Iraq - Islamic World News

By simultaneously leveraging energy tools, transit corridors, and its influence in post-Assad Syria, Turkey seeks to transform Iraq into a component of its own geoeconomic architecture while reducing Iranian influence in Northwest Asia. The “Development Road” project, the redesign of energy cooperation with Baghdad, and efforts to position itself as a regional energy and trade hub constitute the main pillars of this strategy. The success of this policy could strengthen Turkey’s standing in European and West Asian energy equations; however, persistent political, security, and legal disputes among Baghdad, Erbil, and Ankara remain the most significant obstacles to the full realization of these objectives.

The General Secretariat of Kata’ib Imam Ali (AS), one of Iraq’s Islamic Resistance groups, announced in an official statement that, in order to preserve the gains of victory, strengthen sovereignty, and ensure the state’s monopoly on weapons, it has decided to sever its ties with the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi).

The Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement in Iraq has announced, through a statement, the formation of a central committee to separate from the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) and to place weapons solely in the hands of the Iraqi government.

On May 27, Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of Iraq’s Sadrist movement, issued an order for the complete dissolution of Saraya al-Salam, the movement’s military wing. According to the order, all personnel and equipment of the group will be handed over to the Iraqi central government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Kata’ib Hezbollah, in a strongly worded statement, warned of the consequences of any hostile action by the United States and any cooperation by the Kurdistan Region with it, declaring that the group’s fighters are prepared to enter a prolonged war of attrition.

Abu Ali al-Askari, security official of Kata’ib Hezbollah Iraq, warned in a statement about increasing U.S. military movements in Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, claiming these actions are part of preparations for aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran along what he described as a “land corridor.” He called on Kurdish factions to […]

In recent years, Iraq’s digital economy has developed into one of the country’s most vibrant and rapidly expanding sectors. Factors such as the increasing youth population, the government’s gradual adoption of electronic services, and Iraq’s potential to serve as a regional hub for transit and data exchange have attracted significant attention from both domestic and international stakeholders. While Western exploitation of Iraq’s oil industry posed certain challenges, the communications and information technology sector has now become a strategic focus for various groups and nations. Baghdad aims to achieve two main objectives: first, to generate financial resources to sustain its operations, and second, to influence and oversee data flows to enhance its social impact and bolster security efforts against external influences.

Qais al-Muhammadi, deputy commander of Iraq’s Joint Operations Command announced that the Ain al-Asad base will be fully handed over to Iraqi security forces next week, following the withdrawal of coalition troops. He stressed that the agreement ending the coalition’s mission was finalized three months ago, and that no coalition personnel are currently present within Iraq’s Joint Operations Command.

Syria and Iraq have begun coordinating efforts to restart the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline, an old yet strategic project now placed on the agenda with U.S. backing to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation. The initiative could restore Syria’s role in regional energy dynamics and open a new route for Iraq’s oil exports to European markets.

Abu Ali al‑Askari, security chief of Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, issued a harsh statement warning Iraqi politicians and public figures against any contact with Mark Savaya, Trump’s envoy to Iraq. He declared that anyone engaging with Savaya would be considered a traitor to Iraq.

During the recent days, Lt. Gen. Sihad Barzani, Commander of the Peshmerga 1st Support Forces Command, met with Colonel Stephanie Bagley, the US Senior Defense Official, and Colonel Fitzgerald, the Acting Commander of the Coalition Forces in the Kurdistan Region. Reports indicate that American and Kurdish commanders discussed the possible deployment of the 101st Division, 82nd Division, and the 75th Airborne Regiment of the U.S. Army in northern Iraq.

The recent water and energy accord between Turkey and Iraq—beginning with the financing mechanism for water projects signed in early 2024 and expanded into combined oil–water packages in November 2025—marks a strategic shift in managing the Tigris–Euphrates basin. In practice, Ankara has strengthened its ability to regulate water flow, quality, and allocation into Iraq through legal, technical, and financial frameworks, the entry of Turkish companies, and project financing. Baghdad, instead of exercising full sovereignty over shared resources, is gradually ceding long‑term access and decision‑making to foreign partners, particularly Turkey and its international allies. This situation carries serious legal, economic, environmental, and security implications for Iraq’s internal stability, agricultural productivity, food security, and strategic independence.