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

 

Iraq’s Election Commission released partial early results for voter turnout in the provinces. It showed a surge of voting across the country compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2021.

Review Richard Lowry, Marines in the Garden of Eden, The True Story of Seven Bloody Days in Iraq, Berkeley Publishing Group, 2006

Lowry, Richard, Marines in the Garden of Eden, The True Story of Seven Bloody Days in Iraq, Berkeley Publishing Group, 2006

 

Nasiriya was the biggest battle the Americans fought during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Initially the Marines didn’t think the Iraqis would put up much resistance but it turned into a week-long operation. Richard Lowry tells the most comprehensive story of what happened.

Pro-Iran Factions Carried Out Limited Attacks In Iraq During Israel-Iran Conflict

June saw the return of pro-Iran factions which carried out a limited series of attacks in Iraq in support of Tehran during the Israel-Iran conflict.

Review Gary Livingston, An Nasiriyah, The Fight for the Bridges, Caisson Press, 2003

Livingston, Gary, An Nasiriyah, The Fight for the Bridges, Caisson Press, 2003

 

Gary Livingston’s An Nasiriya, The Fight for the Bridges is a combat history of the battle for two bridges in the city of Nasiriya during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The author wanted to valorize the Marines and gives a very in depth narrative of all the fighting that took place. In the process he skips over many of the mistakes and problems that were made.

Review Colonel Rod Andrew, U.S. Marines in Battle, An-Nasiriyah, 23 March-2 April 2003, Marine Corps University, 2012

Andrew, Colonel Rod, U.S. Marines in Battle, An-Nasiriyah, 23 March-2 April 2003, Marine Corps University, 2012

 

Colonel Rod Andrew’s U.S. Marines in Battle, An-Nasiriya is about the most intense fighting during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. That took place in the southern city of Nasiriya as Marines tried to rescue a lost army unit and seize two bridges that were needed so that other forces could move on Baghdad. It turned into an unexpected fight where it seemed like the whole city had taken up arms against the Americans.

Campaign Against Protesters In Dhi Qar

Al Mada reported that authorities in Dhi Qar continue to persecute activists over the 2019 protest movement. Dozens have been arrested and others are facing lawsuits over their activities.

Review Tim Pritchard, Ambush Alley, The Most Extraordinary Battle of The Iraq War, Ballantine Books, 2005

Pritchard, Tim, Ambush Alley, The Most Extraordinary Battle of The Iraq War, Ballantine Books, 2005

 

Tim Pritchard’s Ambush Alley, The Most Extraordinary Battle Of The Iraq War is one of those books that you can’t put down once it gets going. It covers a battalion of Marines who attacked Nasiriya during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Americans weren’t expecting any resistance but found themselves in one of the most intense battles of the entire conflict. The author does a fantastic job describing the drama that ensued.

Demonstrations Breakout In Nasiriya As Police Arrest Those Involved In 2019 Protest Movement

On October 18 protests broke out in Nasirya the capitol of Dhi Qar province demanding the release of detainees. Activists said there was a political campaign to arrest people involved in the 2019 protest movement.

New Provincial Govts In Iraq After Dec Election

 

Most of the new provincial governments in Iraq were decided in February. The Coordination Framework took most of the governors as expected because their main rival Muqtada al-Sadr boycotted. The list did not have its way however.

Sadrists And Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Return To Violence In Southern Iraq

(AFP)

The Sadrists and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq have a longtime rivalry which has heated up once again in southern Iraq. After the December 2023 provincial elections the two sides have resorted to violence in an attempt to assert their control.

Final Results For Iraq’s Provincial Elections

(Wikipedia)

The final results of Iraq’s provincial elections have been announced. The ruling Coordination Framework won the most seats and wants to control the south. That will put it into conflict with several governors that won the most votes in their governorates. On the other hand the Kurds misplayed their hand running separately because the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) wanted to dominate the community.

Coordination Framework Looks To Take Control Of Most Of Iraq’s Provinces

As expected the ruling Coordination Framework was the biggest winner in Iraq’s 2023 provincial elections. Even though it ran as three separate lists, Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law, Hadi Amiri’s Nabni, and Haidar al-Abadi and Ammar Hakim’s National State Forces Alliance, they won the most seats up for grabs on governorate councils. They will now re-unite and attempt to control most of Iraq’s provinces solidifying their hold on the Iraqi state.

Another Study Of Climate Change Induced Displacement In Iraq

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has started tracking Iraqis displaced by climate change. They have found the phenomena is increasing with each passing month. The group tried to deduce the main causes of this new dilemma Iraq is facing.

Study Of 3 Districts Of Iraq Dealing With Climate Change

(Getty Images)

Iraq is facing an environmental crisis with no end in sight. The country is beset by droughts, rising temperatures, desertification, and dust storms. The World Bank counted 15 natural disasters in Iraq over the last 30 years due to climate change. The Berghof Foundation did a study of three districts to look at how things are developing at the local level in the country.

More Iraqis Displaced Due To Climate Change

(IOM)

The United Nations said that Iraq is one of the top 5 nations in the world susceptible to climate change. Fertile land is becoming arid due to drought and desertification. Rain has decreased along with the flow of water down the Euphrates and Tigris due to dams in neighboring countries. Salinity and pollution in the water is increasing as well. Crops have declined as a result along with livestock and fishing. Thousands of people have left their homes because they can no longer make a living. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released a survey for September 2023 that found the number of people displaced due to the environment has increased.

Climate change induced displacement increases in Iraq

(IOM)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the premier group working with the Iraqi government on the country’s displaced (IDP) problem. In recent years it has been documenting a new phenomenon which is people being forced out of their homes by climate change. The United Nations said Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country to the environmental crisis.  In a July report the IOM noted that this new IDP population is increasing.

Increased Displacement In Iraq Due To Climate Change

(IOM)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) just issued a new report about continued displacement in central and southern Iraq due to climate change. The situation has gotten worse with more families leaving the land and the government appears to be incapable of providing help.

Activist Imprisoned Over Tweet Leads To Deadly Protests In Iraq

(AFP)

On December 5 activist Haidar Hamid Fenian Fadhil was given 3 years in prison for Tweeting about dead leader Abu Muhandis and the Hashd. The courts found him guilty under an old Saddam era law against defaming government officials. His sentence sparked a series of protests in Dhi Qar where he came from.

3 Year Anniversary of Iraq’s Protests Shows Dwindling Movement

Demonstration in Maysan to mark 3 yr anniversary of protest movement (Al Mirbad)

October 25 marked the three-year anniversary of Iraq’s protest movement. People came out in 10 provinces but not in the large numbers seen in previous times.

Clashes In South Fueled By Political Dispute Over New Iraqi Govt

(Reuters)

Sadr has lost almost all of his political influence over forming the next government in Iraq. He overplayed his hand when he withdrew his parliamentarians and now only has the street and violence to turn to. That has led to a number of clashes, protests and assassinations in southern Iraq between Sadr’s followers and his rivals in the Coordination Framework.