
ISHM: JANUARY 14 – JANUARY 21, 2021
Key Takeaways: U.S. Troops Down To 2,500; Lawmakers Propose 164 Changes To 2021 Budget; Iraq Pushes Elections Date To October – On January 14, PM Kadhimi visited the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Commission to meet with PMF chief Falih al-Fayyadh after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Fayyadh and his acting deputy. On January 15, prominent Dhi-Qar activist Dr. Alaa al-Rikabi announced the formation of “Imtidad”, a new political group set to run in the next parliamentary election. On January 15, acting U.S. Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said the number of U.S. troops in Iraq has dropped to 2,500. On January 18, Turkey’s Defense Minister visited Baghdad and Erbil for meetings with PM Kadhimi and KRG leaders. On January 18, al-Mada reported that lawmakers summitted 164 proposed amendments to the 2021 draft budget, including calls to reduce spending by more than IQD40 trillion and shrink the deficit by half. On January