Key Takeaways: POLITICS: U.S. Announces Bounties on Two Militia Leaders; Businessman Ali Al-Zaidi Named Prime Minister-Designate – Between April 23–27, the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program announced rewards of up to $10 million each for information on Abu Ala al-Walaie and Hayder al-Gharawi, leaders of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, […]
EPIC
EPIC promotes peace and development in Iraq through research, education, and humanitarian action.
Earth Day: What Iraq’s History Teaches Us About Protecting the Environment
On Earth Day, Iraq offers a powerful reminder: protecting the environment and securing peace are inseparable. From ancient Mesopotamia to today’s climate and conflict challenges, its history shows what is at stake—and what must be done.
Iraq Caught in the Middle: The Iran War’s Impact and What Comes Next
A temporary ceasefire in the Iran war has not stabilized Iraq. Instead, it has exposed the country’s structural vulnerability to external conflict and pressure—caught between the United States and Iran, with economic strain, disrupted oil exports, and militia activity amplifying internal fragility.
ISHM: April 16 – 23, 2026
Iraq this week saw continued political deadlock, rising security risks, and growing economic pressure, including cross-border attacks, threats to activists, and financial constraints.
ISHM: April 9 – 16, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Iraq Elects New President in Controversial Vote but Deadlock Over the Next Prime Minister Continues – On April 11, Iraq’s parliament elected Nizar Mohammed Amedi as the country’s next president. Amedi, from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), secured 227 votes—surpassing the required two-thirds majority—in a second round of voting after the […]
ISHM: April 2 – 9, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Militias Call for Punitive Measures Against Jordan; PUK Confident of Support Ahead of Contentious Parliament Meeting to Elect President – On April 2, the “Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee,” an umbrella group of armed factions, accused the leaders of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE of supporting U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran, and said […]
ISHM: March 26 – April 2, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Parliament to Meet April 11 to Elect New President; Militia Threatens Regional Escalation – On March 30, Iraq’s parliament said lawmakers will meet on April 11 to vote on a new president. The decision followed a meeting between the speaker, his deputies, and leaders of parliamentary blocs aimed at breaking the ongoing […]
ISHM: March 19 – 26, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Sudani Shows Solidarity with PMF and INIS After Attacks, Authorizes Self-Defense; Arab States Tell Baghdad to Rein in Militia Attacks – On March 19, amid new U.S. strikes, Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani visited the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), where he met PMF Chairman Falih al-Fayyadh, Chief of Staff Abu […]
ISHM: March 5 – 19, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Parliament Requires Government to Enforce Federal Oil and Customs Policies on the KRG; Militias to Pause Attacks on U.S. Embassy as Pressure Mounts – On March 18, Iraq’s parliament issued an eight-point resolution during a session dedicated to restarting northern oil exports through the Kurdistan Region and addressing related disputes between Baghdad […]
ISHM: February 26 – March 5, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Political Deadlock Continues as Trump’s Envoy Meets Maliki; Iraq Calls for Ending U.S. Attack on Iran; Judge Zaidan Seeks to Redefine “Largest Bloc” – On February 27, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack met in Baghdad with Nouri al-Maliki, the Coordination Framework’s (CF) nominee for prime minister. The visit marked Barrack’s […]