Archive | Security

GKP "Temporarily Shuts-In Production" at Shaikan

By John Lee. Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has said it has "temporarily shut-in production" at its Shaikan field in Iraqi Kurdistan. In a statement this morning (Wednesday), the company said: "Gulf Keystone has noted reports over the past two days of explosions at a number of oil fields in the vicinity of the Company's Shaikan […]

Khurmala Oil Field Targeted by Drone Attack

By John Lee. The Khurmala oil field, located in the Makhmour district west of Erbil province, was struck by two unidentified drones at approximately 8:30 PM on Monday, 14 July 2025. According to the Joint Operations Command's Security Media Cell, there were no human casualties, with the damage limited to material losses. Authorities have initiated […]

Explosion at Kurdistan's Sarsang Field

By John Lee. HKN Energy has confirmed an explosion occurred early on Tuesday morning at one of its production facilities in the Sarsang field, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The incident took place at approximately 7:00 AM local time on 15 July 2025. According to the company, all personnel have been safely accounted […]

LWF: Protecting Women's Rights in Iraq

From the Lutheran World Federation (LWF): The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has addressed the UN Human Rights Council highlighting key women's rights issues during the council's session that reviewed the human rights situation in Iraq. Iraq has made progress by setting up new shelters, hotline services, and public campaigns addressing violence against women and girls. […]

Leveraging Iran's Defeat to Strengthen US-Iraq Security Relations

By Michael Knights, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Leveraging Iran's Defeat to Strengthen U.S.-Iraq Security Relations Tehran's Iraqi proxies mostly sat out the twelve-day war, but this pragmatic restraint will not forestall growing […]

Iraqi Regulations: Essential Insights for Foreign Businesses in Iraq

From IDG Security: How Do Local Regulations Affect Foreign and Local Businesses Differently in Iraq? Iraq presents a unique and complex environment for businesses, with its blend of immense economic opportunities and intricate regulatory challenges. For foreign investors, understanding how local regulations impact both foreign and local businesses is crucial to navigating this dynamic market. […]

US Sanctions Iraqi-British National for Smuggling Iranian Oil

By John Lee. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions targeting networks involved in transporting and purchasing Iranian oil, including a group of companies led by Iraqi businessman Salim Ahmed Said. The U.S. alleges that Said's network smuggled Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil, […]

New President of Iraqi Federal Supreme Court Named

By John Lee. Iraq's Federal Supreme Court (FSC) has announced the retirement of its President, Judge Jassim Mohammed Aboud [al-Umairi], due to health reasons. The decision was made on Sunday, 29th June 2025, during a meeting of the committee established under Article 3 (First and Second) of the amended Law No. 30 of 2005 on […]

MEI: Iraq "tries to Assert State Authority during Crisis"

By Robert S. Ford for The Middle East Institute. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq tries to assert state authority during crisis The Iraqi government has long navigated a path between maintaining political ties with its Iranian neighbor and Tehran's […]

Iraq's Fragile Stability "is Threatened by a Shifting ME Order"

By Dr Renad Mansour, for Chatham House. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's fragile stability is threatened by a shifting Middle Eastern order For the first time in recent memory, Iraq has found itself on the margins of a major Middle […]

US Firm Wins $118m Iraq Defense Contract

By John Lee. Colorado-based Vectrus Systems LLC [V2X] has been awarded a $118,020,690 cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action, for base support services in support of the Iraq F-16 program. This contract provides for base operating support, base life support, and security services. Work will be performed at Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base (formerly Balad Air Base), […]