WIRE
RUDAWIraq customs revenues hit $1.9 billion in first seven months of 202634MSHAFAQAl-Diwaniyah to become Iraq's agricultural capital49MTHE NEW REGIONOver 600 tribal sheikhs cooperated in Iraqi weapons registration initiative: Interior ministry59MSHAFAQPanel to inspect Iraq’s Jurf Al-Sakhar disputed land3HSHAFAQIran, Oman establish Strait of Hormuz navigation map3HSHAFAQState of Law names candidates for Iraq’s vacant ministries3HSHAFAQIraq forms new Saudi-border command after PMF withdrawal4HSHAFAQTurkiye pledges stronger ties with Kurds across region4HASHARQ AL-AWSATBaghdad and Erbil Strengthen Coordination on Border Security and Combating Smuggling4HSHAFAQNineveh targets investment for new refinery firms5HRUDAWErbil, Baghdad hold high-level talks on implementation of Iraq-Iran security pact5HSHAFAQ$1.26B hospital projects under corruption scrutiny5HBASNEWSIraq-Kurdistan Security Committee Meets in Erbil as ASYCUDA Implementation Nears Final Approval6HKURDISTAN24After the Coalition: Iraq's Harder Fight Over Weapons and Power6HKURDISTAN24Iraq's Arms Dispute Takes a 'Quid Pro Quo' Turn in Political Ads6HKURDISTAN24Iraq Customs Revenue Jumps as ASYCUDA Drives Record Growth6H
Iraq Monitorعين على العراقPrimary-source intelligence
THE BRIEFING · A PERMANENT EDITION

Saturday, 15 August 2026

EVENING EDITION

The Daily Digest

On 15 August, Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) carried calls to investigate a reported Saudi strike on PMF sites and to question officials over PMF decisions and camp relocations; the channel’s interventions named no militia claim of responsibility for the reported strike. Iraq also formed a new command on the Saudi border after the PMF withdrawal, while the government fast-tracked air-defense upgrades following recent strikes. Separately, the Badr Organization (Iran-aligned Iraqi militia) rejected using force to disarm armed groups.

On the economy, Iran and Oman established a Strait of Hormuz navigation map; the latest PortWatch observation recorded one vessel transiting on 9 August. Separately, Iraq’s Oil Ministry signed with Japan’s JGC to resume the FCC project.

Iraq’s customs revenues reached $1.9 billion in the first seven months of 2026, with a separate report attributing record customs growth to ASYCUDA. The desk’s latest partner-mirror import reading was $3,099,044,681.902 in December 2024, while world wheat was $310 per metric ton in July.

THINGS TO WATCH
PortWatch publishes a Strait of Hormuz daily-transit reading above one vessellow likelihoodhigh impactThe Iran-Oman navigation arrangement follows a PortWatch observation of one vessel transiting the strait, so a subsequent recorded increase would show whether movement has begun to recover.

The Militia Digest

Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) carried calls on 15 August to investigate a reported Saudi strike on PMF sites. One guest demanded that Faleh al-Fayyad be questioned and officials responsible for PMF decisions and camp relocations referred to the judiciary; two others sought disclosure and an investigation. The channel’s interventions named no militia claim of responsibility for the reported strike.

Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official) said it would not surrender weapons and challenged an unnamed counterpart. The post set no named opponent, action or timetable.

On the Jurf al-Nasr file, Shafaq reported that a panel will inspect disputed land in Jurf al-Sakhar. That is a state inspection step after militia-linked channels amplified opposition to return and resettlement language around the area.

The Interior Ministry said more than 600 tribal sheikhs cooperated in a weapons-registration initiative. The reported 600-plus participants contrast with the day’s weapons-retention messages from militia channels.

On the security file, Shafaq reported that Iraq formed a new Saudi-border command after a PMF withdrawal. The report identifies a new border command, but gives no further detail on the withdrawing PMF formation.

Twelve of 34 watched channels across five networks have surged on Israel since 10 August. The desk count adds Israel to the Iran, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Strait of Hormuz themes already elevated this week.

THINGS TO WATCH
AAH or Sadiqoun files a named parliamentary request on the reported Saudi strikemedium likelihoodhigh impactAAH’s programming carried demands for questioning, disclosure and judicial referrals over the reported strike.
The Jurf al-Sakhar inspection panel issues findings or an inspection datemedium likelihoodhigh impactA reported panel to inspect disputed land provides a defined official process that can produce a public next step.
Interior Ministry publishes a further weapons-registration figure or district breakdownmedium likelihoodmedium impactThe ministry publicly counted more than 600 tribal sheikhs in the initiative.
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