Key Takeaways:
- POLITICS: Iraq Seeks Stronger Trade, Security, Energy Ties with Syria; Charges Dismissed Against Halbousi; Court to Reconsider Ruling on Kuwait Border Treaty – On April 25, an Iraqi delegation led by intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri visited Damascus and met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The talks focused on counter-terrorism and border security cooperation, efforts to increase bilateral trade, and the possibility of reviving an old oil pipeline used once to export Iraqi oil through Syria’s Baniyas port on the Mediterranean. On April 27, the Taqaddum Party of former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said that the Federal Appellate Court has cleared Halbousi of criminal charges that had precipitated his removal from parliament in November 2023. Documents show the Appellate Court upheld decisions by investigation and criminal courts to drop two charges against Halbousi (one for allegedly forging documents to force the resignation of a fellow lawmaker, and another for dealings with an allegedly Israeli owned company) and rejected subsequent appeals filed by the plaintiffs. On April 30, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court reviewed two appeals presented by President Rashid and Prime Minister Sudani seeking to repeal a 2023 Court decision that nullified a border demarcation treaty with Kuwait. In September 2023, the Court said parliament’s ratification of the 2013 treaty concerning the Khor Abdullah channel violated the constitution, resulting in tensions with Kuwait other Gulf countries. The Court plans to make a decision about the appeals by mid-June. more…
- SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: PKK Claims Responsibility for Drone Attacks on the Peshmerga – On April 28, an explosive drone struck a Peshmerga outpost in the Amadiyah district of Duhok province, injuring three Peshmerga fighters. On the following day, a second explosive drone struck the same area, wounding two additional Peshmerga members. The outpost had been built just a day prior to the attack, local sources said. The Kurdistan Region’s Security Council issued a statement condemning the strikes as “terrorist attacks” aimed at undermining peace efforts in Turkey and Syria and disrupting government formation in Iraqi Kurdistan. On May 1, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the drone strikes. The group, which is banned in Iraq, said the strikes were meant to prevent an attempt by the Kurdistan regional government to block an important route linking the Zab and Mount Kara regions, where PKK fighters have bases. In other developments, on April 26, news reports said the Interior Ministry will appoint major general Saad al-Hilfi as the new commander of the Federal Police force, replacing lieutenant general Salih al-Amiri. On April 29, Iraqi authorities said they arrested an ISIS member who may have played a role in inciting a deadly truck ramming attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. On April 30, Iraq received two new H225M Caracal helicopters purchased under a 2024 agreement to purchase 14 of the Airbus-made helicopters. more…
- ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Iraq Sends Gift of Wheat to Syria; Oil Exports Increased in March – On April 27, Iraq’s embassy in Damascus said Baghdad is sending 220,000 tons of wheat as a gift to the Syrian people. Trucks carrying the grain began arriving in Syria through the al-Qaim/Albu Kamal border crossing on April 25, according to Syrian officials who described the gesture as “the fruit of rebuilding brotherly relations with the Iraqi people.” Iraq had a particularly plentiful wheat harvest last season, with more than six million tons harvested nationwide. On April 29, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that crude oil exports during March averaged 3.44 million barrels per day (bpd), about 50,000 bpd higher than February. The ministry said the exports generated “approximately” $8 billion in revenue, without offering a specific figure or the average price at which the oil was sold. Nearly all of the oil was exported through the ports of Basra, while northern exports by pipeline from Kirkuk the Kurdistan region remained suspended. In other developments, on April 29, Iraq’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs issued a temporary ban on the entry of foreign workers from Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines in an effort to implement government regulations requiring businesses to hire more local workers. On April 30, Iraq’s Oil Ministry signed an addendum to a contract with Chinese oil company ZhenHua for the development of the East Baghdad oil field. Under the agreement, which expands the license surface area, the company will drill six new horizontal production wells and build additional infrastructure to increase production from approximately 50,000 bpd to 100,000 bpd. 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: Iraq Seeks Stronger Trade, Security, Energy Ties with Syria; Charges Dismissed Against Halbousi; Court to Reconsider Ruling on Kuwait Border Treaty
On April 25, an Iraqi delegation led by intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri visited Damascus and met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Shatri’s talks in Damascus focused on counter-terrorism and border security cooperation, efforts to increase bilateral trade, and the possibility of repairing an old oil pipeline to that was used once to export Iraqi oil through Syria’s Baniyas port on the Mediterranean, a member of the delegation told the state news agency. The delegation also visited the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab in Damascus, a holy site for Shia Muslims, and met with the shrine’s administrators on instruction from Prime Minister Sudani. Shatri was Iraq’s first envoy to the new Syrian leadership, having met with Sharaa just two weeks following the fall of the Assad regime. The delegation included officials from the Iraqi border guards command, the ministries of trade and oil, and the Border Ports Commission.
On April 25, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his U.S. counterpart, Marco Rubio, during his visit to Washington. The talks primarily focused on the issue of Iranian gas as well as security and economic matters. Hussein sought to assure Rubio that “Iraq aims to achieve energy independence in the gas sector and will achieve self-sufficiency…within the next few years,” noting that Iraq “is exploring gas imports” from other countries, a statement by the Foreign Ministry said. Hussein also urged Rubio to reconsider security warnings related to travel to Iraq, arguing that they discourage U.S. businesses from working in the country. Turning to Syria, Hussein underscored “the need for cautious handling of prisons” under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that hold thousands of ISIS fighters and families with perceived ties to ISIS.
On April 27, the Taqaddum Party of former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said that the Federal Appellate Court has upheld a recent decision by a Baghdad court to dismiss charges against Halbousi. According to ruling documents circulating online, investigation and criminal courts had decided in December and February, respectively, to drop two charges that Halbousi was facing, one for allegedly forging documents to force the resignation of a fellow lawmaker, and another for doing business with an allegedly Israeli owned company. The Appellate Court confirmed the decisions on April 20 and rejected appeals filed by the plaintiffs. Halbousi was removed from parliament in November 2023 by Iraq’s Federal Supreme on charges that he had forged a resignation letter signed by a fellow lawmaker and used it to remove him from parliament.
On April 29, a member of the Iraqi parliament said he filed criminal charges against Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, accusing him of being a member of ISIS during its occupation of large parts of Iraq. The charges by lawmaker Alaa al-Haidari come after Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani invited Sharaa to visit Baghdad, sparking warnings and threats from powerful Shia leaders and militias who cited Sharaa’s background as a former al-Qaeda militant who operated in Iraq. Notably, Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali said such a visit was “premature” and warned that Sharaa could be arrested by Iraqi security, arguing that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Despite the objections and the lawsuit, there were also signs that some of the Coordination Framework (CF) leaders have softened their position regarding a visit by Sharaa. Uday al-Khadran, a member of Hadi al-Amiri’s Fatah Coalition, told Shafaq on Wednesday that CF leaders have authorized Sudani to make his own decision regarding Sharaa’s participation in the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad. According to Khadran, CF leaders want the summit to succeed and are interested in revitalizing relations with certain Arab states, and have therefore decided to leave the matter entirely in Sudani’s hands.
On April 30, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court said it held a session to look into two appeals presented by President Abdullatif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani seeking to repeal a 2023 Court decision that nullified a border demarcation treaty with Kuwait. In September 2023, the Court said parliament’s ratification of the 2013 treaty concerning navigation in the Khor Abdullah channel on the Gulf violated article 61 of the Iraqi constitution, which states that ratifying international treaties requires a law passed by a two thirds majority. The ruling was in response to a case filed by lawmakers from the Huqooq bloc, the political wing of the Kataib Hezbollah militia. Earlier this month, President Rashid and Prime Minister Sudani filed separate appeals seeking to repeal the September 2023 decision, which created new tensions with Kuwait and raised concerns among other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The Court plans to make a decision about the appeals by mid-June, according to judge Jasim al-Omeiri, president of the Federal Supreme Court.
Sources cited in this section include: INA, Arab News, Ultra Iraq, al-Sumaria, ISHM archive, Shafaq, al-Hurra, al-Aalem al-Jadeed.
SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: PKK Claims Responsibility for Drone Attacks on the Peshmerga
On April 25, security sources in Diyala province said that an improvised explosive device (IED) described as a bottle bomb detonated near a checkpoint for tribal mobilization forces outside the Hibhib subdistrict. The explosion injured three of the checkpoint personnel, the sources added.
On April 26, security sources told Shafaq that the Interior Ministry has issued orders to appoint major general Saad al-Hilfi as the new commander of the Federal Police force, replacing lieutenant general Salih al-Amiri. Hilfi, who had served as commander of the Federal Police’s 2nd division, will be replaced in that post by major general Fadhil al-Khazraji, the sources added. Meanwhile, the outgoing Federal Police commander, Salih al-Amiri, will be assigned to serve as a technical adviser to Interior Minister Abdulamir al-Shamari.
On April 28, local sources in the Amadiyah district of Duhok province said that an explosive drone struck a Peshmerga outpost in the village Blafa, injuring three Peshmerga members. The outpost had been built just a day prior to the attack, the sources added. On the following day, a second explosive drone struck the same area in the early morning hours, wounding two additional Peshmerga members, a senior security official told Rudaw. The Kurdistan Region’s Security Council issued a statement confirming the reports and condemning the strikes as “terrorist attacks.” The council accused “some parties and groups” of planning the attacks in order to undermine peace efforts in Turkey and Syria and disrupt government formation in Iraqi Kurdistan, without accusing anyone in particular. On May 1, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the drone strikes. The group, which is banned in Iraq, said the strikes were meant to prevent an attempt by the Kurdistan regional government to block an important route linking the Zab and Mount Kara regions, where PKK fighters have bases.
On April 29, Iraqi authorities said they arrested an ISIS member involved in planning the group’s foreign operations who may have played a role in inciting a deadly truck ramming attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. The Iraqi sources said the detained suspect is an Iraqi national, but did not provide further details about his identity.
On April 30, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said it received two H225M Caracal helicopters purchased under an agreement with the French Defense Ministry. The helicopters are scheduled to enter service with the Iraqi Army Aviation in June, according to Defense Minister THabit al-Abbasi. Last September, Iraq signed a deal to purchase 14 of the Airbus H225M Caracal multipurpose military transport helicopters. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in early 2025 and to take several months to complete, Airbus officials said at the time. The 11-ton helicopters can transport up to 29 fully equipped troops and conduct search and rescue missions. It is unclear how much Iraq will pay for the 14 aircraft.
Sources cited in this section include: al-Sumaria, Shafaq, Baghdad Today, ISHM archive, Rudaw, Kurdistan24, Mawazin, AP, Iraq’s Defense Ministry.
ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Iraq Sends Gift of Wheat to Syria; Oil Exports Increased in March
On April 27, Iraq’s embassy in Damascus said that Iraq is sending 220,000 tons of wheat as a gift to the Syrian people. Trucks carrying the grain began arriving in Syria through the al-Qaim/Albu Kamal border crossing on April 25, according to Syrian officials who described the gesture as “the fruit of rebuilding brotherly relations with the Iraqi people.” Truck convoys will continue for five days until the whole amount is delivered, the Iraqi embassy added in a statement. Iraq had a particularly plentiful harvest last season, with more than six million tons harvested nationwide.
On April 27, GE Vernova signed a contract worth $100 million to upgrade the Bazyan power plant in Sulaymaniyah province. The contract involved equipping the 1,250 megawatt power plant with the AGP XPAND upgrade, with the goal of raising the power plants capacity to nearly 1,500 megawatts. The AGP XPAND technology was designed by GE to “increase their 9E.03 gas turbines output by up to approximately 7 percent,” according to GE VERNOVA. In addition, the upgrade allows exhaust energy to be increased “by up to 2.6 percent to produce more steam or power, for combined heat and power (CHP) plants or combined cycle plants, like the Bazyan power plant,” the company added in a statement.
On April 29, Iraq’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs issued a temporary ban on the entry of foreign workers from five countries, a spokesman for the ministry said. The five countries are Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, the spokesman added. The decision is part of the ministry’s efforts to implement government regulations requiring businesses to hire local workers for 80% of their workforce, setting a cap of 20% on the ratio of foreign workers. The spokesman did not mention how long the ban is meant to remain in effect.
On April 29, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that crude oil exports during March totaled more than 106.66 million barrels, for an average of 3.44 million barrels per day (bpd). The March exports are about 50,000 bpd above the levels reported in February. In its statement, the Ministry of Oil said the exports generated “approximately” $8 billion in revenue, without offering a specific figure or the average price at which the oil was sold. Nearly all of the oil produced came from fields in southern and central Iraq and was exported through the ports of Basra, while small amounts averaging slightly less than 10,000 bpd were exported by trucks to Jordan. Exports by pipeline from the northern fields in Kirkuk, as well as fields under the control of the Kurdistan regional government, remained suspended.
On April 30, Iraq’s Oil Ministry signed an addendum to a contract with a subsidiary of Chinese oil company ZhenHua for the development of the East Baghdad oil field. Under the agreement, which expands the license surface area, the company will drill six new horizontal production wells to increase production from approximately 50,000 bpd to 100,000 bpd, according to Oil Minister Hayan Abdulghani. In January, Iraq’s Midland Oil Company reported a significant oil discovery at East Baghdad that could boost the country’s oil reserves by more than two billion barrels of medium and light crude oil.
Sources cited in this section include: Ultra Iraq, SANA, GE VERNOVA, Rudaw, al-Sumaria, INA, ISHM archive, Bloomberg.
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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