Key Takeaways:
- POLITICS: Iraq Moves to Accept the New Reality in Syria; Sudani Holds Consultations with Regional Leaders and U.S. Officials – On December 8, Iraq’s president, prime minister, speaker of parliament, head of the judiciary, and leaders of the State Administration Coalition met to discuss developments in Syria and the implications of the Assad regime’s collapse for Iraq. A statement issued after the meeting affirmed Iraq’s position on “the necessity of preserving Syria’s unity, security, and stability.” It also emphasized the importance of “respecting the Syrian people’s choices to live in peace and security” and stressed Iraq’s unified stance on defining its relationship with Syria. Iraq also reopened its embassy in Damascus after temporarily closing it for security reasons. On December 10, General Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, met with PM Sudani in Baghdad to discuss Syria’s developments and counter-terrorism cooperation. Kurilla reiterated the Coalition’s support for Iraq against terrorist threats, while Sudani emphasized the need to protect Syria’s unity and prevent attacks on any of its communities, or their religious symbols (likely referring to Shia shrines in Damascus). On the same day, Sudani met with a State Department delegation led by Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass. The discussions centered on a transitional period in Syria that includes all Syrian parties and protects the rights of all communities. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also visited Iraq this week, holding talks with Sudani in Baghdad and with KRG President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil on post-Assad regime developments and Germany’s security support for Iraq. Additionally, Sudani discussed the situation in Syria during phone calls with the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and Jordan’s King Abdullah during a brief visit to Amman. Meanwhile, on December 7, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) security directorate shut down a militia office in Baghdad that was recruiting men to fight against rebel forces in Syria. On December 9, a Baghdad court sentenced Mohammed Johi, an aide to PM Sudani and a key suspect in a wiretapping scandal targeting senior politicians, to four years in prison. more…
- SECURITY: Authorities Seek to Expedite Returns of Iraqi Nationals from Northeastern Syria – On December 11, National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji convened a meeting with Iraqi and international technical working groups to implement the Global Framework Agreement for returning Iraqi citizens from northeastern Syria. Araji urged accelerating the return of Iraqi families due to Syria’s unfolding developments, referencing the fall of the Assad regime. More than 18,000 Iraqis, primarily women and children with perceived ISIS ties, remain at al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. In other developments, on December 7, over 2,000 Syrians—mostly Syrian Army personnel—fled to Iraq following the Assad regime’s rapid collapse. Iraqi militias stationed in the border town of Albu-Kamal also withdrew to Iraq. Authorities in al-Qaim have set up temporary housing for Syrian arrivals, providing food, water, and necessities. Additionally, on December 7, a farmer was killed, and five others were injured after security forces opened fire when farmers attempted to release water locks in violation of rationing schedules. On December 11–12, Iraqi F-16 and Cessna Caravan aircraft targeted nine ISIS hideouts in the Wadi al-Shay and Himrin Mountains regions of Kirkuk province. more…
- ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Former Investment Chief Faces Prison Sentence; Parliament Considers Raising Retirement Age – On December 8, Iraq’s Integrity Commission announced that the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court sentenced Suha al-Najjar, former head of the National Investment Commission, to seven years in prison for abusing her office for illegal enrichment. Najjar had resigned in November 2022. On December 10, al-Sumaria reported that Iraq’s parliament is considering raising the retirement age for government employees from 60 to 63. This proposal would reverse a 2019 law that reduced the retirement age to create over 250,000 new government jobs. In other developments, on December 8, Iraq’s North Oil Company completed repairs and reactivation of 16 oil wells to increase production capacity at the Bai Hassan oil field, part of the Kirkuk area fields slated for development under an agreement with BP signed in August. more…
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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.