Attachments
Key Takeaways:
- POLITICS: Federal Supreme Court Promises Reforms Under New Chief Judge; Sudani, President Rashid to Push Parliament to Ratify Kuwait Treaty – On July 7, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court (FSC) convened its first formal meeting since the retirement of former chief judge Jasim al-Omairi and the appointment of Judge Munthir Hussein as his successor. Following the meeting, the court’s nine judges issued a six-point statement emphasizing several principles, including: adherence to the FSC’s constitutional role without expansion; preservation of judicial independence and resistance to political interference; neutrality toward political parties; noninterference in legislative and executive functions; a limited role in electoral disputes as defined by the constitution; and seeking consultations with constitutional law experts to enhance the court’s performance. On July 8, Iraq’s president, prime minister, and parliament speaker met to discuss legal and political disputes over a bilateral treaty with Kuwait concerning the maritime border in the Khor Abdullah channel. A statement from Prime Minister Sudani’s office said that he, President Abdullatif Rashid, and Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani agreed that parliament should take steps to ratify the treaty in accordance with a 2023 FSC decision, which invalidated parliament’s initial ratification of the 2013 treaty. Sudani and Rashid will withdraw their motions to repeal the FSC decision in favor of resolving the issue through legislative means. more…
- SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: New Drone Attacks Target Kurdistan as Clashes with Tribe Rock Erbil; First PKK Fighters Lay Down Arms – Between July 3 and 11, three explosive drone attacks targeted Erbil International Airport, a Peshmerga headquarters in Sulaymaniyah, and Peshmerga positions in the Altun Kupri area of Kirkuk. All drones were intercepted. While no group has claimed responsibility, Kurdish officials accused Iraqi militia factions of orchestrating the attacks. These incidents followed a wave of strikes last week that hit various civilian and military sites—including an IDP camp—in Kirkuk, Duhok, Baiji, and Sulaymaniyah. On July 9, heavy clashes broke out between members of the Harki tribe and Peshmerga forces in Erbil’s Khabat district, leaving at least four dead and a dozen injured. Local reports said the fighting stemmed from land and water disputes. After mediation by senior Peshmerga and political leaders, the sides reportedly agreed to a ceasefire, under which Peshmerga forces would withdraw and the Harki leader would turn himself in. On July 11, 30 PKK fighters laid down their arms in Sulaymaniyah during a ceremony marking the start of the group’s disarmament after four decades of insurgency. Officials from the KRG, Iraq’s federal government, and international observers—including from Turkey—attended. The PKK said the move was “a gesture of goodwill and a commitment to the practical success” of peace efforts with Turkey. A second disarmament event is expected in the coming days, according to Iraq’s state news agency. The ceremony follows the PKK’s May announcement that it would disband and end its armed struggle—months after its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, urged the group to do so. In other developments, on July 10, security forces arrested a local activist who had called for protests and criticized government officials over their handling of the ongoing water shortage in the province. more…
- ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Iraq Boosts Oil Refining Capacity with New Projects; Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on Iraq – On July 9, Iraq’s Oil Ministry inaugurated a project to expand the Najaf refinery’s capacity from 30,000 to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Officials said the work should be completed within eight months. Earlier this week, the government also launched an $800 million project to boost the Diwaniyah refinery’s capacity from 20,000 to 90,000 bpd. Both projects involve building new refining units capable of processing 70,000 bpd of crude oil at each site. Also on July 9, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani announcing a new 30% tariff on all Iraqi products entering the U.S., effective August 1. Trump cited the need to address a “major trade imbalance” and accused Baghdad of failing to apply reciprocal trade principles. An economic adviser to Sudani played down the move, saying most Iraqi exports to the U.S. are crude oil—exempt from tariffs. In other developments, on July 6, Turkey extended its ban on flights to and from Sulaymaniyah International Airport for another three months. The original flight ban, imposed in April 2023, was linked to PKK activity and ongoing security concerns. 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.