The Militia Digest
Iraq and the United States signed an agreement on Thursday to transfer the US Embassy’s diplomatic-support centre at Baghdad airport to Iraqi control. Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) and Al-Ittijah TV (KH — official) said a handover followed strikes by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq against US bases. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry described the agreement as part of preparations to end the coalition mission. Alsumaria reported that Baghdad had received the site, while a Friday account of the ministry’s announcement described an agreement to transfer it. Sabereen later said it would investigate whether the current handover reports were true. The coalition mission is scheduled to end on 30 September.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump met privately in New York, according to elmanshar.com. The outlet placed the meeting beside a reported shift of Iraq’s weapons-control target to 30 June 2027, but did not establish that the two leaders discussed it. That target had already appeared in reports on al-Zaidi’s plan; his security adviser Qasim al-Araji had earlier said the weapons committee had no fixed completion deadline. The Badr parliamentary bloc renewed its support for government control of weapons, without announcing a handover or vote. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that armed forces outside state institutions risked fragmenting Iraq, according to Shafaq News. On Al-Janoub TV (Harakat al-Jihad wal-Bina — official), guest Qasim al-Aboudi accused Coordination Framework leaders of following a US agenda on weapons control; fellow guest Adel al-Manea called his view extreme and biased.
Three Iraqi airports suspended Iranian flights starting Friday, Reuters reported, citing sources and state media. Kataib Hezbollah, according to Shafaq News and WANA, called on Iraqis to buy Iranian products and expand trade with Iran in response to what it called a US siege. It also asked Shiite religious authorities to rule on assistance to those restrictions. The purchasing and trade appeal specified actions for Iraqis, rather than announcing that an organized campaign had begun.
Iraq and Turkey agreed to a gradual transfer of the Bashiqa-Zilkan camp to Iraq’s federal government, drawing different readings from faction channels. Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) described an agreement for Turkish forces to leave Zilkan and Bashiqa. iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) called the reported departure from Zilkan the beginning of the end for Turkish forces in Iraq. Al-Janoub TV questioned Ankara’s seriousness, citing other Turkish bases and the Kurdistan Region’s position. Guests on Al-Ahad offered further claims: Haidar al-Barzanji said Turkey had requested three months to withdraw, while Hamza Takin said withdrawal had begun. The Iraqi-Turkish statement gave no handover date.
Badr’s parliamentary bloc denied reports of defections after the reported submission and withdrawal of bloc chief Mahdi Taqi al-Amarli’s parliamentary resignation. Its spokesman, carried by Al-Ghadeer TV (Badr Organization — official), said the bloc remained united under Badr secretary-general Hadi al-Amiri. A follow-up acknowledged differences over parliamentary matters but rejected calling them a split. Shafaq News had reported that al-Amiri ordered al-Amarli’s resignation letter withdrawn. The bloc’s denial of defections does not settle whether al-Amarli left Badr.
Separately, Sadiqoun MP Safaa al-Jabri said his bloc had gathered 80 signatures to question the oil minister. He told Al-Ahad TV that the minister and senior staff had not answered technical questions. The new tally exceeds the more than 60 signatures Sadiqoun previously cited. MP Abu Turab al-Tamimi, carried by Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated), praised the minister’s handling of the economic crisis and his choice of senior officials. That was al-Tamimi’s defence, not a Badr Organization statement. Meanwhile, an Iraqi oil source said a first batch of gasoline for import through Syria had reached Baniyas for onward transport to Iraq.