Key Takeaways:
- POLITICS: PUK Pressures KDP with Alleged New Generation Deal; Coordination Framework Delays PM Decision; Iraqi Leaders Mediate Between Sharaa and SDF – On January 17, PUK leader Bafel Talabani and New Generation head Shaswar Abdulwahid announced a partnership aimed at breaking the political deadlock since the October 2024 regional elections. Talabani said expectations of forming a new government with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) had faded, prompting alternative political arrangements, and invited other “dissatisfied parties” to join the initiative. Abdulwahid said cooperation with the PUK was essential to restoring political balance and argued that deep reforms were needed after decades of KDP dominance. KDP figures dismissed the move as a pressure tactic and questioned the “suspicious and peculiar timing” of the announcement, which came days after Abdulwahid’s release from prison. On January 20, the Coordination Framework (CF) postponed a meeting—originally scheduled for January 19—to agree on its prime ministerial candidate until next Saturday, amid intensifying debate over the viability of frontrunner Nouri al-Maliki. Earlier this week, Sunni political leader Mohammed al-Halbousi urged CF leaders to “take into consideration the national acceptability” of their nominee. Also on January 20, Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani spoke separately with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi about the escalating security situation in Syria amid clashes between government forces and the SDF. Sudani stressed the need to preserve Syria’s stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and to resolve conflicts through dialogue while protecting the rights of all communities, his office said. Discussions also covered border security, the safety of camps and prisons holding suspected ISIS members, and efforts to prevent escapes. That same day, Sharaa spoke with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, who emphasized protecting the “rights and dignity of the Kurdish people.” On Thursday, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said he met Abdi in Erbil to discuss ending the fighting, beginning with adherence to the latest ceasefire. In other developments, Sudani told EU ambassadors that Baghdad is engaging Washington and Tehran to facilitate dialogue aimed at avoiding further conflict. more…
- SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: Coalition Advisers Leave Ain al-Asad; U.S. Transfers ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraq – On January 18, Iraq announced the completion of the withdrawal of Coalition advisers tasked with combating ISIS from all military bases and command centers in federal Iraq. The Iraqi military said the remaining advisers at Ain al-Asad Air Base and the Joint Operations Command had departed, placing both sites under full Iraqi control. The statement added that the Coalition would continue providing logistical support for operations in Syria through its presence at Hareer Air Base in Erbil. On January 21, the U.S. military began transferring thousands of suspected ISIS detainees from Syrian prisons to Iraq to prevent their escape amid clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). An initial group of 150 detainees was transferred in coordination with Iraqi authorities, with up to 7,000 potentially relocated in the coming weeks. A U.S. official said the plan was initiated by Iraq, which proactively offered to take custody of the prisoners. Iraqi officials confirmed the move, describing it as a “preemptive step” to protect national security amid Syria’s deteriorating security environment. The transfers coincided with Syrian government forces assuming control of security at the al-Hol camp following an SDF withdrawal as a ceasefire faltered. Damascus acknowledged that at least 120 detainees escaped from Shaddadi prison in al-Hasaka, dozens of whom remain at large. Iraqi officials sought to reassure the public that border security remained intact. more…
- ECONOMY & CLIMATE: New Refinery Begins Operations; Pipeline Disruption Causes Blackouts in Kurdistan – On January 19, Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced the start of production at a new refining unit at the Baiji complex. The Salah ad-Din/3 unit has a capacity of 70,000 barrels per day. Construction began in January 2025. That same day, a technical malfunction disrupted natural gas pipelines supplying power plants across the Kurdistan Region, triggering widespread blackouts in Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, and Duhok, the KRG Ministry of Electricity said. On January 22, the Iraqi government cut fuel allocations of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene to all ministries and agencies by 50% to curb public spending, including allocations to the Ministries of Defense and Interior. In other developments, Iraq on January 19 inaugurated a pilot project to treat sewage and irrigation runoff for reuse in agriculture, aquaculture, and drinking water. The project includes four stations in Basra, Wasit, Diwaniyah, and Anbar and was implemented under a development and cooperation agreement signed with the UK in January 2025. 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: PUK Pressures KDP with Alleged New Generation Deal; Coordination Framework Delays PM Decision; Iraqi Leaders Mediate Between Sharaa and SDF
On January 17, Bafell Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the New Generation Movement, held a joint press conference in which they called for “restoring balance” to the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) and “correcting the course of governance.” Talabani argued that earlier expectations of forming a new government with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) had faded, prompting alternative political options, noting that the PUK and New Generation now hold 38 seats in the regional parliament of 100 lawmakers and are prepared to take on the responsibility. Talabani said the PUK and New Generation have agreed to a reform-oriented partnership to break the political deadlock since the October 2024 election in the region but claimed the move was not targeting any particular political party – an implicit reference to the ruling KDP. Talabani invited other “dissatisfied parties” to join this initiative, while also expressing hope for future agreement with the KDP to form a strong government. For his part, Abdulwahid described “any agreement with the PUK” as a key step toward restoring political balance – a statement that appears to reflect the tentative nature of the talks between the parties. Abdulwahid said the goals of an agreement include a transparent budget law, fair resource distribution, regular salary payments, reducing youth unemployment, and ensuring open and fair markets. He argued that after decades of KDP dominance, deep reforms are needed, including restructuring governance so that no single party controls the region’s top political, security, judicial, and administrative positions. Separately, a PUK member claimed that Abdulwahid, who last week was released from prison in Sulaymaniyah, presented an initiative to form a government that excludes the KDP altogether. The PUK, continued the sources, would be forced to take that path if the KDP refused to make a deal. KDP members dismissed the rhetoric as a pressure tactic and questioned the “suspicious and peculiar timing” days after Abdulwahid’s release from prison.
On January 20, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani told the ambassadors of European Union states that his government was communicating with Washington and Tehran to facilitate a dialogue between them in Baghdad. Sudani’s remarks came two days after Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein visited Tehran where he and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi discussed a possible role for Iraq to support regional stability, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said. Political sources told al-Aalem al-Jadeed that Baghdad is actively trying to mediate between Washington and Tehran to prevent new U.S. strikes against Iran, days after President Trump raised the possibility of new military action. While in Tehran, Hussein also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the deadlocked government formation process in Iraq, including the negotiations to elect a new president.
On January 20, sources within the Coordination Framework (CF) said the bloc’s leaders postponed a meeting—originally scheduled for Monday, January 19—to agree on their prime ministerial candidate until next Saturday. The delay comes amid intensifying debate over the viability of Nouri al-Maliki, who is currently the frontrunner to become CF’s official nominee for the premiership. Earlier this week, Sunni political leader Mohammed al-Halbousi urged CF leaders to “take into consideration the national acceptability” of their prime ministerial candidate. He called on the bloc to “show the same—or even greater—commitment to the unity and cohesion of all of Iraq’s components as they do to the unity of the Framework,” an implicit reference to Maliki’s record as a divisive figure known for pursuing sectarian policies during his previous terms as prime minister (2006–2014). In the meantime, sources said an informal meeting is expected between Maliki’s supporters and opponents to explore a path forward toward government formation.
On January 20, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani about the escalating security situation in Syria, amid clashes between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Sudani stressed the importance of preserving Syria’s stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and resolving conflicts through dialogue while protecting the rights of all Syrian communities, his office said in a statement. The two leaders discussed cooperation to enhance border security and pursue ISIS remnants while working toward opening border crossings for trade and civilian traffic, the statement added. After the call, Sudani then spoke with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi. The conversation similarly focused on the need for deescalation through dialogue among the warring parties and protecting Syria’s unity and stability. Sudani and Abdi also discussed the security of camps and prisons holding suspected ISIS fighters and their families and efforts to prevent their escape. On the same day, Sharaa also discussed the situation in Syria and the latest deal between his government and the SDF with Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, who stressed the need to “protect the rights and dignity of the Kurdish people,” Rudaw reported. On Thursday, Washington’s envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said he met with Abdi in Erbil to discuss ways to end the fighting, starting with adherence to the latest ceasefire agreement between the SDF and Damascus. Meanwhile, Erbil has witnessed large protests near the U.S. consulate and UN mission demanding international intervention to stop the military operation by the Syrian government against the SDF. There were also reports that dozens of volunteers from Sulaymaniyah (both locals and Syrian Kurds) were heading to northeast Syria to fight alongside the SDF.
Sources cited in this section include: PUKMedia, Ultra Iraq, Shafaq, al-Sumaria, al-Aalem al-Jadeed, NPR, al-Ghad, Iraqi PM’s office, Rudaw, Kurdistan Watch.
SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: Coalition Advisers Leave Ain al-Asad; U.S. Transfers ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraq
On January 18, the Higher Military Committee for Ending the Mission of the International Coalition in Iraq announced the completion of the evacuation of Coalition’s advisers tasked with combating ISIS from all military bases and command centers in the federal areas of Iraq. “The small number [of Coalition advisers] who remained at Ain al‑Asad Air Base and the Joint Operations Command have now departed, placing these sites under the full authority of the Iraqi security forces,” the committee said in a statement. This latest withdrawal from Ain al-Asad marks further progress in implementing the September 2024 agreement for the phased winding down of the Coalition’s mission, the statement noted. The future bilateral security relationship between Iraq and the U.S. will now focus on “activating memoranda of understanding for military cooperation and developing the capabilities of our armed forces in equipment, armament, training, exercises, maneuvers, and joint operations to ensure sustained readiness and continued counter‑ISIS efforts,” the statement continued. Regarding anti-ISIS operations in Syria, the statement explained that “Coordination with the Coalition will continue to ensure the complete elimination of ISIS’s presence there, preventing any spillover that could threaten our national security.” More specifically, the Coalition will provide “logistical support for their operations in Syria through their presence at an air base in Erbil,” referring to the Hareer air base. The statement pointed out that “when necessary, the Iraqi Army will conduct joint counter‑ISIS operations” launched from Ain al-Asad with the U.S. military.
On January 21, the U.S. military started relocating several thousand suspected ISIS fighters from Syrian prisons to Iraq to prevent their escape amid the chaos caused by clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. A first group of 150 was transferred on Wednesday in coordination with Iraqi authorities, according to CENTCOM. A total of up to 7,000 may be relocated to Iraq in the coming weeks, the CENTCOM statement added. A U.S. military official told AP that the plan was initiated by Iraq, which “offered proactively” to take custody of the prisoners. A military spokesman for Prime Minister Sudani confirmed the transfer took place, noting that the plan was approved during an emergency meeting of the ministerial council for national security in response to the fluid security condition in Syria. Another government spokesman described the move as a “preemptive step” to protect national security. Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council said on Thursday that it will initiate the proper legal proceedings against all transferred detainees regardless of their national origins. The detainee transfer began the same day as Syrian government forces took over security at the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, where thousands of civilians with perceived ties to ISIS, including nearly 4,000 Iraqis, have been held for years. The move comes after the SDF withdrew from the camp amid renewed deadly clashes with government forces as a ceasefire agreement between the two sides appeared to be collapsing. The fighting in Syria raised alarm in Iraq, where officials are worried about thousands of suspected ISIS fighters and ISIS-related civilians escaping amid the chaos. SDF officials accused Syrian government forces of allowing nearly 1,500 ISIS fighters to escape from the Shaddadi prison in al-Hasaka province, but Damascus claimed that only 120 prisoners had escaped, and 80 of them were subsequently recaptured. Senior Iraqi officials have sought to reassure the public that the borders were secure against possible infiltration by escaped ISIS fighters. Prime Minister Sudani, Interior Minister Abdulamir al-Shamari, and Army chief of staff General Abdulamir Yarallah have all visited the border with Syria this week to inspect troops and review border fortifications.
On January 21, the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) said the Iranian military attacked one of its bases inside the Kurdistan region of Iraq with missiles and drones. The attack outside Erbil killed two PAK members and wounded two more, the Iranian Kurdish opposition group claimed.
Sources cited in this section include: INA, ISHM archive, CENTCOM, AP, al-Sumaria, al-Ghad, Ashar al-Awsat, Rudaw, Ultra Iraq, Shafaq, Iraqi PM’s office.
ECONOMY & CLIMATE: New Refinery Begins Operations; Pipeline Disruption Causes Blackouts in Kurdistan
On January 19, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that production operations have successfully commenced at a new petroleum refining unit at the Salah ad-Din refinery complex in Baiji. The unit, dubbed Salah ad-Din/3 is designed with a capacity to process 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil into refined products. Refined fuels from the new unit have reached the ministry’s depots to be distributed for domestic consumption, according to the Deputy Oil Minister for refineries, Adnan Mohammed Hamoud. The Oil Ministry had launched the project just a year ago in January 2025.
On January 19, Iraq inaugurated a pilot project to treat water from sewage and irrigation runoff and make it safe for reuse in agriculture, fish farming, and even drinking. The pilot project involves four stations that simultaneously began operating in Basra, Wasit, Diwaniyah, and Anbar, according to a spokesman for Iraq’s Ministry of Construction and Housing. The pilot project was implemented under the development and cooperation agreement that Iraq and the UK signed in January 2025, which covered multiple water infrastructure development projects for irrigation, drinking, and wastewater management.
On January 19, the KRG Ministry of Electricity said that a sudden technical problem disrupted natural gas pipelines that feed power plants across the Kurdistan region. The fuel disruption caused widespread blackouts affecting large parts of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, and Duhok provinces, the ministry explained. Ministry crews were working to diagnose the problem and conduct the necessary repairs to restore gas flow, the statement added. There were no official updates about the status of the gas pipelines as of reporting on Thursday.
On January 22, the Iraqi government decided to cut fuel allocations of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene to government ministries and agencies by 50%, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Oil said. The reduction will apply uniformly across all government entities, including the Ministries of Defense and Interior. The move is intended to curb public spending after government data showed that some departments were receiving more fuel than operationally necessary, the spokesperson added.
Sources cited in this section include: INA, ISHM archives, Kurdistan24, Rudaw.
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.