From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Arms-for-assets strategy tests Iran-backed factions in Iraq The administration of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi appears to be pursuing an "arms-for-assets" approach aimed at encouraging Iran-backed armed factions to integrate further into Iraq's security […]
By Dr Renad Mansour, Chatham House. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Can Iraq's New Prime Minister Finally Rein in its Armed Factions? The Iran war has seemingly created a potential opportunity to integrate armed groups into the state. But significant hurdles […]
By Munqith Dagher, for the Atlantic Council. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Militias are Fracturing as Iran Turns from Theocracy to Juntocracy The Iranian regime under new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is now functionally, even structurally, different from the […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Talk of new ministry emerges as Iraq grapples with PMU reform Shortly after winning a contentious confidence vote in parliament on May 14, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi told lawmakers that his government […]
By John Lee. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced on Wednesday the complete separation of his Saraya al-Salam [Peace Brigades] militia from his National Shiite Movement and its full integration into Iraq's state armed forces, saying the move was motivated by "public interest" and the need to avoid dangers facing the country. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi […]
By Mustafa Saadoon, for Al Hurra. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Exclusive: U.S. Moves Against Iran-Aligned Factions in Iraq Two government sources working in the Iraqi Council of Ministers confirmed to Alhurra that "the United States has halted dollar shipments to […]
By John Lee. Rewards for Justice (RFJ), the US Department of State's national security rewards program, has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information on the leader of Kata'ib Hizballah (KH), Ahmad al-Hamidawi. The Department of State designated al-Hamidawi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2020. Full statement from Rewards […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. While under attack, Iran's Iraqi allies also see chance for newfound power With Israeli-US intentions in Iraq as opaque as their aims in Iran, the potential for further destabilization in the former remains […]
By David Schenker 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. Iraq Is at Another Crossroads with Iran-Backed Militias -- and Washington Although U.S. officials should keep pushing Baghdad to move against these groups, the Iran […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Baghdad's new 'self-defense' mandate may formalize regionalization of Iran War Baghdad has granted its armed forces, including the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), wider powers to respond in "self-defense" to ongoing bombings of their […]
By Hayder Al Shakeri, for The National. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. How the war on Iran is exposing Iraq's fundamental failures When Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani called for de-escalation and dialogue in the early days of […]
By John Lee. Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Iraq, has said that corruption must be tackled decisively if Iraq is to achieve stability, arguing that militias are a symptom rather than the root cause of the country's challenges. He identified fake payrolls, fake loans, and fictitious assets as major sources of […]
