Shafaq News- Amman/ Baghdad

Iraq on Sunday secured the vice presidency of the Arab Unionfor Land Transport for a third consecutive term after Karim Kazem Hussein,director of the General Company for Passenger Transport and Delegations, wonre-election during the union's meetings in Jordan.

The company, one of Iraq's Transport Ministry entities,described the outcome as reflecting Iraq's growing role in specialized Arabtransport organizations and its contribution to strengthening regionalcooperation in the land transport sector.

Shafaq News- Al-Anbar

Iraq's Federal Commission ofIntegrity arrested six Saqlawiyah Municipality employees on Sunday over allegedfinancial and administrative corruption cases, according to a local official.

Speaking with Shafaq News, Al-AnbarProvincial Council member Adnan Al-Kubaisi identified the detainees as DeputyMunicipal Director Raed Abbas Hammad, engineers Laith Subhi Karim and UqbaKhaled Hammadi, employees Ammar Mahdi Hussein and Zuhair Abdul Mohsen, andtechnical employee Mahmoud Saadallah.

Al-Kubaisi said the case involvesthe auditing of contracting procedures, bonus payments, salaries for contractemployees, and records related to the distribution of residential land tomunicipal staff.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The arrests came hours after Iraqiauthorities launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that, according toinformed sources, is expected to target more than 200 officials, politicians,former and current deputy ministers, business owners, and other suspects duringits initial phase.

Read more: Iraq detains 47 officials in anti-corruptionsweep: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Babil

The Leading Tribal Council in Babil province on Sunday backed IraqiPrime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption campaign, urging a tougher stanceagainst corruption across state institutions.

In a statement, the council also praised Iraqi security forces forarresting several individuals accused of embezzlement and bribery involvinglarge sums of public funds.

Earlier today, Iraqi security forces, under Al-Zaidi’s directive,carried out a wide-ranging anti-corruption operation, detaining 47 officials,politicians, businessmen, and members of parliament. Informed sources toldShafaq News that the drive is expected to continue, with a second phase likelyto target additional senior figures.

Read more: Iraq detains 47 officials in anti-corruption sweep: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Dhi Qar

The head of the Integrity Committee in the Dhi QarProvincial Council, Abdul-Baqi Al-Omari, called on Sunday for stricteranti-corruption measures and a "night of anger" similar to thecampaign underway in Baghdad.

At a press conference, Al-Omari said the province hasseveral complex files requiring urgent intervention by the federal governmentand judicial authorities.

Duplicate land plot numbers as well as the allocation ofplots without completed legal and technical procedures have harmed thousands ofresidents, he said, while high prices and implementation delays continue toaffect more than 110 housing projects and compounds, leaving tens of thousandsof citizens waiting for housing units.

Regarding the Shatt Al Ibrahim lining project, Al-Omari saidauthorities spent more than 60 billion Iraqi dinars (about $45.8 million) withoutdelivering the intended results, fueling public anger after the project damagedthe Sayed Dakhil district and worsened the water shortage crisis. He alsocalled for an investigation into allegations of commissions and violationslinked to more than 200 projects.

Earlier today, joint security forces in the capital of Iraq closedentrances to the fortified Green Zone, which houses parliament, governmentoffices, and diplomatic missions, during a broad raid and search campaigntargeting the homes of lawmakers, politicians, and businesspeople. The campaignled to the arrest of more than 45 officials.

Read more: Scoop: Iraq anti-corruption drive nets 43 suspects in first phase

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Bar Association on Sunday refused to provide legal defense fordetainees held in a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown targeting officials,lawmakers, and business figures across Baghdad and several provinces.

The Association welcomed the “serious and practical steps to confrontcorruption,” noting that public frustration has reached a level where loss ofhope has become widespread. It further viewed the campaign as a potentialturning point, stating it could open “a new window” for Iraqis if matched bysustained political will to recover state assets, enforce accountability, andstrengthen institutions.

Iraqi security forces carried out a wide-ranging anti-corruptionoperation at dawn, detaining 47 officials, politicians, businessmen, andmembers of parliament. Authorities expect the campaign to proceed in furtherphases that may reach more senior figures. The operation follows the arrest offormer Oil Ministry Undersecretary Adnan al-Jumaili, whose case remains underinvestigation. Officials confirmed the seizure of $10 million and 31 billionIraqi dinars (about $23.5 million) linked to the probe.

Read more: Scoop: Iraq anti-corruption drive nets 43 suspects in first phase

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) on Sunday banned twotelevision presenters from appearing on media outlets operating in the countryfor 90 days, citing violations of broadcasting rules.

Documents released by the Commission show that Ahmed Mulla Talal wasbarred, while his program “With Mulla Talal” on UTV Channel was exempted andmay continue with a replacement host.

CMC’s Media Regulation Department pointed to a Facebook post publishedby Mulla Talal on June 27, 2026, regarding Iraq’s participation in the WorldCup, which was deemed offensive to the Iraqi state and in breach of mediabroadcasting regulations.

Talal had already received a warning in March over content aired on thesame program covering the conflict involving Iran, the United States, andIsrael. The episode criticized Iraqi authorities’ position, with the presenterdescribing Baghdad as among the main losers of the conflict.

Separately, the CMC suspended “Voice of the People” on Iraq Al-Hadath TVfor 90 days and imposed a matching ban on its presenter, Marwa Hashem. Amonitoring report on an episode aired on June 24, 2026, found that it contained“inappropriate expressions” inconsistent with the public role of the media.

The regulator also identified violations of provisions related to publicdecency, accuracy, integrity, and respect for privacy, instructing IraqAl-Hadath TV to remove the violations, regularize its legal status, and submita written undertaking within five days of notification.

Iraq ranked 162nd in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders World PressFreedom Index, placing it alongside Sudan and Yemen at the bottom of the globalranking. The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights has previously warned of risingviolations against journalists, including arrests, assaults, kidnappings, andrestrictions on media coverage, citing growing pressure on press freedom and alack of accountability for abuses.

Read more: The New era of control: Can Iraq's free press survive its politically-tainted rulers?

Shafaq News-Al-Anbar

Al-AnbarProvincial Council ordered legal action against people using illegal fishingmethods in the Euphrates River in Ramadi, a local official said on Sunday.

MoayadAl-Dulaimi, spokesperson for the council, told Shafaq News that some violatorsuse prohibited methods, including electric shock devices and explosives, whichkill large numbers of fish and other aquatic life, force fish to migrate toother areas, and disrupt breeding seasons, leading to a decline in fish stocksacross the province.

Environmentalspecialist Sinan Hammoudi warned that illegal fishing is depleting fishpopulations faster than they can naturally recover. The use of banned methods,including electric shock devices, explosives, and toxic substances, “would harmboth fishermen and the local economy by reducing fish production, driving upprices, and increasing reliance on imported fish.”

Read more: Iraq's fish sector faces collapse due to water and disease

Shafaq News- Baghdad

A Kurdish judgewho presided over the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in2006 has been appointed legal adviser to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, aninformed source told Shafaq News on Sunday.

Judge MunirHaddad, a member of the Feyli Kurdish community, a predominantly Shia Kurdishpopulation that endured forced displacement and systematic repression under Saddam’sBaath regime, served as the judicial official who read the death sentence aloudin the execution chamber.

Haddadpreviously held senior positions at the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT), which wasestablished after 2003 to prosecute former regime officials on charges thatincluded the Anfal campaign that killed an estimated 50,000 to 180,000 Kurdishcivilians, along with thousands of Assyrian, Turkmen, and Shabak civilians in1988. He served as head of the IHT's appellate chamber and deputy president ofthe tribunal.

Following theconclusion of the tribunal's work, he remained active as an independent legalvoice, offering constitutional analysis and commentary across Iraqi mediaoutlets and policy research centers before his selection for the advisory post.

Read more: PM al-Zaidi appoints new border ports adviser

Shafaq News- Diyala/ Kirkuk

Hundreds of graduates demonstratedin Iraq's Diyala and Kirkuk provinces on Sunday, demanding government jobs andthe release of new public-sector vacancies.

In Diyala, demonstrators gathered atAl-Fallaha Square in central Baqubah, urging the federal and local governmentsto address graduate unemployment and expedite recruitment. The rally was heldunder tight security without incident.

Protesters in Kirkuk rallied outsidethe provincial building, calling on authorities to give priority in futurerecruitment to older graduates. Speaking to Shafaq News, protester SaeedAbbas affirmed that many graduates had remained unemployed for more than adecade despite holding the required academic qualifications.

“Demonstrators would continuepeaceful protests until authorities take concrete steps to resolve the issue,” saidanother demonstrator, Mustafa Amran.

Read more: Power shortages spark protests in Iraq’s Wasit

Shafaq News- Wasit

Dozens of protesters took to the streets in Kut, the capital of Iraq’sWasit province, demanding improved electricity services and the release ofdetainees arrested during earlier demonstrations, Shafaq News learned onSaturday.

The crowd carried banners calling for a stable power supply and therestoration of Wasit’s share of output from a local thermal power station.

The rally followed days after another bout of unrest in the city, wheredemonstrators shut down the Provincial Council building before security forcesdispersed the crowds using tear gas. A security source also told Shafaq Newsthat Iraqi security forces raided the homes of those involved, detaining morethan 10 individuals.

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights later urged Prime Minister AliAl-Zaidi to halt the arrest campaign, warning that the operations mirror the“violations” linked to Iraq’s 2019 civil movement.

Iraq has witnessed a sharp rise in rally activity in recent months.According to the Verisk Maplecroft Civil Unrest Index, the country recorded thefastest relative increase among emerging markets, with protest events surging671% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026.

Read more: Iraq’s protests: A system that learned how to contain the street

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) on Saturdaycalled on Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi to stop the arrest campaign targetingprotesters in Wasit Province, warning the operations mirror the"violations" committed during Iraq's 2019 civil movement.

In a statement, the observatory pointed to the marches inthe center of Kut, where demonstrators have demanded a larger share ofelectricity supplies for the province. Quoting one of the organizers, the IOHRnoted that activists had faced threats and incitement campaigns on social mediasince the demonstrations began. Another participant said several activists hadleft their homes to avoid arrest for fear of detention warrants or surpriseraids.

Security forces, according to the observatory, launchedwidespread detentions after forcibly dispersing the crowds and injuring dozensof demonstrators.

Iraq has witnessed a sharp rise in rally activity in recentmonths. According to Verisk Maplecroft's Civil Unrest Index, the countryrecorded the fastest relative increase among emerging markets, with protestevents surging 671% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026.

Read more: Iraq’s protests: A system that learned how to contain the street

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Fuel stationinvestors in Iraq called on Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi on Saturday tointervene urgently to stop a daily "major theft" linked to fuelsupply shortages.

In a statement, theinvestors said fuel stations that purchase a 36,000-liter tanker from the OilProducts Distribution Company receive only between 35,000 and 35,500 liters,causing significant financial losses.

“Instead ofaddressing the shortage, the company sends committees to record the missingquantities as violations and fine the stations four times the value, althoughthe shortfall originates from the supplied quantities.”

Iraq has facedshortages of regular and premium gasoline since late May, with long queuesforming at fuel stations. The Oil Ministry attributed the crisis to regionaldevelopments and the suspension of a key refinery project, which reducedhigh-octane gasoline supplies by up to five million liters per day, whilemotorists increasingly turned to the black market amid limited fuelavailability.

Read more: Gasoline shortage revives Baghdad's black market

Shafaq News- Najaf

Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources agreed to restore normal operations at the Al-Yaou water regulator within 48 hours and release additional water from the Haditha Dam after the closure sparked concerns over water shortages in southern Iraq.

Dhi Qar MP Hassan al-Asadi told Shafaq News the agreement followed talks with the water resources minister and senior ministry officials, adding that the ministry had pledged to return conditions to normal within two days and assigned the head of its National Water Resources Center to oversee the issue.

Read more: No longer seasonal: When the rivers stop, villages follow

Earlier today, Dhi Qar provincial council member Abdul Baqi al-Omari warned that closing the regulator in Najaf could worsen water shortages, damage agriculture, and threaten the southern marshlands during the peak summer season. Speaking to Shafaq News, he urged authorities to reverse the decision, saying the regulator had remained operational for more than 13 years.

Read more: Iraq’s water crisis: A structural rewrite of agricultural governance

Water regulators are among Iraq's most important structures for controlling water, a concern made sharper by scarcity, particularly in summer. As part of the country's irrigation network, regulators are built on irrigation canals, at their heads, at various points along their course, or at the upstream face of barrages on rivers, their tributaries, and their branches. The regulator operates according to the required water quantities and distributes them to secondary canals based on the needs of the irrigation projects it serves.

The Al-Yaou distributes water shares among the provinces of Al-Diwaniyah, Dhi Qar, and Saladin.

Shafaq News- Dhi Qar

Water hyacinth has once again spread across a stretch of the Euphrates River in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province, despite recent government efforts to remove the invasive plant.

Photos taken by Shafaq News correspondent show the fast-growing aquatic weed covering the river beneath Al-Zaytoun Bridge in central Nasiriyah, with no visible cleanup activity underway.

Local authorities closed Al-Zaytoun Bridge for 24 hours earlier this week to dredge the river and remove water hyacinth, reeds, and sediment.

Native to South America, water hyacinth is one of the world's most invasive aquatic plants. It forms dense mats that block sunlight, reduce oxygen levels in the water, disrupt ecosystems, and threaten fish stocks.

Read more: Invasive alien plant threatens Iraq’s marshes

Shafaq News- Kirkuk

Kirkuk International Airport has launched its first directflight to Beirut, operated by Iraqi Airways, the Airport Administrationreported on Sunday.

The Beirut route joins existing Iraq–Lebanonconnections operating from other airports, including Baghdad InternationalAirport, along with select services from Basra International Airport and NajafInternational Airport.

Shafaq News- Milano

Iraqi judicial cooperation with international partners hashelped uncover and prevent terrorist crimes in several Arab and Europeancountries, as well as the United States, Iraq's Supreme Judicial CouncilPresident Faiq Zaidan stated on Saturday.

Speaking during a dialogue session of Arab supreme courtpresidents in Milan, Italy, Zaidan said Iraq's Constitution and the SupremeJudicial Council Law guarantee the full independence of the judiciary, makingit a separate authority free from interference by the legislative and executivebranches or any other entity.

He also highlighted the establishment of the National Centerfor International Judicial Cooperation, describing it as the council's mainplatform for cross-border judicial coordination. The center facilitates theexchange of judicial information and evidence, processes requests for legal assistance,and supports the recovery of fugitives, assets, and the investigation oftransnational cases.

ShafaqNews- Al-Anbar

Constructionof the long-awaited 200-bed Heet General Hospital in Iraq's Al-Anbar provincehas reached 72% completion, raising hopes among residents who have spent yearstraveling to other cities for medical treatment, an Iraqi official told ShafaqNews on Saturday.

YasserDailan, director of the engineering department at the Al-Anbar HealthDirectorate, indicated that work on the project is progressing as planned,noting that the remaining tasks include completing infrastructure works andinstalling medical equipment and other hospital requirements.

“Theproject remains on track for completion in April 2027,” he explained, notingthat the hospital could open earlier if infrastructure works are completed inthe near term.

Forresidents of Heet, the project represents more than a new building. It offersthe prospect of easier access to healthcare closer to home, reducing the needto travel to Ramadi, Haditha, or Baghdad for treatment.

Speakingto Shafaq News, civil activist Iyad al-Rawi described the latest progress asencouraging but stressed the importance of accelerating the remaining work tomeet growing healthcare needs. He alsonoted that thousands of residents travel outside the city each day for medicalexaminations, surgical procedures, and specialized treatment, placing financialand emotional strain on many families.

“Theabsence of a fully equipped hospital creates challenges for emergency patients,who often require transportation over long distances to receive urgent care,”he remarked, urging contractors, the Ministry of Health, and local authoritiesto remove any obstacles that could delay infrastructure works or theinstallation of medical equipment.

Read more: Iraq’s healthcare system nears collapse: Doctors leave, hospitals overflow

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's parliament plans to hold a special session toaddress worsening pollution in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers amid growingconcerns over its impact on public health, ecosystems, and the country's waterresources.

According to the Iraq Green Observatory, Baez Ismail,the most senior member of parliament's Agriculture, Water Resources, Marshes,and Environment Committee, revealed that the committee will meet after thecurrent legislative recess ends on July 1 before requesting an extraordinaryparliamentary session attended by officials from the Environment Ministry andother relevant agencies to examine the causes of the pollution and proposecorrective measures.

Calling the issue “one of Iraq's most seriousenvironmental challenges,” Ismail warned that pollutants discharged into theTigris and Euphrates have reached unprecedented levels, threatening nearbycommunities, agriculture, and aquatic life.

A specialized environmental team recently identified54 violations and contamination hotspots along the Euphrates River between theIraq-Syria border and Haditha Lake, environmental expert Samim Salam Abu Furattold Shafaq News earlier this month. The four-day survey, which relied on GPSmapping and satellite imagery, documented untreated sewage discharges, illegalsand quarries causing riverbank erosion, dumping of poultry waste and animalcarcasses, unlicensed fish ponds, construction debris obstructing water flow,and widespread agricultural and residential encroachments along the riverbanks.

Read more: The cost of filth: Iraq among the world’s most polluted nations

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Online shopping has rapidly evolved from a niche convenience into one of Iraq's fastest-growing retail sectors, driven by rising smartphone use, expanding internet access, and social media platforms that have become virtual marketplaces.

The boom has widened consumer choice and created thousands of jobs in delivery, warehousing, and digital marketing. Yet the sector's rapid growth has also exposed buyers to fraud, counterfeit products, and weak consumer protections, leaving confidence in Iraq's e-commerce market increasingly fragile.

Unlike many countries, Iraq's online retail market relies heavily on cash on delivery, allowing customers to order goods without bank cards or digital payment services. While the model has fueled the sector's expansion, it has also enabled unverified sellers and fake online stores to flourish.

Government employee Asmaa Ali told Shafaq News she now shops online regularly to save time but only buys from pages with strong customer ratings after previously receiving products that failed to match their advertised quality.

University student Baraa al-Hassan described a common scam in which online sellers advertise professional product images at attractive prices before requesting only a customer's name, province, and phone number for delivery.

"When the order arrives, it's completely different from what was advertised," she said. "The delivery driver cannot accept returns, and when I try contacting the seller, the page has disappeared or stops responding." She called for stronger government oversight and legislation to combat online fraud.

Delivery workers say they are frequently caught in disputes despite having no role in the sale itself. "Our job begins only after we receive the package," delivery driver Khaled Mahmoud told Shafaq News, explaining that couriers simply collect payments and hand the money back to delivery companies in exchange for transport fees.

He said customers often refuse deliveries after discovering products differ from their online descriptions, while drivers have no authority to process returns or replacements.

Ali Hussein, who works as an intermediary between sellers and buyers, said most disputes stem from sellers failing to deliver products matching their advertisements. The problem becomes nearly impossible to resolve when online pages disappear after completing a sale.

Economic analyst Ali Khalil said Iraq's e-commerce industry has become “one of the country's fastest-growing sectors,” with tens of thousands of online purchases taking place every day. He estimated the market generated more than $700 million in revenue in 2024 and could exceed $1 billion within the next few years if digital adoption continues at its current pace.

However, Khalil warned that 60-70% of online purchases still rely on cash on delivery, reflecting “consumers' reluctance to pay before inspecting goods.” He argued that sustainable growth will depend on legislation requiring online retailers to adopt transparent return and exchange policies, register with official authorities, and strengthen consumer protections against fraud.

Shafaq News- Karbala

The 1,500-year-old Al-Aqiser Church, one of Iraq's oldestsurviving Christian churches, has been placed on Iraq's list of priorityrestoration sites as climate change and years of neglect continue to accelerateits deterioration.

During a 2025 inspection, a technical committee from Iraq'sMinistry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities classified the church amongarchaeological sites requiring emergency conservation, although restorationwork still depends on the allocation of government funding, according to theKarbala Antiquities and Heritage Directorate.

Al-Aqiser stands within a sprawling walled monastery in Ainal-Tamr district, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Karbala and roughly 5kilometers from the historic Al-Ukhaidir Fortress. Archaeologists date thechurch to the late fifth or early sixth century AD, making it one of Iraq'searliest surviving basilica-style churches. Its entrance is marked bydistinctive oval arches, while the surrounding monastery stretches acrossnearly 15,000 square meters and is protected by defensive towers.

Ahmed Hassan Jaber, director of the Karbala Antiquities andHeritage Directorate, told Shafaq News that the complex requires excavation,restoration, and rehabilitation before it can become a fully recognizedarchaeological and tourist destination.

Read more: Iraqis long for the world's oldest churches and temples

Years of limited funding have prevented any large-scaleconservation work, he said, adding that authorities managed to install aprotective fence around the monastery and the surrounding archaeologicalsettlement in 2023 to reduce encroachment, “but the site has suffered repeateddamage since 2003, when looters dug into burial grounds east of the complexbefore security forces intervened.”

The main church, built from stone and plaster, measuresabout 42 meters (138 feet) in length and 9 meters in width. It sits inside afortified compound that also includes monks' cells, residential quarters, asmall funerary church, and service buildings, according to Dr. Muntasir Sabahal-Hasnawi, director general of the Conference Palace at the Ministry ofCulture, Tourism and Antiquities.

“A dry valley cuts through the archaeological complex, whilenearby seasonal water sources are believed to have influenced the monastery'soriginal location centuries ago,” he told Shafaq News, pointing out that due toits location in the western desert, Al-Aqiser is exposed to risingtemperatures, stronger solar radiation, declining rainfall, and frequent duststorms, all of which have accelerated the deterioration of its fragilestructure.

Al-Hasnawi said sharp temperature swings between day andnight are causing the greatest damage, as repeated expansion and contractioncrack the stone and gradually loosen sections of the wall. Wind carrying sandand dust steadily erodes exposed surfaces, while chemical weathering continuesto weaken plaster and clay elements throughout the complex. Illegal excavationsand the site's use during years of conflict have added to the deterioration.

Beyond its architectural value, Al-Aqiser offers a rareglimpse into Iraq's pre-Islamic Christian heritage. The monastery is associatedwith the Lakhmid Kingdom of al-Hira, the Arab Christian state that ruled partsof Mesopotamia before the rise of Islam. Syriac inscriptions and carved crossesremain visible on sections of the walls, reflecting the region'slong-established Christian presence centuries before Iraq became predominantlyMuslim.

“Preserving the church will require more than repairingdamaged walls.” He called for drainage projects to divert rainwater, protectivemeasures against flooding and wind erosion, and the creation of green belts toslow the movement of desert sand.

The church is only one of several archaeological landmarksin Ain al-Tamr. Nearby attractions, including Al-Ukhaidir Fortress, the Al-TarCaves, and Shimun Palace, could form the basis of a broader heritage tourismroute if roads, visitor facilities, and basic services were developed.

Read more: Christians of Iraq: Where did they go?

Shafaq News- Al-Anbar

The rapid growth of water hyacinth across waterwaysconnected to the Euphrates River in western Al-Anbar province has raisedenvironmental concerns over its impact on water flow and intake facilities.

Environmental specialist Ahmed Al-Alwani told Shafaq News onFriday that water hyacinth is among the most dangerous invasive aquatic plantsthreatening Iraq's environment because of its ability to reproduce rapidly,particularly in slow-moving rivers and canals.

The plant forms a dense layer across the water surface,blocking sunlight from reaching aquatic organisms and vegetation below,reducing oxygen levels, disrupting the river's ecological balance, andthreatening biodiversity and fish stocks, Al-Alwani explained. He added thatwater hyacinth consumes large amounts of water and nutrients, placingadditional pressure on Iraq's already strained water resources. Beyond its environmentalimpact, the plant obstructs water movement in rivers and canals, affects waterintake stations and treatment projects, and causes sediment and debris toaccumulate around hydraulic infrastructure, increasing maintenance and operatingcosts.

According to Al-Alwani, effective control requires continuedmechanical removal campaigns, regular monitoring of vulnerable areas, andmeasures to stop the plant from spreading to new locations through waterways. “Long-termsolutions depend on integrated control plans led by the Ministries ofAgriculture and Water Resources, with close coordination between governmentinstitutions and local administrations.”

Amir Al-Hassoun, director general of the EnvironmentalAwareness and Media Department at the Ministry of Environment, told Shafaq Newsthat the ministry continues to urge the Ministries of Agriculture, WaterResources, Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works to implementpreventive measures.

Mahmoud Salem, director of Al-Anbar Water Directorate,described the infestation of water hyacinth in Al-Amiriyah as a"moderate-risk" environmental issue, similar to other pollutantscarried into the river from upstream areas before multiplying rapidly. He indicatedthe directorate, in cooperation with the district administration and the WaterResources Directorate, has launched an extensive campaign to contain theproblem.

Salem noted that the plant obstructs water intake structuressupplying drinking water projects, requiring extensive field operations toremove it, while expressing confidence that existing infestations would be eliminatedwithin the coming days.

Authorities in Al-Amiriyah have been conducting waterhyacinth removal campaigns for several weeks with the participation of thedistrict administration, Al-Anbar Water Directorate, and the Water ResourcesDirectorate.

Shafaq News- Karbala

The security plan for Ashura commemorations in Karbala wassuccessfully implemented, the head of Iraq's Supreme Committee for MajorPilgrimages stated on Friday.

Qais Al-Mohammadawi said the plan featured direct andeffective field supervision by commanders from the Ministries of Defense andInterior, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), supporting security units, andvolunteers, ensuring a secure environment across all operational sectors andaccess routes leading to the city.

Authorities in Karbala provided care to more than 25,000patients and pilgrims, performed 195 surgeries, recorded 71 births, andcollected 1,721 units of blood through donation campaigns to support the Ashuraemergency measures. In Najaf, medics treated nearly 49,700 people between theseventh and tenth of Muharram.

Millions of Shiite Muslims marked Ashura on Friday,commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, his brothers, sons, andcompanions, who were killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD (61 AH), one ofthe defining events in Shiite Islam.

Read more: Tatbir: Ashura blood that Shiites call sacred and sinful

Shafaq News-Kirkuk

KirkukInternational Airport operated its first direct flight to the Turkish city ofTrabzon on Friday, while also receiving a domestic airline, according toairport media official Hardi al-Salehi.

Both movementsare part of a broader plan to expand regional and international routes andattract more carriers to the airport, al-Salehi told Shafaq News.

The Trabzonlaunch follows a direct route to Dubai opened earlier this week and comesmonths after the airport resumed international operations in May following asuspension of more than two months caused by aviation risks linked to theUS-Israeli war on Iran. The facility also introduced nighttime flightoperations for the first time during that same period.

Airportmanagement is continuing efforts to increase destinations and regular flights,to meet growing travel demand and support economic, commercial, and tourismactivity in Kirkuk, al-Salehi concluded.

Read more: Iraq airspace closure costs $43 million during US-Israel war on Iran

Shafaq News-Basra

Basra GovernorAsaad al-Eidani rejected circulating reports that he donated dozens of newvehicles to Kuwait's Border Security and Coast Guard Directorate.

The fabricatedimages showed transporters carrying Tahoe-model vehicles bearing banners withhis photo and the inscription: "A gift to Kuwaiti Interior Minister FahadYusuf al-Sabah, to strengthen cooperation and support border securitypersonnel." The governor stated in an audio recording that the images areentirely false and without any factual basis.

Shafaq News- Al-Anbar

Civil Defense teams in western Iraq's Al-Anbarprovince have removed 1,593 unexploded munitions since January 1, 2026, MohammedTariq, media officer for the provincial Civil Defense Directorate, told ShafaqNews on Friday.

Iraqi Army's Field Engineering Battalion, Tariq noted,had destroyed 897 explosive remnants under approved technical and securityprocedures, while clearance operations continue in coordination with relevantagencies.

Speaking to Shafaq News, mine action and explosives specialistMohammed Ali said removing war remnants remains essential in areas affected byprevious military operations, warning that buried explosives can remain activefor decades and continue to endanger residents, farmers, shepherds, andreconstruction workers.

“Completing the cleanup would help restore farmland,support the return of displaced families, and facilitate reconstruction,” Aliadded, calling for continued field inspections, specialized equipment, andbroader public awareness campaigns encouraging residents to avoid suspiciousobjects and immediately notify the authorities.

Iraq remains among the world's most heavilycontaminated countries with explosive remnants of war. The United Nations MineAction Service (UNMAS) estimates that about 2,733 square kilometers of landremain contaminated following successive conflicts, including the Iran-IraqWar, the 1991 Gulf War, post-2003 violence, and the campaign against ISIS.

Official figures show that more than 30,000 peoplehave been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Iraq since2003.

Read more: Floods unearth Iraq’s hidden mines, reviving a wartime threat