Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq Announce Conditional Halt to Attacks on U.S. Targets
A group of Iran-backed militias announced a cease-fire against U.S. interests in Iraq on the condition that the United States provides a timeline for the withdrawal of its troops (Washington Post)
Demonstrations Mark Anniversary of Iraq Protests
Demonstrators yesterday marked one year since an economic downturn and government corruption sparked mass protests across Iraq. They commemorated the more than six hundred people who were killed during last year’s protests (Al-Monitor)
Five Civilians Killed in Rocket Attack on Baghdad Airport
Two women and three children were killed and another two children were wounded when a rocket targeting Baghdad’s airport, where U.S. troops are stationed, struck their home instead. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The United States has reportedly threatened to close its Baghdad embassy unless Iraq stems attacks on U.S. interests (National)
U.S. Warns It Could Shutter Iraq Embassy
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Iraqi government the United States will close its Baghdad embassy if militia attacks on U.S. interests continue, unnamed officials from both countries said. In recent months, Iran-backed Shiite militias have launched frequent rocket attacks on convoys supporting U.S. and other allied troops (Wall Street Journal)
U.S. Criticizes Iraqi Violence as Leaders Meet
The U.S. State Department condemned assassinations of anti-government activists and attacks on protesters in Iraq. In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Washington yesterday, President Donald J. Trump pledged to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq but gave no timeline (Deutsche Welle)
Iraq Announces Compensation for Slain Demonstrators, Security Personnel
Iraq’s government said it will compensate the families of 560 protesters and security force members killed amid anti-government protests that began in October. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s administration also announced the arrests of three security force members found to have shot into a crowd of protesters earlier this week (Al-Monitor)
Iraqi Officials Investigate Protester Deaths
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi demanded an investigation into the deaths of two protesters killed over the weekend during demonstrations in Baghdad over electricity shortages (Al-Monitor)
Security forces reportedly fired live ammunition during the protests. Kadhimi demanded that the inquiry’s findings be released within seventy-two hours (Reuters)
Anti-Government Protests Resurface in Iraq
Anti-government protests in Iraq resurfaced over the weekend for the first time since they began in October. At least two protests were killed in Baghdad as dozens rallied against corruption, lack of service, and unemployment (Al Jazeera)
Iraqi Researcher Assassinated
A prominent Iraqi researcher, Hisham al-Hashimi, was shot dead outside his home in Baghdad .He was a leading expert on the Islamic State and had recently spoken out against Iran-backed militias in Iraq (Washington Post)
Iraqi forces raided the headquarters of an Iranian-backed militia, Khataib Hezbollah. According to a military spokesman the attacked was intended to send a message that “no one is above the law.” Prime Minister al-Kadhimi is the country’s first leader to move against an Iranian-backed group (New York Times)
Rocket Lands in Baghdad’s Green Zone
A rocket landed near the U.S. embassy inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, causing minor damages to an empty home. The United States has blamed Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group, for previous attacks (Associated Press)
Iraq Releases Protestors
The judiciary yesterday ordered the release of anti-government protesters, carrying out a decision by newly inaugurated Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (Associated Press)
Iraq Approves New Government After Six-Month Vacuum
Iraq’s parliament approved most of the ministers proposed by former intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the third prime minister–designate since Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November (Al-Monitor)
Iraqi Officials Blame Islamic State for Attack on Intelligence Bureau
Iraqi authorities blamed the Islamic State for an attack on an intelligence bureau in the northern city of Kirkuk (Associated Press)
The attack was the latest in what officials say is an uptick in attacks by the militant group (Al-Monitor)
United States Endorses Unity Government Formation in Iraq
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirmed his support yesterday for an agreement between Iraq’s Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds to establish a unity government and stated that the new administration should be prepared to stabilize the country (Reuters)
Iraq Designates New Prime Minister
Iraq’s president named chief intelligence officer Mustafa al-Kadhimi the country’s new prime minister–designate, the third such designation in ten weeks (Reuters)
Washington to Review U.S. Presence in Iraq
Washington will hold a dialogue in June to review its economic and security presence in Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. On Sunday, Iraq’s prime minister–designate said the United States pledged to remove half its 5,200 troops in the country by the end of the year (Financial Times)
Rocket Strikes Hit U.S. Oil Firm’s Operations in Iraq
At least three rockets targeted the site of U.S. oil company Halliburton in southern Iraq yesterday, the country’s military said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack (Associated Press)
Rockets Hit Green Zone in Iraq
Rockets struck Baghdad’s Green Zone near the site of government buildings and the U.S. embassy. No casualties were immediately reported (Politico)
Iraq Names New Prime Minister
Adnan al-Zurfi, former governor of the city of Najaf, was named Iraq’s new prime minister-designate after a previous appointee was unable to form a government (Associated Press)
Separately, two rockets hit the Iraqi military base at Besmaya yesterday, which houses NATO troops involved in operations against the Islamic State. The base did not report any casualties (Al Jazeera)
U.S. Conducts Retaliatory Strikes After Attack on Iraqi Base
The U.S. military said it carried out air strikes against five sites belonging to Iraq’s Iran-backed Kata’ib Hezbollah militant group in retaliation for an attack that killed two Americans and a British soldier (Financial Times)
Iraq’s military condemned the U.S. strikes, which it said killed six people (Reuters)
Iraq Rocket Attack Kills U.S., UK Service Members
A rocket attack on a military base north of Baghdad killed two Americans, including a contractor, and one British service member (Al-Monitor)
U.S. Reviews Missions in Iraq and Syria
The U.S. military is reviewing how it conducts missions in the countries after two U.S. service members died in Iraq during an operation against the Islamic State (New York Times)
Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Steps Down
Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi stepped down after he was unable to form a government. President Barham Salih will have fifteen days to nominate a new prime minister (Wall Street Journal)
Would-Be Iraqi Government Hits Deadlock
Iraq’s legislature was forced to adjourn a session to approve a new cabinet due to boycotts from some lawmakers. Sunni and Kurdish blocs have opposed Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi’s proposed cabinets (Reuters)