The Daily Digest
Hadi al-Amiri (Badr Organization — secretary-general) said on August 29 that parliament would legislate a Popular Mobilization Forces law with the prime minister’s support. As recorded in the companion Militia Digest, the prime-ministerial-support claim remains unconfirmed by the prime minister’s office, and no bill has been filed. The companion digest carries the militia channels’ handling of al-Amiri’s remarks. Separately, Saudi Arabia warned on August 29 of possible attacks by Iraqi armed groups.
On the economy, an adviser to the prime minister estimated Iraq’s 2026 foreign reserves at $79.2 billion. Another adviser said salaries and state payments benefiting 40 million Iraqis cost $5.88 billion each month, setting that monthly burden against the reserve estimate.
On the economy, the Central Bank of Iraq ordered asset freezes against 12 political figures on August 28. Washington confirmed a former Iraqi finance minister’s terrorism-watchlist placement after he denied it, while a former Iraqi diplomat said Iraq must choose whether to comply with US sanctions on Iran.
In the north, Kurdistan Region oil production rebounded as the Kurdistan Regional Government pressed for gasoline priced at 450 dinars on August 29.
On the economy, desk customs observations put Iraqi sales to the United States at $844,309 in June 2026 and sales to the UAE at $5,651,169,461.214 in January 2023; separate observations recorded Türkiye’s sales to Iran at $308,357,815 in December 2025 and Iran’s sales to India at $58,330,306.793 in June 2026. Iraqi and Syrian commerce chambers also signed a trade and investment agreement on August 29.
On the security file, Iraqi authorities reported arrests on August 28 and 29 over a Baghdad shooting that killed two officers during an anti-encroachment operation. The reports described one alleged perpetrator apprehended and four people arrested over the shootout.