar/day in Aug Iraq Oil Report said production was at 4.53 mil/bar/day

Sep 27 Report PM Sudani’s brother one of those arrested in spying scandal Wiretapping

revealed end of Aug Political leaders MPs senior officials judges businessmen spied on from 2023-24 Source said those arrested confessed

Sep 27 Israel PM Netanyahu addressed UN Showed map that included Iraq Said militias there

had been attacking Israel

(Musings On Iraq Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?)

 

Sep 30 Amnesty Intl Few ever brought to justice for killing injuring kidnapping beating

Tishreen protesters from 2019-20 Human Rights Comm documented 541 killed 20,597 wounded 27 assassinations of activists 28 attempted assassinations 75 kidnappings Relatives of protesters also attacked 2 PMs promised justice for protesters but little done Only 10 people ever arrested Only 7 convictions Not all of those convicted were in custody In Baghdad 311 investigations into protesters killed 2129 into injured Only 4 warrants 3 went to trial 3 convicted Nov 2020 Dhi Qar court issued warrants for 2 accused of kidnapping activist Sajad al-Iraqi but no one arrested 2 given death penalties in absentia

 

Oct 2 Report Maliki said not just Hezbollah’s responsibility to fight Israel Urged Hashd to

            join war Said “we” would enter Jerusalem together

(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Embarrassed By Iraqi Factions Who Are Increasing Attacks Upon Israel Leading To Worries Of Israeli Retaliation)

 

Oct 3 Report Sudani govt asked Shiite leaders to talk with Iraqi Resistance to try to stop their

attacks on Israel Report that Israel has 35 targets it would strike in Iraq including politicians and Hashd leader Resistance said it would retaliate against Israel and fight alongside Hezbollah in Lebanon

Oct 3 Report Fmr head of Integrity Comm said Iraq lost more than $300 bil due to fake and

stalled projects Commission and parliament found more than 6000 fake and stalled projects Many only exist on paper Many from Maliki govt Those started only have 10-30% completion rate

Oct 3 Sayid al-Shuhada said Iraqi Resistance would fight if Iran entered war with Israel

 

Oct 4 Israel claimed Iraqi Resistance drone strike killed 2 of its solider wounded 24 in Golan

Heights

 

Oct 5 Report said pro-Iran groups decided to move away from Israeli war Then said Kataib

Hezbollah and Al-Nujaba continued attacks on Israel Growing fears that Israel will strike Iraq

 

Oct 6 PM Sudani called for international community to save MidEast from wider war with

            Israel Iraq’s Islamic Resistance claimed 5 attacks upon Israel

Oct 6 Report Iraqi Resistance attacks upon Israel done by Al-Nujaba Kataib Hezbollah Sayid

al-Shuhada Other pro-Iran groups like Asaib Ahl Al-Haq more interested in govt positions than war with Israel

Oct 6 Biden admin warned Iraqi govt to stop pro-Iran groups attacking Israel

Oct 6 Report Govt official said PM Sudani warned Coordination Framework about Iraq

getting involved in war with Israel Said stories about pro-Iran groups distancing themselves from conflict a lie Sudani govt talking with Pro-Iran groups to try to stop their attacks Al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah promised to continue their strikes on Israel

Oct 6 Pro-Iran Sayid al-Shuahda said US should stop any Israeli attack upon Iraq Kataib

Hezbollah threatened to disrupt Iraq’s oil exports if Israel struck

 

Oct 7 Report Sudani govt talked with Western govts to try to stop Israeli attack upon Iraq

Coordination Framework in negotiations with Resistance to stop its strikes on Israel Analyst said Resistance had chosen to join war with Israel and Iraq had not joined any Arab diplomatic efforts to stop Gaza War

Oct 7 Report Iraq ranked last in developing countries trying to develop private sector Head

of think tank said 2 decades of govt promises to support private companies were a failure

Oct 7 Israeli Foreign Min official posted pictures of missiles on social media claiming they

were in a Baghdad facility supported by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Embarrassed By Iraqi Factions Who Are Increasing Attacks Upon Israel Leading To Worries Of Israeli Retaliation)

 

Oct 16 Report Ruling Coordination Framework met with Iraqi Islamic Resistance Warned that

its continued attacks on Israel could lead to airstrikes Resistance said it was independent of govt and Baghdad should not interfere Resistance made up of Hashd groups that are part of the Iraqi security forces paid by govt and have MPs in parliament

 

Oct 19 Electricity Min signed deal to import natural gas from Turkmenistan Would use Iranian

infrastructure to deliver gas

 

Oct 22 Early KRG parliamentary result KDP won 39 seats PUK 23 New Generation 15

Kurdistan Islamic Union 7 Kurdistan Justice Group 3 National Stance 4 People’s Front 2 Gorran 1 Kurdistan Region Alliance 1 2018 election KDP won 45 seats PUK 21 Gorran 12

(Musings On Iraq Elections Maintain Status Quo In Iraq’s Kurdistan)

 

Oct 26 Environmental index ranked Iraq 3^rd worst in terms of environmental protection

 

Nov 5 Iraq’s cabinet voted to give KRG $16/bar for its oil that was exported Also demanded

that KRG turn over all export oil to the central govt Nothing happened

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

Nov 5 Report US warned Iraq that if Iran used Iraqi territory to attack Israel it would face

retaliation Israeli and US intel said Iran was going to use Iraqi territory Iranian Revolutionary Guard had been moving drones and missiles into Iraq and distributing them to pro-Iran groups

(Musings On Iraq Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?)

 

Nov 9 Foreign Min Hussein said Iran promised not to use Iraqi territory to attack Israel Analyst

didn’t think Iran would follow promise

 

Nov 10 Govt spokesman said 1^st phase of US withdrawal from Iraq would be done by end of

2025 2^nd phase would begin Sep 2025 and be done by end of Sep 2026

 

Nov 14 National Security Adv Araji went to Tehran Told them Iraq wanted to stay out of war

with Israel Said pro-Iran groups dragging Iraq into conflict

(Musings On Iraq Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?)

 

Nov 18 Israel’s Foreign Min Saar sent letter to UN warning Iraq Said immediate action needed

to be taken against Iraq’s Resistance for attacking Israel Said Baghdad responsible for Resistance’s actions Said Israel had right to self-defense

(Musings On Iraq Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?)

 

Nov 20 Report Israel complained to UN about Iraqi Resistance attacks Said it had right to

respond Israeli Foreign Min sent letter to UN calling for immediate action against the Resistance Said Israel had right to self defense Said Iraqi govt responsible for the Resistance US told Iraq it had done all it could to stop Israel from striking Iraq

(Musings On Iraq Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?)

 

Nov 21 Report Saudi TV station said US told Iraq that Israeli attack imminent unless pro-Iraqi

groups stopped striking Israel US told Iraq it couldn’t hold back Israel anymore

(Musings On Iraq Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?)

 

Nov 23 Activists in Maysan said that marhes in province have dried up for 3^rd time in 5 yrs

Nov 23 Report Iraq will invoke Status of Forces Agreement with US if Israel attacks requiring

American assistance

Nov 23 Al-Nujaba said that Resistance doesn’t fear Israeli retaliation and represents will of

            Iraqi people

 

Nov 25 Report PM Sudani’s military office dir Gen Sudani accused of being ringleader in spy

network within Sudani’s office Speid on Maliki, Qais Khazali, Interior Minister Gen Shammari, National Security Adv Araji Ayatollah Sistani’s eldest son Starting Jul 2024 group sent WhatsApp messages to MPs details on other politicians

Nov 25 Al-Nujaba accused Sudani govt of collaborating with Israel Said if Resistance were

attacked by govt it would fight back

 

Dec 1 Report 100s of pro-Iran Hashd fighters entered Syria to support Assad govt

(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Denies it But Pro-Iran Factions Enter Syria To Support Assad)

 

Dec 2 Reports 2 Syrian military officials said pro-Iran Hashd had entered Syria to support

Assad against insurgent offensive Named Kataib Hezbollah Iraqi govt denied Hashd had gone to Syria

(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Denies it But Pro-Iran Factions Enter Syria To Support Assad)

Dec 2 Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that around 200 Iraqi fighters had entered

Syria

Dec 2 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Khazali talked about defending Sayida Zainab shrine in Syria

Shrine was used to justify Iraqi militias fighting in Syria before Sayid al-Shuhada said it was ready to send forces to Syria Said fighting in Syria was threat to Axis of Resistance Said Syrian rebels wanted to march on Karbala

 

Dec 3 Kataib Hezbollah called on PM Sudani to send troops to Syria to support Assad

 

Dec 4 Report Videos posted on social media of Iraqi fighters going to Syria Said they were

defending Shiite shrines there Shrines are nowhere near the fighting

(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Denies it But Pro-Iran Factions Enter Syria To Support Assad)

 

Dec 5 Reports Around 50 vehicles crossing from Iraq into Syria each day Included Iranians

Pakistanis Afghanis and Iraqis to support Assad All organized by Tehran Iraqi factions haven’t been ordered to fight yet

(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Denies it But Pro-Iran Factions Enter Syria To Support Assad)

Dec 5 PM Sudani denied allegations that members of his office were involved in spy scandal

Called stories “lie of the century” Officials in Sudani’s office were spying on his political rivals and were arrested

(Musings On Iraq PM Sudani May Change Cabinet To Appease Opponents Over Spy Scandal)

Dec 5 Report Nouri Jassim and fmr MP Jabouri convicted in $2.5 bil Theft of the Century Fmr

govt officials said case was symbolic Real culprits unpunished Fmr officials said Finance Min Rafidain Bank Central Bank of Iraq Integrity Commission Transportation Min all involved in scandal State of Law and Badr members blamed for theft Badr officials were throughout tax commission where money stolen Director generals at tax comm and Rafidain Bank lied to Finance Min Allawi Told him checks to fake companies used to steal money were cancelled when they weren’t 2 investigations by Integrity Comm found nothing Finance Min blocked all payments from tax comm without his approval but transfers continued PM Jabouri asked for Board of Supreme Audit to be removed from checking tax comm Was approved by Finance Min Allawi Stopped checks for theft Director gen of tax commission who was Badr member might have been mastermind of theft

 

Dec 6 Report Pro-Iran Hashd began withdrawing from Syria Dec 6

 

Dec 10 Mohammed Juhi dep dir for personal affairs in PM Sudani’s office given 4 yrs for

wiretapping scandal that spied on politicians PM Sudani called case “the lie of the century” claiming it never happened Several Sudani relatives and office members also implicated in scandal

 

Dec 11 After members of his Saraya al-Salam Hashd arrested for tearing down pictures of

Nasrallah Abu Muhandis and Gen Soleimani in Baghdad Sadr said he was withdrawing from the public because his followers refused to listen to him

 

Dec 18 Appeals Court overturned rulings that KRG oil contracts invalid Major victory for

KRG

 

Dec 22 Mass grave with around 150 Kurdish bodies discovered in Muthanna Victims of

Saddam

 

Dec 25 9 oil companies in KRG demanded $24 bil in compensation for loss of oil export

revenue through Turkey Mar 2023 pipeline closed after Turkey lost arbitration case to Baghdad for allowing KRG to export oil

 

2025

Jan 1 MP on security comm said Iraqi Resistance stopped attacks on Isreal because of

pressure from Sudani govt and ruling Coordination Framework Threats from Isreal and US plus couldn’t use Syria as launch pad anymore after fall of Assad

 

Jan 7 Report Iranian Quds Force cmdr Gen Qani talked with Sudani govt Proposed having

            Hashd integrated into army

 

Jul 12 Ruling Coordination Framework said it wanted to integrate the pro-Iran Islamic

            Resistance into the Hashd Already part of Hashd

 

Jan 15 Report Sudani govt and Iran agreed to maintain Hashd despite US pressure to dissolve

            force

 

Jan 16 Foreign Min Hussein said govt talking to pro-Iran Iraqi resistance to disarm Govt

            afraid of Trump admin policies targeting Iraq

 

Jan 19 Harakat al-Nujaba said that it would not disarm if govt asked it to

 

Jan 20 Report Study by Georgetown Univ found Iraq’s water levels down 40% More than

70% of marshlands facing drought Global warming and dams in other countries main cause Last 4 decades water levels on Tigris and Euphrates down 30-40% 2021 Iraq had driest season in 4 decades Farming down 50% as a result Water shortages leading to migration from rural to urban areas World Bank thought conditions would continue

 

Jan 21 Amnesty Law passed which included major figures in Theft of the Century that stole

$2.5 bil from govt tax office

 

Jan 23 Report PM Sudani said he was going to integrate the Iraqi Resistance factions into the

govt Sources said groups could join the security forces or the Hashd Were already part of the Hashd

Jan 23 Report PM Sudani wanted to dissolve the Iraqi Resistance Done out of fear of

sanctions by Trump admin Sudani said factions were going to integrated into the govt Were already part of govt

 

Jan 24 Pres Rashid said that Iranian influence with Hashd exaggerated Said Islamic

            Resistance were already part of govt and under its control

 

Jan 26 Report Iran printed 50 tril in counterfeit Iraqi dinars to buy US$s in Iraq and send

            them back to Tehran Pro-Iran Hashd and parties in Iraq helped in effort

Jan 26 General strike announced by KRG teachers and other workers over not being paid

 

Jan 27 Report Pro-Iran Islamic Resistance refused to dissolve Head of Ansar Allah said they

            will remain as long as US occupies Iraq

Jan 27 Harakat al-Nujaba threatened to attack Ain Al-Assad airbase in Anbar unless US

            withdrew from Iraq

Jan 27 Agriculture Min reported central and southern Iraq suffering drought Less rainfall in

Jan 2025 vs Jan 2024 Maysan Dhi Qar Basra got least rain in last yr KRG also got less rain

 

Feb 1 Report 9000 pieces of state land worth over 40 tril dinars illegally given to individuals

            connected to ruling parties Mostly occurred in Baghdad

 

Feb 2 Parliament amended budget to pay oil companies in KRG $16/bar of oil produced

            Move to restart KRG oil exports Nothing happened

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Feb 4 Pres Trump signed Natl Security Presidential Memorandum 2 renewing his Maximum

Pressure campaign vs Iran As a result US refused to renew Iraq’s waiver to buy natural gas and electricity from Iran Baghdad relies upon Tehran for up to 40% of its electricity US ended up allowing both to continue

 

Feb 17 Oil Min announced that KRG oil exports would restart soon KRG’s Natural Resource

Min said exports would resume in Mar Nothing happened because no deal with oil companies in KRG

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Feb 19 Report Are many idle factories in Iraq leaving country almost completely reliant

upon imports Differences between political parties and corruption two major problems Many factories also owned by ruling elite who refuse any reforms which hinders investment Industry desperately needs to be modernized 2010 was plan to restructure industry but never implemented

Feb 19 Report Turkey not said anything about allowing KRG to export oil through its

            territory Feb 17 Oil Min said KRG sales would restart soon

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

 

Feb 21 Report Trump admin pressure Iraq to restart KRG oil exports Wants to increase oil

exports in case US took action vs Iran KRG smuggling around 200,000 bar/day of oil to Iran DNO wanted to be assured it would be paid if exports restarted

 

Feb 22 Oil Min said all procedures in place to restart KRG exports Trump admin pressure

Iraq to allow Kurds to export again Nothing happened because no deal with oil companies in KRG

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Feb 24 Report Turkey refused to open its pipeline to renewed KRG oil exports Ankara

hadn’t paid damages to Iraq after lost case in Intl Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Board for allowing Kurds to export oil without approval of Baghdad

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

 

Feb 25 Oil Minister Ghani said KRG oil exports could start in 2 days Nothing happened

because no deal with oil companies in KRG

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Feb 27 US Sec of State Rubio and PM Sudani agreed to restart KRG oil exports soon Nothing

happened because no deal with oil companies in KRG

 

Feb 28 Oil Min said that KRG oil exports would restart that day Didn’t happen because oil

            companies in KRG not included in negotiations

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Mar 1 Oil Min invited Assoc of Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan for talks over renewed KRG

oil exports Were not included in talks and scuttled plan to restart foreign sales on Feb 28

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

 

Mar 2 Report Oil Min said KRG oil exports would restart in hours on Feb 28 Then oil

companies in KRG rejected idea Were not included in talks Turkey also not agreed to pay $1.4 bil it owes Iraq after lost in Intl Court of Arbitration Turkey also wanted to increase pipeline fees from $1.5/bar to $3/bar Turkey closed pipeline in Mar 2023 after lost cast to Iraq Nothing happened because no deal with oil companies in KRG

(Musings On Iraq Restarting Kurdish Oil Exports Still A Work In Progress)

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Mar 6 Report Baghdad and Irbil didn’t include oil companies in KRG in talks over renewing

Kurdish exports Companies wanted to be paid in advance and have debts owed them by KRG covered Baghdad only want to pay for future exports Oil Min said it would pay $16/bar produced in KRG Then said would only pay for production that goes for exports Also said it would hire intl consultant to ultimately decide how much companies would be paid Then Baghdad said it would hire intl consultant to est fair price for how much oil companies would be paid meaning amount is still up in the air

(Musings On Iraq Talks Over Restarting KRG Oil Exports Stall)

 

Mar 9 US ended waiver for Iraq to buy natural gas and electricity from Iran Iraq go up to

            40% of its electricity production from Iran Iraq continued to import both

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Continues To Import Iranian Energy Despite Losing US Waiver To Do So)

 

Mar 15 Head of Iran’s Power Generation Company said Iraq continued to import Iranian

natural gas and electricity despite losing waiver to do so from US

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Continues To Import Iranian Energy Despite Losing US Waiver To Do So)

 

Mar 18 Report Ruling Coordination Framework worried about new Resistance groups

threatening to attack US and Syria after US strike on Houthis Some Framework parties wanted to intervene in Syria and overthrow govt 3 new front groups said they would attack US and Syria

(Musings On Iraq New Iraqi Armed Factions Threaten Attacks Upon US And Syria)

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Factions And Tehran Planning Attacks Upon Syria?)

 

Mar 27 Report Pro-Iran Hashd and Iranian Revolutionary Guard organizing ex-Assad Syrian

soldiers in Anbar Might be used against new Syrian govt

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Factions And Tehran Planning Attacks Upon Syria?)

 

Mar 28 Sadr announced he wouldn’t participate in the 2025 parliamentary election citing

political corruption

 

Apr 2 Trump admin placed 39% tariff on Iraq US mostly bought oil from Iraq Meant Trump

raised gas prices in US

 

Apr 7 UN World Food Program issued annual report Said 23,000 families over 140,000 Iraqis

displaced in 12 provinces due to climate change Main reason was failure in agriculture

 

May 2 PM Sudani’s electricity advisor said that Iraq continued to import Iranian natural gas

and electricity despite losing its US waiver to avoid sanctions for doing so

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Continues To Import Iranian Energy Despite US Demands)

 

May 10 Report Election cards being bought by politicians for $400 in Baghdad province in

preparation to cheat in Nov election

 

May 12 Report Intl Org for Migration counted 28,000 rural families around 172,206 people

displaced in 12 provinces due to climate change 60% moved to urban areas Drought soil erosion salinity may causes of displacement

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Announces New Water Initiative As Global Warming Continues To Disrupt Economy And Lives)

May 12 Report Govt hires far more people than needed to fight unemployment Sudani govt

hired around 100,000 people Analyst said 50% of public employees are in security services and most are not needed and unskilled Other ministries like Industrial and Agriculture are understaffed Most govt workers are not needed do nothing and don’t add to productivity

(Musings On Iraq “Iraq’s Public Employment Policies Unsustainable” )

 

May 15 Report World Bank said Iraq’s private sector in poor condition

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Remains Most State/Oil Dependent Country In World)

 

May 19 Report New Personal Status Law causing legal chaos 60% of alimony and custody

cases delayed due to conflicting legal authorities between sects Men appealing their divorce and custody cases hoping to get better ruling from religious authorities Law allows different sects control over marriage divorce custody inheritance Courts didn’t know whether to apply civil law or let religious institutions decide cases

(Musings On Iraq New Personal Status Law Causes Legal Chaos In Iraq)

 

May 21 Basra Governor Eidani facing corruption charges Came after he got into rift with PM

Sudani and may run with his rival Nouri al-Maliki

 

May 25 Water Min said water reserves were at 80 yr low Blamed dry rainy season and dams in

Iran and Turkey

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Announces New Water Initiative As Global Warming Continues To Disrupt Economy And Lives)

 

May 27 Oil Ministry filed lawsuit against KRG for singing $110 bil worth of natural gas

deals with HKN Energy and Western Zagros Claimed all energy deals had to go through Baghdad

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Oil Ministry Sues Kurdistan Over Signing 2 New Natural Gas Contracts)

 

 

May 28 Finance Min said it would no longer send monthly budget payments to KRG claiming

Kurds had not sent its revenues to Baghdad and that too much money had been spent already Real reason was KRG singing 2 natural gas deals independent of Baghdad

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Central Govt Cuts Off Budget Payments To Kurdistan Amongst Energy Deal Row)

 

Jun 5 Report 7 govt agencies get around 93% of govt salaries Interior Min got 22% of

salaries in 2024 Went from 10.5 tril dinars in 2019 to 13 tril in 2024 Education Min got 18% of salaries Went from 1.75 tril dinars in 2019 to 10.7 tril in 2024 KRG got 15.3% of salaries Went from 4.58 tril dinars in 2019 to 9.2 tril in 2024 Health Min had 566% increase in salaries from 1 tril dinars in 2019 to 5.9 tril in 2024 Cabinet saw 80% increase in salaries from 3.5 tril dinars in 2019 to 6.34 tril dinars in 2024

(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Govt Salaries Continue To Explode In Cost)

Jun 5 Sudani govt accused KRG of oil smuggling Threatened legal action KRG rejected claim

Said Oil Min was the one smuggling oil Part of dispute over KRG signing 2 natural gas deals which Baghdad said was illegal

(Musings On Iraq Baghdad Accuses Kurdistan Of Oil Smuggling As Dispute Between Two Widens)

 

Jun 17 Iraq’s parliament said it stood with Iran vs Israel Ruling Coordination Framework

said it would organize pro-Iran protests across the country

Jun 17 Report Iraq Green Observatory said 40% of Iraq’s land vulnerable to desertification

More than 70% of agriculture land not being used due to drought and mismanagement of water People being displaced as a result

 

Jun 23 Parliament’s water committee said water in Tigris and Euphrates down 50% Water storage

in dams down more than 50% Called for sanctions on Turkey to pressure it to release more water

 

Jun 24 Pro-Iran groups suspected of drone attacks upon radar at Taji Base north Baghdad

and Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar Another drone crashed in Baghdad suspected of heading towards base at Baghdad International Airport Disrupted Iraq’s air defense system during Iran-Israel War

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Factions Carried Out Limited Attacks In Iraq During Israel-Iran Conflict)

 

Jul 1 Speaker Mashadani announced Turkey would release more water down Tigris and

Euphrates Only lasted 2 months Turkey never released promised amount

 

Jul 2 Report Iraq Future Foundation found that $7.6 bil in foreign investment left Iraq in 2024 and

$400 mil in Iraqi money was invested overseas 1^st qtr of 2025 $1 bil in foreign money left and $133 mil in Iraqi funds invested outside country Result of bad business environment

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Remains Most State/Oil Dependent Country In World)

 

Jul 5 Report Environmental specialist said Iraq has become 1 in 10 countries most at risk of

extreme water scarcity Drought leading to one of worst periods in Iraqi history Govt not seriously working on solutions Leading to displacement of rural populations Experts say that agriculture needs to be modernized Investment made in dams

 

Jul 6 Report 76% of residents in Qadisiya province rely upon agriculture Almost 70% of

agriculture land hit by drought Leading to large displacement in province

 

Jul 8 PM Sudani announced deal with Turkey to release more water down the Tigris River Still

not meeting demand Agriculture comm said water crisis spread to drinking water leading to some purification plants shutting down Water reserves down to 9 bil cubic meters when Iraq needs 3 bil cubic meters/month

 

Jul 9 Trum placed 30% tariff on Iraq Lowered tariff from 39% imposed in Apr Didn’t include

oil which is main thing US buys from Iraq

 

Jul 10 Report US imposed 30% tariff on Iraq Lower than 39% tariff in Apr Iraq sold 200,000

bar/day in oil to US Another $650 mil/yr in non-oil products mostly dates and rice also sold to US Mostly went through 3^rd parties before reached US Trade Min said tariffs wouldn’t affect Iraq Didn’t cover oil

Jul 10 Report IMF said non-oil sector of econ went from 13.8% growth in 2023 to just 2.5% in

2024 Was due to decline in govt investment trade imbalance financial problems Oil prices declining causing financial problems and budget deficit Called for new taxes and customs Raising retirement age to save budget

 

Jul 17 Baghdad and Irbil announced agreement to restart KRG oil expors Nothing happened

because no deal with oil companies in KRG

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Jul 19 Report 1^st investigation into attacks upon Iraqi air defense blamed Israel PM Sudani

rejected that Formed 2^nd investigation Found drone came from Kataib Hezbollah in Jurf al-Sakhr Babil

(Musings On Iraq Security In Iraq Jul 15-21, 2025)

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Factions Carried Out Limited Attacks In Iraq During Israel-Iran Conflict)

 

Jul 25 Water Min warned of driest year since 1933 Said Tigris and Euphrates rivers only at 27% of

level in 2024 57% decrease in water storage Blamed low rainfall and reduced water from neighboring countries

 

Jul 27 Baghdad Agriculture director backed Kataib Hezbollah refused to step down When new

director sworn in Kataib Hezbollah men stormed building Police called Led to gunbattle 2 killed 9 wounded

(Musings On Iraq Kataib Hezbollah Kill Policeman, Civilian In Gun Battle to Keep Political Ally in Office in South Baghdad)

Jul 27 Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani visited Baghdad Met with Coordination Framework

leaders but not PM Sudani Also told Hashd leaders to stop attacks against Kurds

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Groups Escalate Attacks Upon Kurds In July 2025)

 

Jul 29 Report Jun head of Baghdad province council asked for Agriculture director Kadhim to

be dismissed Jul MP held press conference saying Hashd groups were taking land in Madain Baghdad and trying to change demographics Also involved land disputes between Kataib Hezbollah and other Hashd factions When Kadhim was to be dismissed Kataib Hezbollah assaulted building leading to gun battle with police

(Musings On Iraq Kataib Hezbollah Kill Policeman, Civilian In Gun Battle to Keep Political Ally in Office in South Baghdad)

Jul 29 Report Osama Hassan Saloumi replaced Iyad Kazim as Baghdad Agriculture director

Kazim suspected of corruption King Road planned for south Baghdad Kazim was supported by Kataib Hezbollah who wanted land road was going to use Imam Ali Brigades supported Saloumi to replace Kazim so that it could get land Dispute led to deadly gun battle in Baghdad Jul 27

Jul 29 Report MP from Madain district south Baghdad said Hashd factions seizing land in

south Baghdad and displacing farmers Said political parties were involved

Jul 29 Report Police only arrested 1 Kataib Hezbollah for deadly clash with police Jul 27 that

killed 1 policeman and 1 civilian Other 13 arrested with Kataib Hezbollah house guards or civilian bystanders Kataib Hezbollah supported former Karkh Agriculture Dir who was helping them seize farmland in south Baghdad’s Mahmudiya and Madain areas

 

Jul 30 Planning Min said its new survey found poverty declined from 11.4% in 2018 to 10.8%

in 2024

 

Aug 6 Report Water Minister said 2025 would be most difficult year for water scarcity Said

water level at dams at dangerous levels Turkey has released less water to Iraq MP said Turkey failed to follow through with Jul agreement to release more water

Aug 6 Oil Min said that oil exports to Turkey would restart in 1-2 days Didn’t happen Still no

agreement on how to pay oil companies in KRG and deal with their debts

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Aug 9 PM Sudani said Iraq no longer needed US led Coalition against Islamic State Said

security stable

Aug 9 PM Sudani said that gun battle at Karkh Agriculture Directorate involved Kataib

Hezbollah Hashd brigades and their commanders were removed as a result Said fmr Karkh Agric Dir Kazim involved in corruption and illegally seizing land Said Hashd benefited from his corruption

 

Aug 10 Report Dozens of officials could be banned from 2025 election for Baathist ties MP

said numbers are being exaggerated So far only 20 candidates banned Political parties claiming 500 candidates could be banned Maliki and State of Law pushing Baathist infiltration of state Has been a long time theme

 

Aug 13 KRG’s natural Resource Min announced a new agreement with the Oil Min to restart

oil exports Still no agreement on how to pay oil companies in KRG

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

Aug 13 PUK arrested New Generation leader Shaswar Abdulwahid main opposition leader in

KRG Charged with threatening an MP

(Musings On Iraq KRG Continues To Jail Its Critics)

 

Aug 19 Report by finance committee Iraq most state dependent population in world ¼ of

public relies upon govt check 4.2 mil dinars/mo for govt salaries 3+ mil dinars/mo for retirees 3+ mil dinars/mo for beneficiaries

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Remains Most State/Oil Dependent Country In World)

 

Aug 20 542 candidates banned from ov election 253 for Baathist ties 100 for legal restrictions

4 for fraud 15 for decisions by Supreme Judicial Council Include ex-Salahaddin Gov Jabouri ex-Ninwa Gov Jabouri fmr Interior Min Bolani fmr commander of Counter Terror Service Gen Asadi Judge Latif Largest banning of candidates since 2010

(Musings On Iraq 2025 The Year Of Banned Candidates before Iraq’s Elections?)

Aug 20 KRG gave fmr magazine editor Sherwan Sherwani new prison sentence just before he

was to be released in Sep Was arrested in 2020 for reporting on protests

(Musings On Iraq KRG Continues To Jail Its Critics)

 

Aug 22 PUK arrested fmr party head Lahur Talabani for unlisted crimes Led to 3 hr gun battle

that killed 3 security forces Wounded 19 Adv to Pres Barzani said Talabani could be exiled

(Musings On Iraq KRG Continues To Jail Its Critics)

 

Aug 26 Report Displacement Min wants all displaced camps closed by end of 2025

Aug 26 Report Intl Organization for Mig counted almost 169,00 displaced from climate

change Most were in Dhi Qar Maysan Diwaniya

 

Sep 7 Report Iraqi Observatory for Human Right said that Tigris and Euphrates spreading

diseases like cholera and typhoid Rivers full of agriculture industrial and huma waste

 

Sep 9 Report OPEC+ increase in production quota for Iraq would not help its budget deficit

Deficit at over 7 tril dinars/$5 bil Budget set at exporting 3.5 mil/bar/day in oil at $80 Iraq only exporting 3.38 mil/bar/day at $65 Increases in exports and re-opening Turkish pipeline would only have minimal affect on revenue Expert said Iraq much more affected by international oil prices than how much oil it sells Said govt had to cut spending and diversify its revenue

 

Sep 10 Princeton researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov released after more than 2 yrs of being held by

Kataib Hezbollah Was taken March 2023 Sudani govt said would hold those responsible accountable but failed to name Kataib Hezbollah Media said US promised to withdraw its forces and not attack Hashd Also reports that PM Sudani would not go after factions that attacked Iraqi military bases in July during Israel-Iran conflict Also talk of a ransom

(Musings On Iraq Princeton Researcher Elizabeth Tusrkov Released By Kataib Hezbollah After 2 Yrs Of Captivity)

 

Sep 11 Report Out of 5000 govt owned factories only 15-20 operating Some closed during

Iran-Iraq War Others since 2003 Govt had no program to re-open them Private sector overall lacked govt support Industry Min source said PM Sudani’s promise to help private sector with gas and electricity was only on paper

 

Sep 17 Report Water storage at lowest level in history of Iraqi state according to Water Min Jul

Turkey said it would release more water down rivers Sep Turkey said same thing Politicians said Turkey not fulfilling promises Water Min said Iraq only getting 30% of its share or river water

Sep 17 Report Iran and its allies the Resistance blocking $100 bil Saud investment in southern Iraq

Fear Saudi and Sunni influence growing in Iraq 2018 Saudi announced investment deal State of Law and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq objected

 

Sep 19 Report US official said Biden’s deal to withdraw US troops form Iraq would be re-

evaluated US may not leave

Sep 19 Report US won’t approve Iraq’s natural gas deal with Turkmenistan because would

use Iranian infrastructure Iraq has to decide on what to do with deal because could be sanctioned if moved ahead with it

(Musings On Iraq US Won’t Allow Iraq To Import Natural Gas From Turkmenistan Because Goes Through Iran)

 

Sep 21 Report Baghdad Irbil and oil companies came to agreement to restart KRG oil exports

Oil companies would be paid by Baghdad and cancel all their contracts and obligations with KRG Would mean companies gave up million owed to them

(Musings On Iraq Report Of Another Deal To Re-Start Kurdish Oil Exports In Iraq)

 

Sep 22 Report Sadr associate said comprehensive reforms and replacement of top officials in

govt necessary for Sadr to call off his boycott of Nov election

Sep 22 Report Oil companies in KRG got Oil Ministry to increase their payment from $16 per

barrel exported to $22 per barrel Will not be paid in cash but oil shares Allowed agreement between Baghdad Irbil and companies to restart KRG oil exports

 

Sep 27 Kurdish oil passed through Turkish pipeline for first time since 2023 as deal between

Baghdad Irbil and oil companies in KRG finalized

(Musings On Iraq Kurdish Oil Exports Through Turkey Resume At End of Sep)

 

Oct 5 KRG auctioned off 60 companies belonging to opposition New Generation leader

Shalwar Abdul Wahid He was imprisoned in Aug KRG silencing opposition

 

Oct 6 Report Fmr member of Iraqi Medical Assoc est that 30% of doctors in Iraq had fake

degrees Planning Min official said half of ministers directors politicians have fake degrees Degrees can be bought in Iraqi and Lebanese schools

Oct 6 Report Econ adv at US Embassy said Hashd factions threat to Iraq’s economy

Kidnapping and threatening companies and deterring investment Some factions demand payments for companies to operate at oil and gas fields

 

Oct 8 Exxon signed non-binding deal to develop Majnoon field in Basra Exxon left West

Qurna field 2 yrs ago because of small profits Signed exploration deals with KRG Left those because found little oil Sudani govt hopes deal will improve relations with US

 

Oct 21 Turkey’s parliament voted to extend its military deployment to Iraq

 

Oct 28 Report Shiite Hashd buying voter cards in Ninewa to reduce ballots for Sunni

parties Analyst said Hashd trying to cut votes in Mosul Rudaw Media Election Dept said parties buying and destroying voter cards to reduce votes for opponents

Oct 28 Report Iraq per capita GDP $5873 Economic analyst said numbers didn’t reflect

avg Iraqi Economy reliant upon oil Limited govt investment Too many public workers Economy driven by govt spending rather than production Led to slow growth Productive sector declining Only 7% of GDP

 

Oct 30 MP on water committee said Iraq facing highly dangerous situation due to water

shortages Said govt has no response Livestock down 70% Farm products disappearing Fisheries down Wetlands drying up and birds and animals that live there dying Threat to food security Green cover down 50% Iraq loses 100,000 dunums of land each year due to desertification

Oct 30 Report PM Sudani issued order for displaced to return to Awja Salahaddin Town

emptied by Hashd in 2014 during war vs IS Hashd refused to allow people back Salahaddin governor said 400 families would be vetted and allowed back and eventually entire town would return Returns would be monitored by committee headed by Hashd Activist said Hashd had seized land and other resources in town Part of Sunni cleansing that took place during war

 

Nov 2 Report Water Min said Iraq getting less than 30% of its water entitlements from other

countries Water storage level at less than 6% Jul Turkey said it would release more water down Tigris and Euphrates but didn’t 4 yrs of low rainfall of decline in river water flows Nov 1 farmers in Muthanna Najaf Karbala Diwaniya Wasit protested over loss of crops and water shortages Threatened to boycott Nov election if govt didn’t do something

 

Nov 4 PM Sudani announced Iraq would end all gas oil kerosene imports because had

become self-sufficient

 

Nov 10 Report Lukoil declared crisis in managing West Qurna 2 oil field in Basra due to US

sanctions Said it would withdraw in 6 months if issue not resolved Iraq cancelled all oil shipments from field Stopped paying company Accounts for 9% of Iraq’s oil production

Nov 10 Report Eco Iraq Observatory said Iraq facing budgetary crisis had 12.1 bil dinar

deficit Jul Govt spending 84 tril dinars but only earning 72 tril Domestic debt at 91 tril Govt relied upon borrowing to cover deficit Economist didn’t think sustainable Couldn’t borrow much internationally either Higher govt debt meant less investment

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Heading Towards Financial Ruin)

 

Nov 11 Parliamentary election 56% voter turnout Higher than 41% in 2021 and 44% in 2018

PM Sudani’s list came in 1^st with 46 seats Maliki’s State of Law 3nd with 29 Ex-Speaker Halbusi’s Progress and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Sadiqoun tied for 3^rd at 27 seats

(Musings On Iraq Early Election Results Show 56% Voter Turnout In Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Sees Surge In Voting Across Most Of The Country)

(Musings On Iraq PM Sudani Comes In 1^st Place But Re-Election Not Guaranteed)

(Musings On Iraq Full Results Of Iraq’s 2025 Parliamentary Election)

 

Nov 15 Report Economist warned of financial problems for govt Aug Iraq earned 82 tril

dinars but spent 87.5 tril Jan-Sep Central Bank of Iraq bought $49 bil from Finance Min while selling $60 bil in auctions Bank had to take out $11 bil from reserves which are declining due to drop in oil prices Budget continued to increase Worried govt couldn’t cover budget deficit Owed 90 tril dinars

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Heading Towards Financial Ruin)

 

Nov 26 Pro-Iran groups hit Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniya with 2 rocked Caused fire and

shutdown of facility Led to blackouts across Kurdistan

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Rocket Strike On Khor Mor Gas Field Leads to Widespread Blackouts In Iraq’s Kurdistan)

 

Nov 27 US led Coalition announced that its mission against Islamic State in federal Iraq over

1500 troops had now withdrawn to Kurdistan 1^st phase of draw down

(Musings On Iraq US Led Coalition Withdraws To Iraq’s Kurdistan)

Nov 27 Report KRG blamed Baghdad’s inaction against pro-Iran groups for attack on Khor

Mor gas field After attacks during summer joint investigative committee formed Found groups responsible but nothing done Groups are part of Iraqi govt

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Rocket Strike On Khor Mor Gas Field Leads to Widespread Blackouts In Iraq’s Kurdistan)

Nov 27 Report Govt running budget deficits covered by domestic borrowing Question

whether govt can sustain debt Govt owed 91 tril dinars highest in history Economist predicted Iraq would earn 99 tril dinars in 2026 but spend 150-160 tril Govt could lower value of dinar to reduce debt Could make budget cuts Analyst said govt ran out of ability to borrow domestically

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Heading Towards Financial Ruin)

 

Dec 2 Report 70% of Iraqis live in cities Highest level ever Migration from rural to urban

areas caused by jobs services decline of rural areas and agriculture water crisis Cities have not expanded services and not enough jobs for new population

Dec 2 Report Parliament speaker and deputies created 4 new departments in parliament to

hand out jobs for their patronage networks

 

Dec 3 Report 17,365 families displaced in 7 provinces over last 5 yrs due to climate change

Dhi Qar and Diwaniya hit the hardest 96.5 mil dunams of land threatened by desertification vs only 13.5 mil dunams open for agriculture

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Water Crisis Growing Worse By The Month)

 

Dec 5 Report Jul Pro-Iran groups attacked Sarsang oil field Believed to be retaliation for US

strikes on Iraq’s nuke sites US pressured Sudani govt to take action vs Resistance Also threatened sanctions against US officials if KRG oil exports through Turkey weren’t restarted

 

Dec 9 Report Member of Trump’s advisory board warned Iraq Must disarm pro-Iran Hashd

factios Not a request Had to be done or Iraq would face embargo and other punishments

(Musings On Iraq US Threats Against Pro-Iran Factions In Iraq Escalate)

 

Dec 17 Report US Congress passed 2026 National Defense Authorization Act that withholds

50% of aid to Iraq until it takes serious steps to disarm pro-Iran Hashd factions

(Musings On Iraq US Threats Against Pro-Iran Factions In Iraq Escalate)

 

Dec 24 Report Pro-Iran Resistance debating between disarming and integration Disarming

meant turning over weapons to govt Integration meant coming under state control

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Resistance Factions In Iraq Beginning Debate On Disarmament) 

 

Dec 25 Report Water Ministry said Turkey refuses to give Iraq set water quota for Tigris &

Euphrates Last 2 yrs 2 countries have signed agreements but is never set amount of water Iraq is to receive

Dec 25 Adv to PM Sudani said 5000 Iraqis had joined Russian army to fight in Ukraine Said

working with Russia to stop the practice Head of Supreme Judicial Council said illegal to join another country’s armed forces and could go to prison

(Musings On Iraq Iraqis Going To Fight In Ukraine Due To Lack Of Opportunities At Home)

 

Dec 31 Report KRG owes govt workesr $21 bil for unpaid wages over 11 yrs Jan 2015-Dec

2025 govt workers only paid full salaries 70 out of 132 months 44 months got partial payments with 18-75% cuts 18 months not paid Due to dispute with Baghdad over oil that led it to cut monthly budget payments

 

2026

Jan 1 Assoc for Defense of Press Freedom recorded 182 violations vs media in 2025 Said

govt repressing press freedom Journalists have been silcned persecuted blackmail restricted

 

Jan 2 Leader in Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam assassinated in Amara Maysan Saraya al-Salam

members burned office of Maysan provincial council leader Were clashes with ISF

 

Jan 5 Resistance Comm made up of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Kataib Hezbollah Harakat al-Nujaba

said rejected disarmament Asaib Ahl Al-Haq later rejected statement because didn’t agree with all the wording

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Resistance Factions In Iraq Beginning Debate On Disarmament) 

 

Jan 14 Report State Dept suspended visas from 75 countries including Iraq Said worried

people would get on welfare Would be assessment to restart visas Was due to false reports of fraud by Somalis in Minnesota

 

Jan 21 Report Water Min not included in negotiations for new water deal with Turkey Found

out about it after signed Wasn’t approved by cabinet or parliament Said deal doesn’t have any details about how much water Iraq is supposed to get

 

Jan 28 Report Pres Trump objected to Nouri al-Maliki becoming PM again

 

Feb 4 Report Govt couldn’t meet social welfare payments in Feb because of lack of funds

 

Feb 10 Protests in Diwanaiya, Diyala Babil over not being paid or 15% cut in wages Sign of

growing financial crisis in Iraq

 

Feb 28 Start of US-Israel-Iran conflict US and Israel attacked Kataib Hezbollah’s military

base in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr 2 dead 5 wounded Iraqi Resistance claimed 16 operations in Iraq and MidEast Iran and Iraqi Resistance launched drones against Baghdad Airport Imam Ali airbase in Dhi Qar military base in Basra that killed 1 Iraqi soldier and Irbil

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Caught In Middle of US-Israel-Iran Conflict)

 

Mar 1 Day 2 of US-Israel-Iran conflict 4 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq fighters killed in airstrike in

Diyala Kataib Hezbollah camps in Qaim and Akashat in Anbar hit leading to 4 dead and 11 wounded Babylon Brigades checkpoint north of Mosul and charity run by Shabak 30^th Hashd Brigade in Ninewa Plains hit Kataib Hezbollah base in Jurf al-Sakhr hit Iran and Iraqi Resistance attacked Irbil and Iranian Kurdish opposition group in Sulaymaniya

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Caught In Middle of US-Israel-Iran Conflict)

 

Mar 2 Day 3 of US-Israel-Iran conflict US and Israel hit Kataib Hezbollah base in Jurf al-

Sakhr for 3^rd day 1 killed 1 injured Another Kataib Hezbollah member killed in Samawa Turkmen 16^th Hashd Brigade office hit in Tuz Kharmato dist in Salahaddin Iran and Resistance launched drones against bases at Irbil and Baghdad airports Drone shot down over Balad Air Base in Salahaddin 11^th Peshmerga Brigade in Irbil hit Drone shot down over Mosul Dam 3 camps run by Kurdistan Freedom Party and Kurdish National Army 2 Iranian opposition groups targeted Members of Resistance tried to storm US Embassy in Green Zone Turned back with tear gas

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Oil Economy Threatened By Iran Conflict)

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Economy Could Collapse During Iran War)

 

Mar 3 Report Iraq cut oil production by around 1.5 mil/bar/day Jan was producing 4.52

mil/bar/day Due to closure of Strait of Hormuz main export route for Iraqi oil KRG shut down its exports and all oil production as well

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Economy Could Collapse During Iran War)

Mar 3 US and Israel struck Kataib Hebollah’s base in Jurf al-Sakhr for 4^th time Ali Brigades

HQ in Qayara and Shabak 30^th Hashd Brigade in Bartella both in Ninewa struck Iran and Resistance attacked hotel in Irbil that houses US troops 2 drones crashed targeting communications tower in Korek Irbil Iranian KDP camp hit in Kurdistan Drone shot down over Balad Airbase in Salahaddin Drone shot down over Abu Ghraib prison Baghdad Drone turned back from Camp Victoria at Baghdad airport

Mar 3 Report Ruling Coordination Framework was in talks with members of Resistance to

try to stop them from carrying out attacks Several Hashd leaders told Framework they would continue target US and Israel inside and outside Iraq

 

Mar 4 Report Oil Ministry started major oil production cuts in southern Iraq Basra Oil

Company official said govt might cut output from 4 mil/bar/day to just 1 mil/bar/day KRG already stopped its oil production

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Starts Shutting Down Its Oil Industry Due To Iran War)

Mar 4 US and Israel attacked Sayid al-Shuhada Brigade northeast of Mosul and a HQ in

Qubba both in Ninewa Shabak 30^th Hashd Bde camp in Bashiqa dist and HQ in Bartella both in Ninewa hit 3 Hashd members wounded in Samawa in Muthanna Kataib Hezbollah hit for 2^nd time in Anbar’s Akashat Another Hashd unit hit in Diyala Iran and Resistance sent 2 drones against Victoria base in Baghdad Iranian opposition Kurdistan Freedom Party hit 2^nd time Killed 1 Wounded 3 in Kurdistan Missiles and drones shot down over Irbil city Peshmerga destroyed Hashd vehicle in Khalid in Irbil used to fire rockets at Irbil city

(Musings On Iraq U.S. And Iran Up The Ante In Iraq)

 

Mar 5 US Special Forces landed in Najaf desert Karbala Ops Command sent unit to

investigate Fired upon leaving 1 dead 2 wounded Target supposed Resistance camp Iraq formally protested to US over op Another Special Forces unit landed in Anbar Iraqi border guard unit investigated Fired upon 1 wounded 4 vehicles destroyed Iraqi army unit sent Fired up 1 soldier killed 2 wounded

(Musings On Iraq U.S. And Iran Up The Ante In Iraq)

Mar 5 Report Kurds blamed Babylon Brigades Shabak 30^th Brigade Sayid al-Shuhada of

launching attacks upon KRG from their bases in Ninewa Plains

Mar 5 Bahamas flagged oil tanker anchored in Iraqi waters hit by drone Drone crashed over

BP HQ in Rumaila field in Basra

Mar 5 Koya in Irbil targeted for 4^th time Iran said it sent drones against US military HQ in

Irbil city 3 drones targeted telecoms towers used by Asiacell and Kurdistan Radio in Sulaymaniya Drone shot down over Basra Resistance claimed 29 ops in Iraq and Mideast

 

Mar 6 Helicopter attacked Hashd checkpoint and building north of Mosul Could’ve been US

or Israeli aircraft

(Musings On Iraq U.S. And Iran Up The Ante In Iraq)

Mar 6 Report Resistance divided and reluctant to join Iran War No large scale mobilization

of men Hashd cmdr said only 2-3 groups would carry out attacks Some groups suffered leadership losses through assassinations Other leaders more interested in politics and money Lost support once had Overthrow of Assad denied Syria to Resistance Israel killed Hezbollah’s Nasrallah

Mar 6 Report Iran started new strategy attacking oil targets to increase prices and pressure

Trump to end war

Mar 6 2 drones hit Sarsang field in Dohuk Led to temporary halt in production there Another

oil company in Burjasiya in Basra and France’s Total targeted

Mar 6 Rockets fired from Abu Ghraib 3 missiles fired at Taji army base in Baghdad 2

separate attacks on Camp Victoria at Baghdad airport Air cargo building hit by drone at Basra airport Drone shot down heading from Kirkuk to Sulaymaniya Explosions at Irbil airport Hotel in Irbil city hit by drones Drone shot down targeting Peshmerga HQ in Sulaymaniya Resistance claimed 27 ops US and Israel hit Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s 41^st Hashd Bde in Mosul Imam Ali Bde hit in Qayara dist south Ninewa Babylon Brigdes hit in Tal Keif in north Ninewa Kataib Hezbollah’s base in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr struck again

Mar 6 Residential compound for oil workers hit by drone as Burjisiya oil complex in Basra

KBR appeared to be tarted Foreign oil workers began leaving Iraq afterwards

(Musings On Iraq Foreign Oil Workers Leave Iraq While Production Cut Due To Iran War)

 

Mar 7 Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Said killed by drone in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr Ran

extensive oil smuggling and oil derivative operations making millions

(Musings On Iraq U.S. And Iran Up The Ante In Iraq)

Mar 7 Iran’s Pres Pezeshkian said Iran wouldn’t attack neighbors anymore unless used to

target Iran Iranian Rev Guard claimed attacks upon 3 Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Iraq

Mar 7 Air defense shot down missiles over US embassy in Baghdad 3 drones hit Choman dist

in Irbil Missiles targeted Irbil airport Later Kurdish security officer killed in drone attack upon airport Drone shot down over Sulaymaniya Resistance claimed 23 ops Imam Ali Bde hit by airstrike near Mosul 33^rd Hashd Bde hit in Ninewa leaving 1 dead 3 wounded Kataib Hezbollah checkpoint in western Anbar hit

 

Mar 8 Report Iraq cut oil production in Basra from 3.3mbd to 1.3mbd due to closure of Strait

of Hormuz during Iran war

(Musings On Iraq Foreign Oil Workers Leave Iraq While Production Cut Due To Iran War)

Mar 8 Report Pres Trump called KDP head Barzani and PUK head Talabani Asked the to

back Iranian opposition parties vs Tehran Kurdish official said US abandoned Syrian Kurds so may not support Trump’s plan

Mar 8 Rocket fell on Shamshoumiya in Basra Pro-Iran Resistance claimed 24 ops that day

 

Mar 9 Airstrike hit Shabak 30^th Hashd Bde in Bartella in Ninewa Saraya al-Khorasani

attacked for 1^st time in Qaim Anbar Drone and missiles shot down over Cam Victoria at Baghdad airport Drone attacked military base at Irbil airport Iranian Rev Guard claimed it destroyed radar installation in Kurdistan

(Musings On Iraq Drone, Missile and Airstrikes In Iraq As Iran War Continues)

 

Mar 10 Report Oil revenue used for social and political control Used oil money to buy

loyalty of population Created different categories of people who are dependent upon state and its distribution of oil revenues Most middle class co-opted by state by becoming govt worekrs Most seek govt employment rather than trying private sector Middle class afraid of losing their jobs and privileges which erodes their independence Most societies based upon competence achievement In Iraq status based upon access to state resources Work is denigrated as sign of success

Mar 10 Due to Iran War Iraq looking into alternative routes for its oil exports 1 was trucking

oil to Jordan 2^nd was restoring pipeline to Saudi Arabia Third was exporting through Turkey

Mar 10 KRG used oil trader Murtaza Lakhani to export oil from 2014-20 1990s he helped

smuggle oil for Iraq to break UN sanctions Acted as intermediary between Barzani controlled oil companies and Russia’s Rosneft Belize company IMOCO was used to export KRG oil Used Barzani owned company to get access to KRG After Turkish oil pipeline closed KDP and PUK controlled companies began selling oil to Iran and Turkey by truck Profits didn’t go to KRG but Barzanis and Talabanis

Mar 10 UAE consulate in Irbil hit by drone Iranian Rev Guard claimed it hit US military at

Harir Air Base in Irbil with 5 missiles Drone shot down over Irbil airport and 3 over Camp Victoria at Baghdad Airport Drone crashed over Balad Air Base in Salahaddin Resistsance claimed downed US drone in northern Basra Drone crashed inside Majnoon oil field in Basra

(Musings On Iraq Consulate In Iraq Attacked Along With Pro-Iran Resistance)

Mar 10 6 Imam Ali Brigade members killed in 2 attacks in Dibis dist Kirkuk 20 injured

mostly civilians Khorasani Bde hit 3 times in Qaim, Anbar with 5 injured 2^nd report of helicopter deploying inside Iraq hit Shabak 30^th Bde in Ninewa

 

Mar 11 Iran hit two oil tankers off coast of Basra with booby trapped boat 1 crew member

killed Several injured 2^nd time tanker hit in Iraqi waters Drone crashed in Majnoon oil field in Basra Part of Iranian strategy to atack Iraq’s oil sector to increase pressure on Trump to end war

(Musings On Iraq Iran Hits Two Oil Tankers In Iraqi Waters)

Mar 11 Report Intl companies in oil sector started withdrawing foreign workers due to

Iranian attacks BP started withdrawing workers after 2 drones crashed at Rumaila oil field in Basra Followed by Total Halliburton KBR Schlumberger

Mar 11 Report Govt thinking of using Central Bank of Iraq’s $100 bil foreign reserves to pay

bills until oil exports could restart Bank’s funds couldn’t be used to cover budget Meant Bank would have to issue bonds or supply funds to state run banks

Mar 11 Iranian drone hit Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center at Baghdad Airport used by

State Dept 7 drones downed over logistics supporter center at Baghdad Airport Drone destroyed over Irbil city 3 drones shot down in Soran 2 heading for Mount Korek which has telecoms towers ISF found rockets aimed at Balad Air Base in field in Diyala

Mar 11 Pro-Iran Iraq Resistance claimed 291 ops over 12 days of Iran War Said it carried out

31 ops on Mar Said killed 13 Americans Only 8 US soldiers killed during entire war so far

Mar 11 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq arms depot hit in Suwaira, Wasit Shabak 30^th Hashd Bde hit by 2

airstrikes in Ninewa Hashd position in Qaim, Anbar struck killing 1 fighter Wounded 5 Hashd hit in airstrike in Mosul 59^th Tribal Hashd Bde struck north of Mosul by 2 airstrikes Hashd HQ for Special Forces killing 1 7 wounded

 

Mar 12 Ansar Allah hit by 2 airstrikes in Akashat, Anbar 35 killed 90 wounded Most

casualties of any strike since start of Iran War Kataib Hezbollah hit in Jurf al-Sakhr, Babil Camp Saqr south of Baghdad struck by 2 airstrikes 1 killed 2 wounded HQs of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in Salahaddin and Kataib Hezbollah in Fallujah targeted

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Resistance Base Hit With Over 120 Casualties)

Mar 12 Italian and British bases in Irbil struck Drone hit Diplomatic Support Center at

Baghdad airport Drone struck KDPI camp in Koya, Irbil 4 drones shot down over Irbil City Irbil governor said 17 drones downed during the night 2 drones hit radar at Majnoon oil field in Basra

Mar 12 Iraqi army’s 14^th Div hit in Makhmour, Ninewa by drones Unclear who responsible

Mar 12 Pro-Iran Resistance accused PM Sudani of taking US orders after Iraqi forces

surrounded Hashd unit after drone crashed at Baghdad Airport PM candidate Maliki backing resistance

 

Mar 13 French soldier killed in drone attack 6 others wounded in Irbil Italy announced

withdrawing its troops from Iraq after it was targeted in Iran War Both part of intl anti-IS Coalition

(Musings On Iraq Resistance Leadership Targeted As French Soldier Killed And Italian Forces Withdraw From Iraq)

Mar 13 Missiles hit Arasat neighborhood in Baghdad 4 killed 8 injured Kataib Hezbollah’s

sec gen might have been killed or wounded Head of Badr’s missile dept killed in Baghdad Cultural center for rep of Iran’s Supreme leader run by Sayid al-Shuhada destroyed in Bartella, Ninewa Khorasani Brigade’s 18^th Hashd Bde hit along Syrian border

Mar 13 Iranian Rev Guard claimed it fired missiles and drones at US military base in Irbil K1

military base in Kirkuk hit by mortars 2 sets of drones downed targeting support center at Baghdad Airport 1 hit a building in the complex

 

Mar 14 US Embassy in Baghdad hit by rocket Helicopter pad hit Air defenses damaged

UAE’s consulate in Irbil hit 2^nd time 2 guards injured Lanaz oil refinery in Irbil city closed after hit by drone that caused fire 3 drones downed over support cneter in Baghdad airport

(Musings On Iraq Resistance Leadership Targeted As French Soldier Killed And Italian Forces Withdraw From Iraq)

Mar 14 Turkmen 52^nd Hashd Bde in Tuz Kharmato and Amerli in Salahaddin hit by drones 4

wounded Imam Ali’s 40^th Hashd Bde hit in Karrada Baghdad Explosions also heard in Rusafa and Nahrawan areas of capital Sayid al-Shuahda’s 30^th Hashd Bde hit by 2 missiles in Mosul Ansar Allah’s 19^th Hashd Bde hit by airstrike in Akashat, Anbar

 

Mar 15 Report Oil Min wanted to export 150,00 bar/day of oil through Kurd-Turkish

pipeline KRG demanding that it be able to administer new online customs system Baghdad rejected that demand

(Musings On Iraq Political Dispute Blocks Iraq Exporting Oil Through Turkey During Iran War)

Mar 15 Repor Kataib Hezbollah sec gen Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi either killed or injured in

strike Mar 13 1^st time Resistance head directly targeted

Mar 15 Turkmen 16^th Hashd Bde hit in Daquq, Kirkuk 3 injured Imam Ali’s 40^th Hashd Bde

hit in Kirkuk as well

Mar 15 Rockets and drones targeted Baghdad Airport 4 Interior Min members injured

Counter Terror Service HQ in Baghdad hit by rockets Iranian Kurdish opposition party Komala hit again in Sulaymaniya city Resistance claimed 24 ops during the day

 

Mar 16 Kataib Hezbollah spokesman Abu Ali Al-Askari killed Came after his father was

injured or killed on Mar 13

(Musings On Iraq Spokesman For Kataib Hezbollah Killed As Iran War Continues To Escalate In Iraq)

Mar 16 Khorasani Brigade’s 18^th Hashd Bde and Asnar Allah’s 19^th Hashd Bde hit 4 times by

airstrikes in Qaim, Anbar 7 dead 13 wounded Kataib Hezbollah’s base in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr hit again by airstrike 2 dead 1 wounded 3 from Badr’s 21^st Bde wounded by airstrike in Ninewa

Mar 16 2 drones hit Majnoon oil field in Basra KBR office hit 4 rockets hit Baghdad airport

wounding 5 Before 3 waves of drones shot down over airport Drone hit 2 cars at Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad Drone exploded at Balad Air Base in Salahaddin

Mar 16 ISF raided Kataib Hezbollah’s base in Jurf al-Sakhr Led to gun battle and 2 killed

Mar 16 Spain’s Def Min said its withdrawing its 300 troops after French soldier killed by

drone in Irbil Spain trains Iraq’s Counter Terror Service in Baghdad and KRG

Mar 16 BP withdrawing foreign workers from 4 oil fields in Kirkuk Already withdrew staff

from Basra due to war

Mar 16 Oil Min said it would export oil to Turkey without Kurds KRG wanted to run new

customs service Baghdad said no Oil Min wants to use old federal pipeline to Turkey that was damaged in 2014 in war vs IS Has to be restored Oil Min said would happen soon Oil Min wants to export 500,000 bar/day through line Fraction of pre-war 3.4 mil/bar/day exports

Mar 16 Drone shot down over Samarra, Salahaddin No word on who it belonged to

(Musings On Iraq 2 Breakthroughs To Allow Iraq To Export Oil Again During Iran War?)

 

Mar 17 Oil Min announced that it had made deal with Iran to allow tankers loaded with its

oil through the Strait of Hormuz No other details revealed

(Musings On Iraq 2 Breakthroughs To Allow Iraq To Export Oil Again During Iran War?)

Mar 17 Irbil and Baghdad came to agreement to re-open pipeline to Turkey Would export

            both KRG and Kirkuk oil

Mar 17 2 Drones hit Majnoon oil field in Basra Communications tower and KBR office hit

Mar 17 Jadriya, Baghdad hit Reportedly killed 4 Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders

including officer in charge of coordinating with Resistance

Mar 17 Airstrike hit Harakt al-Nujaba’s 12^th Hashd Bde in Baghdad wounding 3 Drone hit

Kataib Imam Ali’s 40^th Hashd Bde in Kirkuk US Apache helicopter hit Imam Ali Bde in Kirkuk Iraqi Army’s 8^th Div responded and shot at as well Tribal Hashd unit struck by jets in Thar Thar, Anbar wounding a commander

Mar 17 3 waves of drones launched at US Embassy in Baghdad One hit Smoke seen rising

from Victoria base at Baghdad Airport Resistance claimed 47 ops in Iraq and MidEast during day

 

Mar 18 Oil Min announced it was exporting oil again to Turkey at a rate of 250,000 bar/day

US played a leading role in Irbil and Baghdad coming to deal because wanted more oil on the market to lower prices

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Starts Exporting Oil Once Again During Iran War)

Mar 18 Kataib Hezbollah’s 45h Hashd Bde targeted in Qaim, Anbar killing three Turkmen

16^th Hashd Bde had its HQ struck twice in Daquq, Kirkuk injuring three Badr and Turkmen 63^rd Hashd Brigade hit in Kirkuk 5 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq fighters from its 16^th Hashd Bde wounded in 2 separate drone strikes in Daquq, Kirkuk Group also hit twice in Kirkuk city Jund al-Imam’s 6^th Hashd Bde had HQ in Baiji, Salahaddin struck wounding three Kataib al-Tayar al-Risali’s 31^st Hashd Bde shelled injuring 1

Mar 18 Def Min condemned attack upon Kirkuk air base No intl troops at base Min said it

            was a direct threat to country’s security forces

Mar 18 Report that 3 drones from Basra hit Kuwait observation post

Mar 18 4 drones attacked Um Qasr naval base in Basra which is used by US

Mar 18 drone shot down over Baghdad airport Another taken out by US jets later that night

Mar 18 Peshmerga Min said that its bases Irbil and Sulaymaniya faced drone strikes

wounding 3 Peshmerga 10 drones downed over Irbil and 5 over Sulaymaniya

Mar 18 PM Sudani condemned attacks upon US Embassy Said outlaws responsible would be

held responsible

Mar 18 Report ISF arrested several Kataib Hezbollah accused of sending drones against

Baghdad airport 1 was a Federal Police lieutenant colonel who helped group get drones through checkpoints Political party intervened and got the members released

 

Mar 19 Report Mar 1 Asaib Ahl Al-Haq HQ in Diyala hit Reportedly killed Iranian advisor

Mar 17 Baghdad neighborhood bombed killing 6 Iranian Revolutionary Guard members Quds Force cmdr Gen Qaani told Resistance they can plan their own operations Revolutionary Guard was there to help them with attacks

(Musings On Iraq Iran Helping The Resistance Carry Out Attacks In Iraq)

Mar 19 Kataib Hezbollah said it would stop attacks on US Embassy for 5 days if Israel

stopped attacking southern Beirut and Iraq Sayid al-Shuahda said it would continue to target US in Iraq Claimed Kurdish bases were being used by US for military ops in Iraq

Mar 19 Shabak 30^th Hashd Bde hit in Bartella, Ninewa 1 dead 3 wounded Jund al-Imam’s 6^th

Hashd Bde targeted in Baiji, Salahddin injuring 3 Group also bombed later Kataib al-Tayara al-Risali’s 31^st Hashd Bde hit in Salahaddin 1 dead HQ of Turkmen 63^rd Hashd Bde faced airstrike in Tuz Kharmato, Salahaddin Plans hit Harakt al-Nujaba’s 12^th Hashd Bde in Tarmiya, Baghdad Hashd Ninewa Ops Command hit north of Mosul

 

Mar 20 Report Ruling Coordination Framework got pro-Iran Resistance to agree to ceasefire

(Musings On Iraq Ceasefire Reported In Iraq But Not Followed)

Mar 20 2 waves of drones sent against Baghdad airport

Mar 20 Turkmen 52^nd Hashd Bde’s HQ bomb in Tuz Kharmato, Salahaddin 1 dead Plans

struck Jund al-Imam’s 6^th Hashd Bde in Salahaddin

Mar 20 NATO announced it was withdrawing its troops from Iraq due to violence during Iran

War French soldier killed by drone

Mar 20 Report Kurds not exporting any oil to Turkey Still not come to agreement with

Baghdad Want to run new customs system Baghdad said no Kurds also want their oil fields protected Oil Min wants to ship southern oil to north Has limited capacity Iraq only exported 250,000 bar/day vs 3.4 mil/bar/day before war

 

Mar 21 Natl Intel Service HQ in Baghdad attacked 1 officer killed Drone shot down over

Baghdad airport Turkmen 52^nd Hashd Bde hit in airstrike in Tuz Kharmato, Salahaddin

(Musings On Iraq Violence Down After Ceasefire In Iraq)

 

Mar 22 Baghdad airport faced 8 waves of drones and missiles One rocket hit Counter Terror

Service building wounding 5 Drone hit Peshmerga HQ in Sulaymaniya province 3 injured Resistance claimed 21 attacks in Iraq and Mideast during the day

Mar 22 Kataib Hezbollah’s base in Jurf al-Sakhr hit wounding 1 Liwa al-Tafuf’s 13^th Hashd

Bde hit in Anbar

(Musings On Iraq Pro-Iran Resistance Picks Up Attacks In Iraq)

 

Mar 23 PM Sudani condemned the Resistance for its attack upon the National Intel Service

HQ in Baghdad that killed 1 and wounding another Called them cowards Said they would be brought to justice

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s PM Sudani Criticizes Pro-Iran Resistance While Giving Them Concession During Iran War)

Mar 23 PM Sudani said he would end the international anti-IS coalition presence in Iraq

early Was supposed to leave in Sep 2026 Said its presence was justification for Resistance and with its departure would be easier to disband pro-Iran groups

Mar 23 Kataib Hezbollah said it would continue to not attack the US Embassy in Baghdad

Originally announced Mar 19

Mar 23 Report Foreign diplomats fleeing Iraq dur to Iran War Last NATO member left Mar

20 Mar 19 Americans began leaving US Embassy Mar 17 Saudi embassy closed followed by Qatar one Germans withdrawing

Mar 23 Kataib Hezbollah’s base in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr hit for 2^nd day wounding 4 Quwat

al-Shaheed al-Sadr’s 15^th Hashd Bde hit in northern Salahaddin Badr’s 27^th Hashd Bde struck in Qarma, Anbar

Mar 23 Resistance fired 7 missiles from Rabia in western Ninewa at Karan al-Jir base in

northeast Syria Base used by US before withdrawal 2^nd report of Resistance attacking neighboring state from Iraq

 

Mar 24 Report Iranain Revolutionary Guards Quds Force directing attacks by the Resistance

Sent in forces as soon as war started Join advisors already in Iraq Ran operations command in Baghdad with sub branches in Najaf Diyala Basra Early Mar strike on Kataib Hezbollah’s base at Jurf al-Sakhr targeted Iranians House in Jadriya Baghdad bombed killing several Iranians running ops out of Jurf al-Sakhr

(Musings On Iraq More Reports Of Iran Aiding The Iraqi Resistance)

Mar 24 6 Iranian missiles hit 2 Peshmerga bases in Irbil 6 killed 30 Wounded 1^st time

Peshmerga attacked by Iran

Mar 24 Sunni Political Council condemned Kataib Hezbollah for threatening Sunni and

Kurdish intel officers Came after Natl Intel Service HQ in Baghdad attacked Resistance claimed agency working with US and Americans were in the building

Mar 24 National Security Council said Hashd could defend itself against attacks

Mar 24 Report PM Sudani made Natl Sec Adv Araji negotiator with Resistance to try to stop

them from carrying out attacks Talks failed so far Resistance claimed its ops forced US to ask for ceasefire to evacuate its and NATO troops out of Victoria Base at Baghdad Airport

Mar 24 Hashd Anbar Ops Command hit in Habaniya Head of command sr security office

western ops commander and 12 others killed Hashd base in Ninewa attacked leaving 1 wounded Kataib al-Tayar al-Risali’s 31^st Hashd Bde struck twice in Baiji dist of Salahaddin 7 injured Head of Hashd Comm Falah Fayad’s guesthouse in Ninewa bombed Baghdad Bde also hit in Ninewa

Mar 24 Oil tanker with 2 mil/bar of Iraqi oil passed through Strait of Hormuz 1^st time

happened

 

Mar 25 Military base in Habaniya Anbar hit by jets Struck Hashd intel dept at facility News

said 7 soldiers killed 13 wounded Shafaq News said 15 Hashd killed 14 wounded Baghdad condemned attack upon its forces

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Outraged By Airstrike On Military Base In Anbar)

Mar 25 2 joint army-Hashd checkpoints in Qaim, Anbar hit Kataib al-Tayar al-Risali’s 31^st

Hashd Bde struck by jes in Siniya Salahaddin

Mar 25 Resistance claimed 23 ops in Iraq and MidEast Drone hit residential area of Irbil

causing civilian injuries 2 drones crashed at oil fields in Basra and Maysan

Mar 25 KRG Pres N Barzani said Iranian missile attack upon 2 Peshmerga bases in Irbil was

a mistake

Mar 25 Iraqi forces arrested 4 responsible for rocket attack upon Syrian base

Mar 25 Iraq cut oil production by 3.6 mil/bar/day 1 mil/bar sent to refineries 250,000 bar of

Kirkuk and KRG oil exported to Turkey Talk of trucking oil to Jordan has gone nowhere Oil Min unable to sign contracts Even if started would only be around 150,000 bar/day Feb Iraq exported 3.567 mil/bar/day Earned $6.69 bil Iraq only making fraction of that now due to war

 

Mar 26 Report Iraq on brink of economic crisis due to Iran War Lost around $5.4 bil Only

has 1-2 months of cash to pay govt salaries Central Bank of Iraq said its reserves could cover 12 months without oil exports

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Running Out Of Money Due To Iran War)

Mar 26 Saudi Arabia Kuwait Qatar UAE Bahrain Jordan issued joint statement demanding

Iraq control Resistance Said they had right to defend themselves from attacks

Mar 26 Iraqi army shot down drone in Kirkuk Army’s 79^th Bde hit in Rutba Anbar by a drone

Is ued by army to launch its own drones

Mar 26 Turkmen 61^st and 63 Harshd Bdes hit in Kirkuk and Salahaddin Abandoned facility

behind 79^th Hashd Bde which had previously made drones hit

Mar 26 Turkey withdrew its forces from Iraq Worked as part of NATO mission in Baghdad to

train Iraqi military