Key Takeaways:
- POLITICS: Sudani Urges The U.S. And EU To Do More To Contain Regional Conflict; Integrity Commission Chief Under Arrest – On October 7, marking the anniversary of the war in Gaza, PM Mohammed al-Sudani issued a statement addressing U.S. President Joe Biden and the countries of the European Union with a warning that the region stands “on the brink of a dangerous precipice that could drag the region and the world into continuous wars.” Underscoring the risk that an expansion in hostilities between Israel and Iran poses to the oil rich region, Sudani cautioned that escalation could “destabilize the global economy.” Sudani also mentioned that his government, with U.S. and EU support, “made significant efforts to spare Iraq the effects of this escalation” adding that “the current stage requires doubling our efforts [to contain the conflict], prioritizing the cessation of targeting civilians.” On October 7, an investigation court in Baghdad issued a warrant for the arrest of the head of the Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun after he failed to appear before the court to answer questions related to corruption allegations. Hanoun is facing allegations that he abused his office to illegally acquire public land and otherwise enrich himself. The allegations surfaced around the same time that a conflict between Hanoun and the Supreme Judicial Council became public when he accused senior judges of undermining investigations into the theft of $2.5 billion from government accounts known as the “heist of the century.” Subsequent reports on October 9 said the investigation court judge released Hanoun on bail after questioning. In other developments, on October 7, the Iraqi government decided to task Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Ali Maarij with running the ministry’s affairs during the absence of Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani, who is recovering from an emergency heart surgery he underwent while visiting the U.S. in September. more…
- SECURITY: Militias Step Up Drone And Cruise Missile Attacks On Israel – Between October 4 – 9, the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a front group for Iran-backed Iraqi militias, claimed that it conducted at least 18 new attacks against targets in various parts of Israel using explosive drones and cruise missiles. One of the attacks on October 4 reportedly struck a military installation, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding 25. This week’s attacks represent a 50% increase from the number reported during the previous week. The latest attacks brought the number of militia attacks on Israel since the Gaza war began in October 2023 to at least 400, according to a senior member of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, one of the militias comprising the “Islamic Resistance.” In other developments, between October 5 – 7, Iraqi F-16 jets conducted two deadly airstrikes against ISIS cells in Ninewa and Salah ad-Din provinces. On October 5, an improvised explosive device detonated in the city of Kirkuk, wounding nine civilians, including six children. On October 10, Iraq’s border guard command said it established 22 new security outposts on Iraq’s northern border with Turkey within Duhok province. more…
- HUMANITARIAN & HUMAN RIGHTS: Government Releases Sinjar Compensations; More Lebanese Displaced By Conflict Arrive In Iraq – On October 7, Iraqi officials said the government has released IQD 99 billion (approximately $75 million) to pay compensations for war damage to beneficiaries in the Sinjar district of Ninewa province. Priority in disbursements will be given to displaced Sinjaris residing in camps in the Kurdistan region in order to encourage their return home, an adviser to PM Sudani said. On October 9, the UNHCR reported that the number of Lebanese nationals who have arrived in Iraq after being displaced by fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has grown to more than 7,500. The figure represents an increase of at least 2,500 arrivals since last week. The displaced Lebanese are arriving through al-Qaim border crossing with Syria as well as the Baghdad and Najaf airports. The majority of the Lebanese arrivals (62%) are women and children, according to the UNHCR update. In other developments, between October 8 –10, more than 800 internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned this week to their home districts in Ninewa, Salah ad-Din, and Kirkuk provinces from the Debaga IDP camp in Erbil province. Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities repatriated more than 700 Iraqi nationals comprising 181 households from al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. The repatriated families, which have perceived ties to ISIS, have been sent to al-Jedaa camp in Ninewa to undergo vetting and rehabilitation before they can return to their home districts. more…
- ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Parliament Targets Oil Discounts And Tariff Exemptions Extended To Jordan – On October 7, Iraq’s acting speaker of parliament agreed to include a proposal to cancel certain privileges previously granted to Jordan on its next session’s agenda. The proposal will target Iraq’s sale of crude oil to Jordan at a discount of $16 per barrel, as well as exemptions from tariffs on Jordanian goods exported to Iraq, one lawmaker explained. The lawmaker added that the motion was presented in response to Jordan’s policies regarding the “war on Gaza and Lebanon” without offering specifics. In other developments, on October 6, news reports said that Iraq’s newest oil refinery in Karbala province had been taken offline since September 25 to undergo extensive maintenance works that could last a month. The 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) became operational just 18 months ago in April 2023. On October 6, news reports said the Iraqi dinar has dropped against the U.S. dollar, with exchange rates around IQD 1,540 to $1. On October 8, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said it began exporting surplus jet aviation fuel at a rate of 800 – 1,000 metric tons per day through the country’s southern export terminals in the ports of Basra. The ministry’s statement did not provide details about the buyers or prices at which the fuel is marketed. 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.