Category: Monitoring the Crisis

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Tension Rises Between Zaidi and Armed Factions Over American Flag Incident; Outline of 2027 Budget Emerges – On October 5, security forces arrested individuals involved in an incident in which military vehicles and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were seen passing over an American flag during a parade marking the […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Parliament to Vote on New PMF Draft Law as Zaidi Outlines Plan to Bring Weapons Under State Control – On September 29, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s Cabinet finalized a draft law on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and referred it to parliament for discussion and a vote. The draft was prepared “within […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Zaidi Announces Revised Plan for Militias, Meets with Syria’s Sharaa in NYC – On September 21, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said his government had reached an agreement with armed factions on a gradual, two-phase process for placing all weapons under state control. Zaidi told The New York Times that the process would […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: New U.S. Sanctions Target Family of Powerful Politician; Zaidi Signs New Energy, Defense Agreements in Paris and Berlin – On September 10, the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting several members of Kataib Hezbollah (KH), as well as Iraqi businessmen and companies, over their alleged role in supporting the activities of […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Media Network Faces Crackdown; Parliament Prepares New Counter-Terrorism Law; Zaidi Heads to Paris and Berlin Next Week – On September 7, Iraqi authorities arrested political television host Qusay Shafiq over alleged extortion and bribery. Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad said Shafiq was arrested “in the act,” while footage circulated online purportedly showing Shafiq […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Central Bank Freezes Assets of 12 Politicians on Corruption Charges; Militia Leader Acknowledges Role in Suppressing 2019 Popular Protests – On August 28, Iraq’s Central Bank (CBI) instructed banks, financial institutions, and relevant government agencies to freeze the assets of 12 current and former lawmakers and a senior government adviser who were […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Baghdad Says September 30 is the Starting Point, Not Deadline for Militia Disarmament – On August 26, Qasim al-Araji, a senior security adviser to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, said that September 30—the date set for the departure of the international coalition—will be a starting point, rather than an endpoint, for the government’s […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Zaidi Faces Militia Threats Over Disarmament Push; Iran’s Ghalibaf Presents Tehran’s Proposal for Compromise – On August 13, the Badr Organization warned Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi against moving too quickly to satisfy U.S. demands to place all weapons under state control. Badr official Mohammed Naji said the state and the “resistance” should […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Iraq-Saudi Security Talks Focus on Drone Attacks; Anti-Corruption Campaign Targets First Significant Shia Figure; Zaidi Seeks Legislative Support for Militia Disarmament – On August 7, Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan arrived in Baghdad for talks with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and to extend a new invitation to visit Riyadh after […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Government Increases Pressure on Intransigent Militias to Disarm as Neighbors Warn of Retaliation if Attacked Again – On August 5, Iraq’s State Administration Coalition, which comprises the country’s main governing parties, reaffirmed its support for the government’s efforts to bring all weapons under state control and stressed that Iraqi territory must not […]