Key Takeaways:

• POLITICS: Army Chief Confirmation Meets Kurdish Objections; KDP Must Accept Smaller Role in Next KRG Cabinet, Rivals Insist – On February 17, Iraq’s parliament confirmed the appointments of the mayor of Baghdad and the army chief of staff—both “special grade” posts requiring parliamentary approval. Baghdad Mayor Ammar Mousa Kadhim and Army Chief of Staff General Abdulamir Yarallah had served for years without formal confirmation. The vote was contentious and sparked strong objections. Kurdish factions opposed Yarallah’s confirmation, calling it a violation of their entitlements and established power-sharing norms. Deputy Speaker Farhad al-Atrushi of the KDP said the move “constitutes a breach of national partnership, balance, and political consensus.” Last week, PUK and KDP representatives had called for the appointment of a Kurdish officer as chief of staff, citing Kurdish underrepresentation in senior federal and military posts. Kadhim’s confirmation, as a member of the Hikma Movement, was condemned by the Azm bloc, which said the vote upset communal balance within state institutions and blamed Speaker Haybat al-Halbousi for squandering Sunni rights. Also on February 17, New Generation leader Shaswar Abdulwahid said the KDP can hold either the premiership or the presidency in the next regional government—but not both. He unveiled the proposal after meeting PUK leader Bafel Talabani for the second time in a month. The two recently announced a joint parliamentary bloc with 38 seats—just one short of the KDP’s 39—creating near parity in the legislature. The proposal is among the clearest post–October 2024 election articulations of a power-sharing framework by KDP rivals, challenging the party’s traditional hold over both top posts. Government formation has been stalled for over a year due to KDP–PUK disputes. In other developments, on February 16, the office of caretaker Prime Minister Sudani said it had implemented several consolidation and restructuring measures within its departments as part of efforts to reduce expenditures and improve performance. more…
• SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: Transfer of ISIS Suspects from Syria to Iraq Complete; Army Aviation Tests High-Performance Armed Drones – On February 13, the U.S. military announced it had completed the transfer of thousands of suspected ISIS members from Syria to Iraq. CENTCOM said the operation, which began on January 21, concluded with a final flight on February 13. During the mission, “more than 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters” were moved from Syrian detention facilities and handed over to Iraqi authorities, CENTCOM stated. An Iraqi government document puts the precise number of transferred detainees at 5,704 from 66 nationalities. More than half (3,544) are identified as Syrians. The transfers appear to have exacerbated Iraq’s chronic prison overcrowding. On February 14, Iraqi Army Aviation conducted a live-fire exercise to test the capability of CH-5 drones to launch precision-guided missiles. A video released by the military appeared to show the Chinese-made drone successfully striking a designated target. This marks the first visual confirmation of the large, armed CH-5 drone in service with Iraq. The long-range drone was operating out of Ain al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province. In other developments, on February 13, four mortar rounds struck an area in the Kan’an subdistrict of Diyala province. Authorities were unable to determine the source of the rare indirect-fire attack—the first of its kind in the area in nearly four years. On February 15, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said the Syrian government had begun relocating thousands of civilians with perceived ties to ISIS from al-Hol camp in northeast Syria to Akhtarin camp near Aleppo. Recently, the population of the sprawling al-Hol camp was estimated to include as many as 4,000 Iraqis. The Iraqi government has not yet commented on the development. On February 18, two individuals were killed when their vehicle exploded on the road between Dokan and the provincial capital, Sulaymaniyah. Local officials said the vehicle belonged to a member of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan and was carrying weapons and munitions. more…
• ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Iraq to Reopen More Border Crossings with Syria – On February 16, the head of Iraq’s Border Ports Commission said Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani had directed authorities to reopen two border crossings with Syria as soon as possible. The planned reopening of the al-Waleed and Rabiya crossings is part of Baghdad’s broader effort to expand trade with Syria and develop east–west transit routes linked to Iraq’s Development Road project, the official explained. Since the fall of the Assad regime, only one crossing—al-Qaim—has reopened, resuming the movement of passengers and goods between Syria and federal Iraq in June of last year. In other developments, on February 17, the Iraqi government said it had approved “an amicable settlement” with Lukoil to transfer operations of the West Qurna-2 oil field—where Lukoil declared force majeure in November—to the Basra Oil Company. On February 18, the anti-corruption criminal court in Baghdad convicted two additional suspects in the theft of $2.5 billion from government accounts known as the “heist of the century.” Also on February 18, Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources said it had completed the installation of eight new pumps at Lake Tharthar to increase the system’s capacity to replenish the Tigris and Euphrates rivers using water from the reservoir’s dead storage. more…

For more background on most of the institutions, key actors, political parties, and locations mentioned in our takeaways or in the stories that follow, see the ISHM Reference Guide.

POLITICS: Army Chief Confirmation Meets Kurdish Objections; KDP Must Accept Smaller Role in Next KRG Cabinet, Rivals Insist

On February 16, the office of caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani said it has implemented several consolidation and restructuring measures within its departments as part of efforts to reduce expenditures and improve performance. These measures include terminating the contracts of a number of advisers and experts who had been assigned to manage and consult on several initiatives related to the implementation of the government program. In a statement, Sudani’s office said it also adopted a set of “important rationalization steps and spending cuts” across most areas of its operational budget, without offering details. The statement added that Sudani stressed that all government institutions must implement government decisions issued with regard to expenditure rationalization and maximizing the use of available resources. The announcement comes amid efforts by the caretaker government – under pressure of rising debt and budget deficit – to initiate austerity measures and grow non-petroleum revenue, including by imposing higher import tariffs. 

On February 17, the Iraqi parliament voted to confirm the appointments of the mayor of Baghdad and the army chief of staff. Both positions are considered “special grade” posts, for which appointments must be approved by parliament. Baghdad Mayor Ammar Mousa Kadhim and Army Chief of Staff General Abdulamir Yarallah had been serving in their respective roles for years without formal confirmation—since June 2020 in Yarallah’s case and since May 2022 for Kadhim. The vote was reportedly contentious and drew strong objections from several parties. Kurdish factions strongly opposed Yarallah’s confirmation, viewing it as a violation of their entitlements and of established power-sharing principles. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Farhad al-Atrushi, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, dismissed the vote as illegal and representing a “clear violation of Article Nine of the Constitution and Article (37/Second) of the [parliamentary] bylaws.” Atrushi added that the vote “constitutes a breach of national partnership, balance, and political consensus—an entirely unacceptable act in both form and substance.” Last week, representatives of the PUK and KDP called for the appointment of a Kurdish officer as chief of staff of the Iraqi armed forces, citing Kurdish underrepresentation in senior federal and military posts and arguing that the position should be considered part of Kurdish entitlements. Meanwhile, the confirmation of Mayor Kadhim, who is affiliated with Ammar al-Hakim’s Hikma Movement, was condemned by the Azm bloc of Sunni politician Muthanna al-Samarrie. In a statement, the Azm bloc said the vote undermines balance among Iraq’s communities within state institutions and blamed Speaker Haybat al-Halbousi for what it described as squandering the rights of the Sunni community. The vote was not initially on the parliamentary agenda but was later pushed by certain parties, a lawmaker from the Badr bloc said without naming those parties. 

On February 17, New Generation party leader Shaswar Abdulwahid outlined two options for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) regarding the structure of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet: either assume the premiership along with a set of ministries, or take the presidency of the region in addition to ministerial posts. He said the KDP— which has traditionally held both the regional presidency and the prime minister’s office— is free to choose either path. Abdulwahid presented the proposal at a press conference following a meeting with PUK leader Bafel Talabani, their second in a month. After their first meeting on January 17, Talabani and Abdulwahid announced the formation of a joint parliamentary bloc comprising 38 seats—just one fewer than the KDP’s 39—creating near parity in the legislature. The PUK holds 23 seats and New Generation 15. Government formation has been stalled for more than a year due to disputes between the two dominant parties, particularly over security portfolios and the Interior Ministry. The proposal represents one of the clearest articulations of a potential power-sharing framework since the October 2024 parliamentary elections and reflects the PUK–New Generation strategy of negotiating as a unified bloc seeking balance at the top of the political hierarchy. Abdulwahid said a finalized written agreement with the PUK is expected next week, following further discussions on governance arrangements within the region and coordination with Baghdad. He emphasized that the alliance seeks an organized partnership and is not prepared to accept a secondary role in the next government.

On February 18, the provincial council of Salah ad-Din province voted to elect Haytham al-Zahwan as the new governor. Zahwan was elected by a majority of nine votes within the 15-seat assembly. He replaces former governor Badr al-Fahal who was recently sworn in as a member of the Iraqi parliament. Both Fahal and Zahwan represent the Jamaheer party, which is led by politician Ahmed al-Jubouri (Abu Mazin). 

Sources cited in this section include: Ultra Iraq, ISHM archive, AP, Iraqi PM’s office, Rudaw, al-Sumaria, Shafaq, Peregraf, Baghdad Today.

SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: Transfer of ISIS Suspects from Syria to Iraq Complete; Army Aviation Tests High-Performance Armed Drones

On February 13, the U.S. military announced that it had completed the transfer of thousands of suspected ISIS members from Syria to Iraq. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation, which began on January 21, concluded with a final flight on February 13. During the mission, “more than 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters” were moved from Syrian detention facilities and handed over to Iraqi authorities, CENTCOM stated. “We appreciate Iraq’s leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security,” CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper said. The U.S. commander overseeing anti-ISIS operations added that the successful transfer “will help prevent an ISIS resurgence in Syria.” An Iraqi Justice Ministry document circulating online put the precise number of transferred detainees at 5,704, representing 66 nationalities. More than half (3,544) are identified as Syrian nationals, while Iraqis account for 8% of the total (460). Initial reports had suggested the plan involved transferring between 7,000 and 9,000 detainees. On Monday, the Iraqi judiciary said that more than 500 of the transferred detainees have undergone preliminary questioning by Iraqi investigators. The transfers appear to have exacerbated Iraq’s chronic prison overcrowding. On February 13, sources told Shafaq News that authorities moved 1,200 inmates—mostly from Karkh Prison in Baghdad—to Nasiriyah Central Prison in what they described as the largest single transfer in the facility’s history. The move, likely intended to free up space in Baghdad prisons for incoming detainees from Syria, reportedly brought the population of Nasiriyah prison to more than 14,000—more than double its designed capacity of 6,000 inmates.

On February 13, security sources in Diyala province reported that four mortar rounds struck an area in the Kan’an subdistrict, southeast of Baquba. Authorities were unable to determine the source of the rare indirect fire attack, the first of its kind in the area in nearly four years. The incident was reportedly preceded by two separate attacks involving an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) and automatic weapons several days earlier. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents.

On February 13, security sources in Basra said that armed clashes erupted between tribal groups in the northern district of al-Qurna. One policeman was killed and three were wounded after security forces attempted to intervene and were shot at, the sources added. 

On February 14, the Iraqi Army Aviation conducted a live-fire exercise to test the capability of CH-5 drones to launch precision-guided missiles, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. A video released by the Ministry appeared to show the Chinese-made drone successfully striking a designated target. This marks the first visual confirmation of the large, armed CH-5 drone in service with Iraq. The long-range drone was operating out of Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar province, according to the statement.  

On February 15, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said the Syrian government had begun relocating thousands of civilians with perceived ties to ISIS from al-Hol camp in northeast Syria to Akhtarin camp near Aleppo. UNHCR “has observed a significant decrease in the number of residents in al-Hol camp in recent weeks,” the agency’s representative in Syria said, without specifying how many individuals had departed. In recent weeks, the population of the sprawling al-Hol camp was estimated to include as many as 4,000 Iraqi nationals. The Iraqi government has not yet commented on the development.

On February 18, local officials in Sulaymaniyah province said that two individuals were killed when their vehicle exploded on the road between Dokan and the provincial capital, Sulaymaniyah. According to the mayor of the Pira-Magroun subdistrict, where the incident occurred, the vehicle belonged to a member of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan and was carrying weapons and munitions. It remains unclear whether the explosion was accidental or the result of an airstrike.

Sources cited in this section include: CENTCOM, ISHM archive, social media, al-Ghad, Shafaq, AP, Iraq’s Defense Ministry, INA, Baghdad Today.

ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Iraq to Reopen More Border Crossings with Syria

On February 16, the head of Iraq’s Border Ports Commission said that Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani had directed authorities to reopen two border crossings with Syria as soon as possible. The planned reopening of the al-Waleed and Rabiya crossings is part of Baghdad’s broader effort to expand trade with Syria and develop east–west transit routes linked to Iraq’s Development Road project, the official, General Omar al-Waili, explained. The federal government controls three border crossings with Syria. Since the fall of the Assad regime, only one — al-Qaim — has reopened, resuming the movement of passengers and goods between the two countries in June of last year. A fourth crossing, at Semalka, connects the Kurdistan region of Iraq with northeast Syria.

On February 17, the Iraqi government announced that it had approved “an amicable settlement” with Russian oil company Lukoil to transfer operations of the West Qurna-2 oil field to the Basra Oil Company. According to the government statement, the settlement addresses outstanding invoices and the employment of foreign staff, as verified by a reputable external auditor. The development comes three weeks after Lukoil said it had reached an agreement to sell its assets in 30 countries, including Iraq, to the Carlyle Group. The transaction remains conditional and is subject to approval by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In January, the Iraqi government instructed the Basra Oil Company to assume control of West Qurna-2 nearly two months after Lukoil, the field’s operator, declared force majeure in response to newly imposed U.S. sanctions on Russian energy firms. West Qurna-2 produces approximately 480,000 barrels per day and contains one of the world’s largest proven oil reserves. 

On February 18, the anti-corruption criminal court in Baghdad convicted two additional suspects in the theft of $2.5 billion from government accounts known as the “heist of the century,” a statement by the Supreme Judicial Council said. In the latest guilty verdict, the court sentenced the chief executives of two companies (Ansar al-Raya wal-Fawaris and Mizan al-Iraq) to 10 years in prison for the embezzlement of tax deposit funds from government accounts and smuggling the money outside the country where they were used to buy real estate, the statement added. In November 2024, the same court had sentenced key suspects in the case, including notorious businessman Nour Zuheir, to time in prison ranging from six to ten years.

On February 18, Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources announced that it had completed the installation of eight new pumps at Lake Tharthar to increase the system’s capacity to replenish the Tigris and Euphrates rivers using water from the reservoir’s dead storage. According to the director of the Tharthar Dam, the additional pumps raise the lake’s total pumping capacity by 20 cubic meters per second, bringing overall capacity to 110 cubic meters per second. The upgrade is expected to enhance operational flexibility and improve water resource management. The move appears to be part of preparations for another summer of severe water scarcity.

Sources cited in this section include: al-Sumaria, ISHM archive, INA, Iraqi PM’s office, The Guardian, al-Ghad. 

Derived from firsthand accounts and Iraq-based Arabic and Kurdish news sources, the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor is a free publication of the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center.

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