The Daily Digest

Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada reportedly made weapons regulation conditional on ten demands on August 29. Reports identified the withdrawal of US and Turkish forces among the terms; the companion Militia Digest carries the full reported list and the faction’s assertion that its weapons could return when necessary. Hadi al-Amiri (Badr Organization — secretary-general) subsequently called weapons policy a domestic decision and ruled out a government-faction clash.

On the economy, the prime minister ordered faster work on strategic oil pipelines, while a Kurdistan Region minister said regional production had returned to normal. The Kurdistan Regional Government demanded an end to what it called discriminatory federal crude pricing, and reported Iraqi crude exports to the United States fell back to zero after one week.

On the domestic front, Iraqi authorities sentenced a former lawmaker and a former oil official to seven years, and the prime minister directed that corruption whistleblowers be rewarded. Authorities separately closed 158 unlicensed private institutes.

In the north, EUAM Iraq said its Kurdistan mission would remain for at least two more years. A Kurdistan Region minister said Washington had made no final decision on suspending Peshmerga aid, while Iraq’s national security adviser described Peshmerga arms as constitutional.

THINGS TO WATCH

Washington issues a final decision on Peshmerga aidmedium likelihoodhigh impactA Kurdistan Region minister said Washington had made no final decision on suspending the assistance, leaving a US decision or formal notification as the settling occurrence.

A named Iraqi armed group claims an attack on Saudi Arabialow likelihoodhigh impactSaudi Arabia warned of possible attacks by Iraqi armed groups, so an attack claim filed under a named faction brand would substantiate the warned-of threat.

Weekly data record renewed Iraqi crude exports to the United Statesmedium likelihoodmedium impactReported Iraqi crude exports to the United States fell back to zero after one week, making the next weekly shipment figure the test of whether exports resumed.

Baghdad formally answers the KRG crude-pricing demandmedium likelihoodmedium impactThe Kurdistan Regional Government demanded that Baghdad end what it called discrimination in crude pricing, leaving a federal pricing decision or formal response to settle the dispute’s immediate status.