Key Takeaways:
U.S. Sanctions Senior Militia Figures; Deadly Clashes Erupt During Nasiriyah Protests; New Kurdish Faction Formed In Parliament – On January 8, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Popular Mobilization Committee Chairman Falih al-Fayyadh over human rights violations. Then on January 13, the U.S. State Department added Kataib Hezbollah commander… Read more
Key Takeaways:
Kadhimi Says Government Ready For Showdown As Militias Issue Brazen Threats; Parliament To Discuss 2021 Budget On Saturday; Fatah Calls For Removing U.S. Forces – On December 25, PM Kadhimi warned “outlaw” militias that his government was “ready for a decisive confrontation if necessary” while stressing that he… Read more
Key Takeaways:
Parliament Funds Elections Amid Reports Of “Consensus” On Delay; Iraqi Leaders Condemn Embassy Attack; Cabinet Approves 2021 Budget – On December 17, Iraq’s Parliament voted to approve IQD329 billion in funds for the Electoral Commission to prepare for the next election, scheduled for June 2021. On December 21,… Read more
Key Takeaways:
UNAMI Urges Parliament To Fund Elections; KRG “Ready” To Exchange Oil For Funds; Controversial Politician Barred From Elections; Dhi-Qar Protest Site Cleared; Kadhimi Visits Ankara – On December 11, UNAMI urged lawmakers to quickly approve a IQD329 billion bill, without which the Independent High Electoral Commission won’t be… Read more
Key Takeaways:
U.S. Diplomatic Drawdown “Temporary”; Iraqis Remember Nasiriyah’s Fallen Protesters; Militias Support Sadr’s Call To Fight “Deviant” Youths; Billions Unaccounted For In Electricity Contracts; Anti-Halbousi Group Crumbles – On December 3, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq called the planned reduction of U.S. diplomatic personnel “temporary.” On December 4, thousands… Read more
Key Takeaways:
PM Urges Lawmakers To Fund Election; Group Drops Effort To Unseat Halbousi; Sadr’s Followers Kill Seven Protesters In Nasiriyah Clashes As He Announces Ambitious Election Bid – On November 21, the Cabinet asked for IQD60 billion to finance the Iraqi High Elections Commission and PM Kadhimi later stressed… Read more
Key Takeaways:
KRG Condemns Borrowing Bill Vote; PM Affirms Commitment To Early Elections; Sinjar Locals Seek Changes To Normalization Agreement; U.S. To Pull 500 Personnel By January – On November 13, KRG PM Masrour Barzani condemned the Iraqi Parliament’s vote on a borrowing bill despite Kurdish objections and warned that… Read more
Key Takeaways:
Baghdad And Riyadh Push For More Cooperation; Iraqi Leaders, Factions Cautiously Welcome Biden’s Victory; Borrowing Bill Approved Despite Kurdish Objections – On November 5, UNAMI issued a report on the Iraq’s preparations for the next parliamentary, calling the approval of electoral districts a “significant and welcome step forward… Read more
Key Takeaways:
Saudi Investment Plan Draws Objections; Iraq And Egypt Sign 15 MoUs; Protests Continue After Tahrir Sq Reopening; Barzani Calls For End To PKK “Occupation”; President Signs New Election Law – On October 31, Qais al-Khazali and Nouri al-Maliki’s bloc criticized a prospective Saudi plan to invest in agricultural… Read more
Key Takeaways:
Parliament Approves Electoral Districting Bill; Protests Subside After Violent Episode; New Group Seeks To Unseat Speaker Halbousi; Militia Commander Threatens Attacks On U.S. – Between October 24 – 28, Parliament voted on the boundaries of 83 electoral district across Iraq’s eighteen provinces. On October 25, thousands of protesters… Read more
