ShafaqNews- Baghdad

Iraq'sgovernment will send a committee to Jurf al-Sakhar, north of Babil province, onSunday to review disputed land contracts and conditions in the area, with morethan 100,000 people still displaced since it was retaken from ISIS in 2014.

Thecommittee was formed on the orders of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and includesrepresentatives from the agriculture, justice and interior ministries and thePopular Mobilization Forces (PMF), AbdulRahman al-Jazairi, a senior member ofthe National Oath (Qasam) Movement within the State of Law Coalition, toldShafaq News on Saturday.

Thecommittee will first visit the area before reviewing agricultural contractsknown as "17 contracts." These cover state-owned land leased tofarmers for periods ranging from five to 30 years in return for annualpayments, with the possibility of renewal when the contracts expire.

"Babil'sgovernor has asked the Agriculture Ministry to renew expired contracts thatremain eligible, along with contracts covering land under the ministry's authority,"al-Jazairi added, stressing that the committee's work does not currentlyinclude any changes to security arrangements in Jurf al-Sakhar.

Hefurther maintained that security plans and deployments will also remainunchanged, including the presence of Iran-backed Hezbollah Brigades, which hedescribed as the force holding the area. "Jurf al-Sakhar is an importantpillar of security stability."

Turningto agricultural activity, al-Jazairi cited the village of al-Saeedat, wherevalid contracts remain in force and farmers continue to work withoutinterference. Much of the dispute, he noted, centers on contracts that expiredyears ago and now require action by the Agriculture Ministry, which heindicated ready to handle the cases within its legal authority.

Read more: Jurf Al-Sakhar: A decade on, Iraq's displaced still barred from return

Jurfal-Sakhar, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, occupies a strategic position linkingcentral Iraq with its western and southern regions. Iraqi forces, along withthe PMF, retook the area from ISIS in 2014, but thousands of residents haveremained displaced. Previous government efforts to facilitate their return havealso produced limited results, with security authorities citing mines,unexploded ordnance and other security concerns.

The issuereturned to the forefront in recent weeks after former lawmaker and Janabitribal sheikh Adnan al-Janabi alleged that thousands of homes had beendemolished and residents' property damaged. The Babil Provincial Council andgovernor's office filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of making falsestatements that could "inflame sectarian tensions."

OnSaturday, demonstrators gathered in Al-Musayyib district to reject the"sectarian rhetoric" and demand that the PMF remain in Jurf al-Nasr.

Muhannadal-Anzi, head of the Babil Provincial Council's Security Committee, placedresponsibility for returning displaced residents with the federal governmentbut pointed to tens of thousands of mines and remnants of war that continue tocomplicate their return.

Tribalfigure Sheikh Muwafaq al-Amiri rejected descriptions of the forces thatrecaptured the district as "occupiers," while demonstrators calledfor mines and unexploded ordnance to be cleared and residents to return undersecurity arrangements.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s State of Law Coalition, led by former premier Nouri al-Maliki, is preparing to submit three candidates for vacant cabinet posts, including senior judge Mohammed Sami and Lt. Gen. Qasim Atta, as political negotiations intensify over completing Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi’s government, a Coordination Framework source told Shafaq News on Saturday.

Sami, who heads the Internal Security Forces Court of Cassation, is among the figures the coalition considers qualified for the remaining posts, while Atta’s name has again returned to negotiations despite limited prospects of securing approval, according to the source.

The discussions among senior Shiite political leaders are focusing particularly on the vacant Interior and Defense ministries, two of nine portfolios left unresolved since parliament approved most of al-Zaidi’s cabinet in May.

Al-Zaidi has asked the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework and the State Administration Coalition to put forward qualified candidates capable of securing political acceptance “without triggering further disputes,” the source said, adding that the cabinet “could be completed next month.”

State of Law has been trying to secure the Interior Ministry for months. In July, it reviewed six candidates for the portfolio, including Atta, whose nomination faced domestic and regional objections.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Turkmen Front parliamentary bloc leader ErsatSalihi called on Saturday for amendments to the Yazidi Survivors Law to extendits protections to Turkmen, Shabak, Christian, and other children abducted orabused by ISIS.

Salihi argued that the current law excludes manyTurkmen children taken from Tal Afar, including girls and boys who were under18 at the time. He urged Parliament's leadership and political blocs to place apresidency-proposed amendment on the legislative agenda.

ISIS captured Tal Afar on June 15, 2014, shortly afterseizing Mosul and before its assault on Sinjar, abducting large numbers ofTurkmen women and children, some of whom remain missing, he noted.

The group overran Sinjar in August that year, killingand abducting an estimated 12,000 Yazidis in atrocities internationallyrecognized as genocide. Nearly 2,900 remained missing as of August 2025.

About the Law

Parliament passed Yazidi Survivors Law No. 8 of 2021to provide reparations for victims of ISIS atrocities and recognize crimesagainst Yazidis, Turkmen, Christians, and Shabaks as genocide and crimesagainst humanity.

Article 2 covers Yazidi children abducted beforeturning 18, as well as women and girls from the Turkmen, Christian, and Shabakcommunities subjected to specified crimes. The proposed change would broadenthe child provision to include other affected communities.

The law provides financial compensation,rehabilitation, education, and employment support and mandates efforts tolocate missing members of the four communities.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

Senior Iraqi and Kurdistan Region (KRI) security officials met in Erbil on Saturday to review implementation of Iraq's security agreement with Iran, focusing on border security, infiltration and smuggling.

Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aboudi led the federal delegation, while Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed headed the KRI side. Al-Aboudi had arrived in Erbil earlier today with a high-level security delegation.

The committee reviewed measures already implemented under the agreement and coordination between Baghdad and Erbil over securing the border and preventing cross-border infiltration and smuggling, according to a statement from the National Security Adviser's office.

The two sides agreed to maintain security coordination between the federal and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as implementation continues.

The security arrangement requires Iraq to prevent Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region from using Iraqi territory to launch attacks against Iran. The groups have been relocated away from border areas under earlier implementation measures.

Read more: Iraqi–Iranian Security MoU rekindles a decade of border deals

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s effort to bring all weapons under state control hasentered a more sensitive phase, with Washington increasing pressure on Baghdadwhile several armed factions resist disarmament and others splinter intosmaller groups, The Cradle said on Friday.

The report said the dispute now extends beyond whetherfactions will surrender their weapons, touching on their future role, theirrelationship with the state, and the government’s ability to prevent Iraqiterritory from being used for attacks on neighboring countries or US forces andinterests. Citing a source, The Cradle indicated that new cells have emergedfrom members who left established factions over disagreements surroundingdisarmament and adopted a more operational, less publicly identifiablestructure.

Some defectors also transferred military capabilities,including drones, although it remains unclear whether missiles and targetingsystems were among the weapons moved. According to The Cradle, such “frontgroups” have operated in Iraq for years, allowing armed actors to preservetheir ability to launch attacks while obscuring responsibility and complicatingpotential US retaliation.

Baghdad now faces a difficult choice: enforcing disarmamentby force could trigger an internal confrontation with unpredictableconsequences, while retreating from the policy would leave armed groups withcapabilities outside state command. US pressure, it added, has also tied theweapons file to broader questions over the future of relations between Baghdadand Washington.

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Shafaq News- Baghdad

Fighting corruption at Iraq’s border crossings will be a toppriority, with the government planning tougher measures, Prime Minister AliFalih Al-Zaidi said on Friday.

During a visit to the Border Ports Authority headquarters inBaghdad, Al-Zaidi noted that drug and medicine smuggling, attempts to evaderegulatory authorities, and other forms of trafficking pose serious threats toIraqi society, warning that those involved would face strict action.

Read more: 125+ Iraqi figures investigated in cross-border corruption crackdown

The prime minister called for border crossings to becomeself-financing, with taxes and customs duties deducted before financialtransfers, and directed authorities to collect service fees to fund therehabilitation and development of border facilities.

He also ordered authorities to accelerate the automation ofborder crossings and connect all facilities to an integrated electronic system.The PM asked for daily reports on operations and revenues and for Iraq to drawon international experience in border management.

Read more: Iraq’s updated customs tariffs, legal dispute, and market impact

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Riyadh

Iraqi and Saudi delegations met with representatives of the UnitedStates Central Command (CENTCOM) in Riyadh on Thursday evening to discusssecurity developments and the file of armed factions in Iraq, according toIraqi and Saudi diplomatic sources.

The meeting addressed recent developments in the armed factions file andthe options available for dealing with them, an Iraqi diplomatic source said,without providing details about the nature of those options.

On the Saudi side, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman overseesthe file and its related contacts, according to both sources. Managing aprincipal portion of the security file in communications between Baghdad andRiyadh is General Abdul Amir al-Shammari, director of the office of theCommander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, PM Ali-Al-Zaidi.

Read more: Iraq and the Mecca Defense Pact: Strategic neutrality or growing isolation?

The participation of Lieutenant General Zaid Hoshi, head of Iraq'sCounter-Terrorism Service, was welcomed by the Saudi side, the Iraqi sourcesaid, as the talks focused on measures Baghdad is taking to control thesecurity situation and prevent a recurrence of attacks launched from Iraqiterritory.

The Iraqi security delegation arrived in Riyadh on Thursday, led byal-Shammari. It included National Intelligence Service chief Hamid al-Shatri,Air Defense Commander Lieutenant General Muhannad al-Asadi, and Hoshi.

Riyadh views the security and military changes introduced by al-Zaidipositively, a Saudi diplomatic source said, describing them as a more seriouseffort by Baghdad to halt attacks targeting the Kingdom and other regionalstates. Saudi officials now regard al-Zaidi as "serious in limiting thefactions' ability to again carry out attacks against the Kingdom and the statesof the region."

Read more: Iraq under regional pressure as neighbors threaten to strike Iran-aligned factions

Security coordination among Baghdad, Riyadh, and Washington wouldcontinue in the current phase, the source added.

The delegation's visit came less than a week after the head of SaudiGeneral Intelligence, Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan, visited Baghdad and metal-Zaidi. The two sides agreed to continue security coordination andintelligence sharing, and the Iraqi prime minister affirmed that Iraq would notallow its territory to be used as a launchpad for actions targeting othercountries.

Baghdad and Riyadh have been working to contain a sharp escalation thaterupted in late July, when Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted drones itstated were launched from Iraqi territory toward oil facilities. On July 29, USand Saudi fighter jets carried out strikes inside Iraq that CENTCOM saidtargeted weapons depots and logistical sites belonging to factions linked toIran. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-linked, mostly Shiiteparamilitary umbrella, said the strikes hit official headquarters belonging toit in six provinces. At least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded. Armed factions vowed toretaliate against the United States and Saudi Arabia, set a deadline for theIraqi government to take a position on the strikes, and the escalation led tothe postponement of a planned visit by al-Zaidi to Riyadh.

Read more: Days to disarm Iraq's factions: deadline or negotiable ceiling?

Contacts that followed the confrontation gradually led the two countriesto resume their security channels. Saudi Arabia informed the Iraqi delegationof its intention to return its diplomatic mission to Baghdad within threemonths or less, in exchange for guarantees on the security of the mission'spremises and personnel, an Iraqi source told Shafaq News on Thursday evening.

The Saudi mission left Baghdad on March 17 against the backdrop of asecurity deterioration and attacks in the capital, including drone strikes thattargeted the Al-Rasheed Hotel. Both countries' security channels remain active,and Riyadh has tied the mission's return to the guarantees now underdiscussion.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi and State of Law Coalition (SLC) leader Nouri Al-Maliki on Thursday discussed completing the Cabinet and bringing all weapons under state authority, with nine ministries still unfilled and a September 30 weapons-control deadline approaching.

The meeting also covered anti-corruption measures, integrity safeguards, and economic reform, alongside efforts to strengthen state institutions and government performance.

On May 14, Parliament approved Al-Zaidi’s government and ministerial program but granted confidence to only 14 of 23 ministers, with unresolved portfolios including Defense, Interior, Planning, Higher Education, Labor, Migration and Displacement, Culture, Reconstruction and Housing, and Youth and Sports. During earlier cabinet negotiations, Al-Maliki’s SLC backed Qasim Atta for the Interior Ministry, while the Defense portfolio remained subject to political bargaining.

Al-Zaidi also told CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper on August 12 that the US-led Coalition’s military mission and the departure of foreign forces would be completed by September 30, leaving Iraq free of foreign military forces from October 1. He also stressed that weapons must be confined exclusively to state authority under the law.

Read more: Iraqi armed group: No disarmament before US withdrawal, air defense

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Badr Organization, led by Hadi Al-Ameri, on Thursday rejected any use of force to disarm armed factions, warning that coercion could lead to internal conflict ahead of Baghdad’s September 30 deadline to bring weapons under state control.

Mohammad Naji Mohammad, head of Badr’s political bureau, said reports of language threatening force, “if true,” represented a serious escalation, arguing that the process should instead proceed through agreement with faction leaders.

ثلاثة عوامل… وخطابٌ مباشر إلى رئيس الوزراءرئيس المكتب السياسي لمنظمة بدر محمد ناجي محمد، في خضمّ الجدل حول حصر السلاح والانسحاب الأمريكي، يضع أمام رئيس الوزراء ثلاثة عوامل أساسية لا يمكن تجاوزها في أي معادلة سياسية أو أمنية. pic.twitter.com/EAJqJ2zVhz

— Mohammed Naji - محمد ناجي محمد (@abujassimaskari) August 13, 2026

Badr set three conditions for restricting weapons to state authority: the full withdrawal of US forces, the removal of strategic threats facing Iraq, and the full development of the Iraqi armed forces, particularly air defenses.

Mohammad described the emerging formula as “withdrawal in exchange for restricting weapons,” questioning the scope and guarantees of the planned US departure and warning against implementing disarmament before the withdrawal is completed.

Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi is “moving too quickly” on the issue under US pressure.

On August 12, Al-Zaidi reaffirmed that the US-led Coalition’s military mission and the departure of foreign forces will be completed by September 30, telling CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper that Iraq will be free of foreign military forces from October 1. He also stressed that weapons must be confined exclusively to state authority.

The State Administration Coalition –an alliance of major Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish political forces– set the same date for bringing weapons under state control at its August 5 meeting, announcing that groups threatening national security outside official institutions would be treated as outlaws, and armed activity beyond the deadline would be handled under Iraq’s Anti-Terrorism Law.

Multiple political and government sources told Shafaq News that Al-Zaidi and Al-Amiri reached an understanding on August 7 under which the government postponed planned operations against armed factions while the factions halted military action against Saudi Arabia to allow diplomacy to proceed. Al-Amiri later publicly urged the factions to delay any response and prioritize “Iraq’s supreme interest.”

A US administration official separately told Shafaq News that Washington “fully supports disarmament and transfer of arms to the central government,” while stressing transparency with the United States and regional partners over the process.

Read more: Iraq's September deadline undercuts armed factions' case for weapons

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Saudi Arabia plans to resume the work of its diplomaticmission in Baghdad within three months or less, an Iraqi diplomatic source toldShafaq News on Thursday, citing security guarantees to prevent attacks on Saudi interests.

During the Iraqi delegation’s current visit to Riyadh, the Iraqi security delegation presented measures taken byBaghdad to prevent further attacks by armed factions, the source added withoutdisclosing details. Saudi officials also expressed concern over the presence ofmembers of Yemen’s Houthi movement at camps belonging to armed factions inIraq, fearing they could pose a threat to Saudi diplomatic personnel, thesource said.

The talks came ahead of an expected visit to Riyadh by IraqiPrime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and focused on strengthening security anddiplomatic ties between the two countries.

On March 17,2026, Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic mission left Baghdad, following attacks in Iraq, including drone strikes carried out by armedfactions against the Al-Rasheed Hotel.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said Thursday thatRiyadh would continue to support Iraq’s security, stability, development and prosperity.

The Iraqi delegation arrived in Riyadh earlier in the day,led by First Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, director of the officeof the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It included IntelligenceService chief Hamid Al-Shatri, Air Defense commander Lieutenant GeneralMuhannad Al-Asadi, and Counter-Terrorism Service chief Lieutenant General ZaidHoushi.

On July 27, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones“launched from Iraq toward oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh.”The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella of Iran-aligned factions,denied responsibility. Two days later, US and Saudi warplanes struck PMFpositions across seven Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 members andwounding 32. Washington and Riyadh said the strikes responded to attacks on USforces and Saudi energy facilities, prompting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidito cancel a scheduled visit to Riyadh.

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syrian transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Thursday discussed judicial and legal cooperation with Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan in Damascus, as Baghdad and Damascus work through the cases of thousands of ISIS detainees transferred from Syria to Iraqi custody.

An informed source told Shafaq News ahead of the visit that the ISIS detainee file, transitional justice, transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and other shared judicial matters would be on the table.

Zidan also discussed with Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais a proposed agreement governing the transfer and prosecution of Syrian detainees held in Iraq. The judge’s visit is the first of its kind to Syria under Al-Sharaa, having arrived in Damascus earlier today at the head of a judicial delegation.

Read more: From Syrian prisons to Iraqi provinces

Iraq has taken custody of 5,704 ISIS suspects transferred from Syria, representing 61 nationalities, according to the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation. Syrians make up the largest group at 3,543, alongside 467 Iraqis and 983 non-Arab foreign nationals.

CENTCOM claimed that the transfer operation was intended to reduce risks linked to instability around detention facilities in northeastern Syria.

Shafaq News- Riyadh

Saudi Arabia will continue to support Iraq’s security,stability, development, and prosperity, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid binSalman said on Thursday following talks with a senior Iraqi security delegationin Riyadh.

“Iraq will remain a dear neighbor to us, and we share bondsof brotherhood, solidarity, and mutual support with its government and people,”bin Salman said.

التقيت معالي مدير مكتب القائد العام للقوات المسلحة العراقية الفريق الأول الركن عبدالأمير الشمري.استعرضنا العلاقات السعودية العراقية في المجال العسكري والدفاعي، وبحثنا التطورات الإقليمية، وأكدنا أهمية مواصلة التنسيق والتعاون بين بلدينا بما يخدم مصالحنا المشتركة ويحقق أمن المنطقة… pic.twitter.com/llM0J8jxSp

— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) August 13, 2026

The delegation arrived in Riyadh earlier today, led by AbdulAmir Al-Shammari, director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the IraqiArmed Forces, and included Intelligence Service chief Hamid Al-Shatri, AirDefense Commander Muhannad Al-Asadi, and Counter-Terrorism Service Chief, ZaidHoshi.

The officials are expected to raise recentstrikes on Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions and seek compensation,Sadiqoun lawmaker Ahmed Al-Mousawi told Shafaq News. “A Saudi delegation thatvisited Baghdad on August 7 had apologized for the strikes but presented noevidence that drones targeting the Kingdom had been launched from Iraqiterritory.”

On July 27, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones “launchedfrom Iraq toward oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh.” TheIslamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella of Iran-aligned factions, deniedresponsibility. Two days later, US and Saudi warplanes struck PMF positionsacross seven Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 members and wounding 32.Washington and Riyadh said the strikes responded to attacks on US forces andSaudi energy facilities, prompting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi to cancela scheduled visit to Riyadh.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Al-Riyadh

An Iraqi security delegation visiting Saudi Arabia will raise recent strikes on Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions and seek compensation, Ahmed al-Mousawi, a lawmaker from Sadiqoun, the political wing of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, told Shafaq News on Thursday.

Al-Mousawi said a Saudi delegation that recently visited Baghdad had apologized over the strikes but provided no evidence that drone attacks on the Kingdom had originated from Iraqi territory.

Read more: US-Saudi attack on Iraq

On Wednesday, an Iraqi government source told Shafaq News that the delegation would discuss recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and measures to prevent further attacks.

Saudi media reported that the Iraqi delegation arrived in Riyadh earlier today. It includes Abdul Amir al-Shammari, director of the commander-in-chief’s office; Intelligence Service chief Hamid al-Shatri; Air Defense Commander Muhannad al-Asadi; and Counter-Terrorism Service chief Zaid Houshi.

In late July, the Saudi Defense Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory toward oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied responsibility, while Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the Saudi claim.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq will resolve long-running disputes overservice and pension rights for members of the Popular Mobilization Forces(PMF), with the government expected to send parliament a draft law next week,an Iraqi lawmaker reported on Thursday.

During a press conference, Bahaa Al-Araji, head ofthe Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC), led by former PrimeMinister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, noted that the RDC has been preparing its ownversion of the bill while consulting several political groups. He alsocriticized the use of the measure as a means of political pressure, arguingthat the priority should remain the establishment of clear legal protectionsfor PMF personnel.

The legislation has been stalled since March 2025,when Al-Sudani withdrew it from parliament amid political disagreements thathad repeatedly contributed to a lack of quorum and disrupted legislativesessions. The bill has been politically contentious over provisions governingthe PMF’s institutional structure, service conditions and retirementarrangements. Many leaders within the Coordination Framework have attributedthe postponement of the vote to what they described as “US interference.”

Earlier today, wounded PMF personnel and familiesof those killed in service staged a sit-in outside the National PensionAuthority in Baghdad, demanding overdue benefits and pension entitlementsequivalent to those granted to personnel in other security institutions.

The PMF —a state security organization comprisingmostly Shiite armed factions— currently faces a government effort toconsolidate weapons under state authority, with September 30 set as thedeadline. That broader debate has also brought renewed attention to the group’sfuture structure, including how its members will be financed and managed.Earlier this year, an informed source indicated to Shafaq News that the Iraqigovernment was seeking access to frozen state funds held abroad to help financethe integration of more than 800,000 armed faction members into the PMF andother security institutions.

Read more: Iraq's PMF Service and Retirement Law: Is political exploitation inevitable?

Shafaq News- Damascus/ Baghdad (Updated at 14:08)

Syria is seeking to expand judicial and legal cooperation with Iraq as bilateral ties improve in the economic and security fields, Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais said on Thursday during talks in Damascus with Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan.

Al-Wais said Syria was “entering a new phase focused on building state institutions, strengthening the rule of law and promoting stability,” adding that Damascus sought “balanced and positive” relations with neighboring countries based on mutual respect and shared interests.

He described his visit as the beginning of a new phasein Syrian-Iraqi judicial cooperation and said the two countries’ sharedinterests created scope for closer coordination.

Zidan, in turn, backed efforts to rebuild Syria’s state institutionsand strengthen the rule of law, while discussing a proposed agreement toregulate the transfer and prosecution of Syrian detainees held in Iraq.

He was received in Damascus by al-Wais and Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, adviser for Arab affairs at Syria’s Foreign Ministry. A source told Shafaq News on Wednesday that the visit, the first of its kind, would address judicial coordination between Baghdad and Damascus, particularly the cases of ISIS detainees recently transferred to Iraqi prisons, as well as transitional justice, transparency, anti-corruption efforts and other shared judicial matters.

Read more: From Syrian prisons to Iraqi provinces

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidireaffirmed on Wednesday that Iraq will be free of foreign military forces fromOctober 1, during a meeting with US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper,with September 30 set as the final deadline for the Global Coalition to end itsmilitary mission and complete the departure of its forces.

Al-Zaidi described the post-withdrawalphase as “a new day in the path of the Iraqi state,” when the country wouldexercise full sovereignty over its territory and continue building its securityand military capabilities to safeguard its stability on its own.

The premier also stressed thatweapons must be confined exclusively to state authority in accordance with thelaw, arguing that the measure would “protect everyone” and provide a foundationfor development and prosperity.

September 30 also marks Baghdad’sdeadline for bringing weapons under exclusive state control. The StateAdministration Coalition (SAC), representing Iraq’s main Shiite, Sunni, andKurdish political forces, had warned that armed activity outside stateinstitutions after that date “will be treated as unlawful.”

During the meeting, both sidesaffirmed their “full and final agreement” on ending the Coalition’s militarymission under arrangements reached during Al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington inmid-July. Iraqi-US relations are set to “transition toward cooperation andpartnership in the economic, development, and security fields, based on mutualrespect for sovereignty and the mutual interests of both countries.”

Read more: Iraqi Army after US-led Coalition withdrawal

Washington has repeatedly called onthe Iraqi government to dissolve Iran-aligned armed factions and warned againstIranian influence in Baghdad. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrellaof Iran-aligned armed factions, has long demanded the departure of Coalitionforces, citing the need to confront the “American occupation” as justificationfor its armed presence.

Read more: Days to disarm Iraq's factions: deadline or negotiable ceiling?

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial CouncilPresident Faiq Zidan will visit Syria on Thursday to discuss the case of ISISdetainees recently transferred to Iraqi prisons, an informed source told ShafaqNews.

Read more: From Syrian prisons to Iraqi provinces

The visit, Zidan’s first of its kindto Syria under Ahmad Al-Sharaa, will include talks on strengthening judicialcooperation and coordination between Baghdad and Damascus. Discussions willalso cover transitional justice, transparency and anti-corruption efforts,alongside other judicial and legal matters of mutual concern.

Read more: Corruption arrests in Iraq pass 210 under PM al-Zaidi

Syrian Justice Minister Mazharal-Wais will receive Zidan upon his arrival at the airport, the source added.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's Ministry of Oil on Wednesday deniedstatements by a member of parliament alleging that a corruption-tainted disputewith the Ministry of Transport was obstructing crude oil exports, explaining thatmaritime crude transport falls outside the remit of the State Oil MarketingOrganization (SOMO), and that the transport company at the center of theallegation owns no tankers of its own.

Speaking to Shafaq News, Hiyam al-Yasiri, amember of parliament for the Reconstruction and Development bloc, led by former PM Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, accused theMinistry of Oil and SOMO of refusing to export crude through the Strait ofHormuz aboard Iraqi tankers belonging to the Ministry of Transport, despite “Americanand Iranian security approvals.” She attributed the refusal to suspicions of corruption and the imposition of personal control.

In a statement, the ministry said cooperationand coordination with the Ministry of Transport and all state institutions isproceeding “at the highest levels” to raise export volumes and increasefinancial returns.

Maritime transport of crude oil and petroleumproducts is the responsibility of the Iraqi Oil Tankers Company, not SOMO, the statement said, pointing out that the ministry had circulated the maritime transport company's contact details to the international firms it works with so they could discuss operating tankers the company leases, since it holds no vessels of its own. "The arrangement involvesno conflict."

Read more: No exit but Hormuz: Iraq's economic vulnerability exposed

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s cabinet on Tuesdayapproved a 2026–2029 government program setting 139 priorities across 14sectors, with 13 bills of legislation also designated as priorities for thegovernment’s next phase.

The program receivedcabinet approval during the 14th regular session, chaired by Prime Minister AliAl-Zaidi. The session focused solely on reviewing the program before it is sentto parliament under the cabinet’s internal rules.

According to a statementfrom the prime minister’s media office, the priorities span state sovereigntyand national security, economic and financial reform, industry, institutionalreform and anti-corruption, health, communications and digital transformation,youth and sports, foreign policy, energy, agriculture, water and theenvironment, education, social protection and poverty reduction, human rights,women and children, and culture, tourism and antiquities.

Institutional reform andthe fight against corruption rank among the government’s main priorities. Theplan calls for a national strategy to overhaul state institutions, combatfinancial and administrative corruption, review related legislation, andstrengthen integrity and transparency measures.

The government also seeksto expand investment in minerals and other non-oil natural resources as part ofefforts to diversify an economy heavily dependent on oil revenues.

Other economic prioritiesinclude restructuring the state banking sector, bringing border crossings undera unified system, and launching a national strategy for digital transformation.Authorities will also support digital transformation and cybersecurity centerswhile seeking to improve the investment climate.

Security and stateauthority feature prominently in the government’s agenda. The program calls fora unified security decision and directs state resources and capabilities towardthe official government framework. It also defines an independent Iraqi politicaldecision as a key element of national sovereignty, reinforcing the government’sfocus on strengthening state authority over security and political affairs.

On social policy, thegovernment plans to strengthen human rights protections, improve child welfare,and curb violence in society. It will also develop programs to train andprepare women for leadership roles in government and politics.

Lawmaker Ahmed Al-Moussawi,a member of the Sadiqoun bloc, previously told Shafaq News that Al-Zaidi plansto unveil candidates for nine vacant ministerial posts next week, as the PrimeMinister works to complete a cabinet that has remained unfinished sinceparliament approved it on May 14.

Read more: What does Iraq's new government promise? A guide to Ali Al-Zaidi's ministerial program

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned adecision by Colombia to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied SyrianGolan Heights, calling the move legally void and a violation of internationallaw.

“The Golan is occupied Syrian territory and no partyholds the right to alter its legal status or grant the occupation a legitimacyit does not possess,” the ministry said.

Syria and several Arab states also denounced theColombian decision on Tuesday as a breach of the UN Charter. The United Nationsregards the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli militaryoccupation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks today,said the Golan Heights is Israeli land, and Israel remains committed tocontrolling the plateau because it is vital to Israeli security.

Israel has occupied parts of the Golan Heights sincethe 1967 war and annexed the area in 1981, a move that was not recognizedinternationally except by the United States.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi on Tuesdayordered legislation to place all weapons under state control, warning thatuncontrolled arms pose the greatest threat to state authority by underminingthe rule of law and weakening security institutions.

Al-Zaidi issued the directiveduring talks with Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee Chairman KhalidMutib Al-Obaidi and other members, focusing on border and airspace protection,military capabilities, and coordination between the executive and legislature,according to the Prime Minister’s Media Office.

Al-Obaidi endorsed measures tostrengthen border security, air defenses, and combat readiness.

The State AdministrationCoalition (SAC), which brings together leading Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdishpolitical forces, has given armed groups until Sept. 30 to submit to governmentauthority. At an Aug. 5 meeting, the coalition warned that those threateningnational security would be treated as “outlaws,” with unauthorized militaryactivity beyond the deadline subject to the Anti-Terrorism Law.

The deadline aligns with thescheduled end of the US-led Coalition’s military presence in Iraq, a timeframesome factions have cited in linking disarmament to the withdrawal of foreignforces.

Read more: Days to disarm Iraq's factions: deadline or negotiable ceiling?

Shafaq News- Washington/ Baghdad

The United States backed Iraq’s push to bring weapons under state control on Tuesday, warning against Iranian influence over Baghdad, hours after Iran’s Quds Force commander urged Iraqi factions “not to disarm.”

“A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts, or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a US administration official told Shafaq News.

The official said Washington had made clear to Baghdad that maintaining Iraq’s sovereignty and preventing attacks launched from its territory by “Iran-backed militias” were critical.

“The US fully supports disarmament and transfer of arms to the central government,” the official noted, adding that transparency with Washington and regional partners over how the process is conducted was “critical to success.”

Earlier today, Iran’s Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani concluded an unannounced visit to Baghdad, where an informed source told Shafaq News he urged armed factions “not to surrender their weapons for now” while warning them against an armed confrontation with government forces.

Qaani instead pressed for a political settlement that would allow the factions to retain their weapons at this stage and urged leaders of the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework to “exert political pressure” on the government toward such an arrangement, according to the source.

The competing positions come ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline set by Iraq’s State Administration Coalition (SAC) to bring weapons under state control. At an Aug. 5 meeting, the coalition said groups conducting activities that threaten national security outside state institutions would be “considered outside the law.”

Read more: Days to disarm Iraq's factions: deadline or negotiable ceiling?

A political understanding disclosed to Shafaq News before Qaani’s visit called for armed factions to hand their weapons to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) by the end of September. Under the proposed arrangement, the PMF would oversee the weapons and formally document their storage sites, with any movement of personnel or arms requiring orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.

Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have rejected relinquishing their military capabilities, linking any discussion of their weapons to the withdrawal of foreign forces and guarantees against external attacks. Other groups have signaled willingness to reorganize their military and security relationship with the state.

For Shafaq News, Mustafa Hashem, Washington, DC.

Read more: What happens to Iraq's armed factions after September 30?

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi affirmed on Tuesday thegovernment's interest in attracting more South Korean investment to thecountry, during a meeting with South Korean Ambassador to Iraq Lee Jun-il.

The ambassador delivered a written message to al-Zaidi fromSouth Korean President Lee Jae-myung, congratulating him on the formation ofthe government and affirming Seoul's commitment to strengthening relations andpartnership with Iraq in a way that serves the mutual interests of bothcountries and their peoples, and helps Iraq overcome current internationaleconomic challenges.

Al-Zaidi stressed the importance of developing bilateralrelations between the two countries and working jointly to expand cooperationacross various sectors, particularly investment, energy and technology, notingIraq's keenness to cooperate with and benefit from the work and expertise ofSouth Korean companies operating across the country.

The Prime Minister highlighted the opportunities andfacilitating measures provided by the government, particularly in sectors wherethe Korean side possesses extensive expertise and which meet the needs of theIraqi market, such as the automotive and electronics industries, as well as itsefforts to enhance the investment environment and advance economic reforms.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Leaders of Iraq’s Shiite Coordination Framework (CF)held a “special meeting” with Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi on Tuesday, an informed political sourcetold Shafaq News,  shortlyafter Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani concluded talks in Baghdad overthe future of armed factions and their weapons.

The meeting was underway at Al-Zaidi’s governmentheadquarters, the source said, without disclosing its agenda or furtherdetails.

Qaani arrived in Baghdad on Monday with a high-levelmilitary and security delegation for an unannounced visit, meeting BadrOrganization leader Hadi Al-Amiri and other political and faction figuresbefore returning to Tehran.

A source previously told Shafaq News that Qaaniopposed disarmament at this stage but cautioned the factions againstconfronting Iraqi security forces, warning that such a move “could trigger abroader domestic crisis.” He instead favored a political settlement that wouldallow them to keep their weapons temporarily and urged CF leaders to pressBaghdad for a compromise.

Read more: SCOOP: Iran’s Qaani rejects Iraqi faction disarmament

The contacts come ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline set bythe State Administration Coalition (SAC) to bring weapons under state control.The alliance, which includes Iraq’s main Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish politicalforces, has warned that armed activity outside state institutions after thatdate “will be treated as unlawful.”

Several Iran-aligned Iraqi armed factions, including KataibHezbollah, Harakat Al-Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, have rejecteddisarmament before foreign forces leave Iraq and guarantees are providedagainst external attacks, while other groups have shown willingness toreorganize their relationship with the state.

The Sept. 30 deadline coincides with the planned endof the US-led Coalition’s military presence in Iraq, a timeline factions havecited in linking disarmament to the withdrawal of foreign forces.

Read more: Days to disarm Iraq's factions: deadline or negotiable ceiling?

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi is considering wide-ranging changes to the senior leadership of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), including its chairman and chief of staff, informed sources told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

Other senior posts held by figures linked to armed factions could be affected, with officers from the Iraqi Army and Counter-Terrorism Service, alongside figures from within the PMF, under consideration for several positions.

No final decision has been made, as al-Zaidi is still weighing the potential domestic political repercussions.

According to the sources, one objective is to shield the PMF from possible military, economic, and financial repercussions, including potential international sanctions, particularly US measures against the organization or some of its leaders, as figures linked to armed factions that Washington has repeatedly called to be dissolved continue to hold several senior positions within the organization.

The PMF was established in 2014 following a fatwa by Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, to combat ISIS. Its forces fought alongside the Iraqi military and the Global Coalition and have since become a major component of Iraq's security landscape, although the role and autonomy of its factions remain politically contentious.

The discussions come amid renewed efforts to advance long-stalled legislation governing service and retirement within the PMF. On Sunday, lawmaker Falih al-Khazali, head of the Montasiroun (Victorious) parliamentary bloc, the political wing of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (a PMF faction), formally asked the government to place the bill on the Cabinet's agenda.

Read more: Iraq's PMF Service and Retirement Law

The legislation has been stalled since March 2025, when then-Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani withdrew it from parliament amid political disagreements that repeatedly contributed to a lack of quorum and disrupted legislative sessions. The dispute centers on provisions governing the PMF's institutional structure, service conditions, and retirement arrangements, while several leaders within the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite political parties excluding the Sadrist Movement, have attributed the delay to US interference.

At the same time, Baghdad faces a September 30 deadline to bring weapons under state control, with the State Administration Coalition (SAC), representing Iraq's main Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish political forces, warning that armed activity outside state institutions after that date "will be treated as unlawful." In contrast, Iran's Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani urged Iraqi armed factions "not to surrender their weapons for now," while cautioning against confrontation with government forces and pressing instead for a political settlement with Baghdad, an informed source told Shafaq News.

Read more: Days to disarm Iraq's factions: deadline or negotiable ceiling?