The Daily Digest
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered higher security readiness after the U.S.-led coalition mission ended on 30 September. Iraq Oil Report described continuing ISIS activity across Anbar, Kirkuk, Salahaddin and Diyala, drawing on dozens of incident reports from Iraqi security officials over the past month. A Peshmerga commander also warned on Thursday of an air-defence gap and the ISIS threat. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein meanwhile said Iraq was confident it would bring armed groups’ weapons under state control by 30 June 2027. He described a government plan to disarm the factions and integrate them into the security forces.
Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada committed on Thursday to the signed agreement and the commander-in-chief’s address, unless the other party breached its obligations. Haidar al-Gharawi (Ansar Allah al-Awfiya — secretary-general) separately committed to ending military operations inside Iraq according to timelines agreed by the factions, the Coordination Framework committee and the government. Neither statement announces a weapons handover under those commitments. Nujaba reaffirmed the military option to expel U.S. and allied forces on Thursday and rejected a continuing American presence through security companies or advisers. That differs from Kataib Hezbollah’s 30 September order to suspend operations, except against hostile aircraft violating Iraqi airspace until government air defences were complete. On legislation, the Sadiqoun bloc (AAH — parliamentary bloc) asked on Friday for a PMF-law vote at the first parliamentary session after the sovereignty holiday, following the cabinet’s referral of the bill. The bloc also endorsed state control of force, institutional handling of weapons and exclusive constitutional authority over war and peace.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a strong security and economic partnership with Baghdad and Erbil. At Thursday’s Baghdad ceremony marking the coalition mission’s conclusion, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani thanked the United States, the coalition and other allies for their support against ISIS. He called for a stronger Baghdad–Erbil partnership and state authority over security, war and peace. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi also confirmed that a new shipment of cash dollars arrived from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Wednesday, advancing the late-September understanding under which another delivery was still expected. He said the delivery followed understandings reached during al-Zaidi’s recent U.S. visit. The funds will largely support travel-related activities and foreign transfers approved by the Central Bank of Iraq.
National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji said on Thursday that Iraq had completed initial investigations into 5,704 people it agreed in February 2026 to transfer from northeastern Syria over alleged ISIS links. Speaking at a coalition meeting in Rome, he said authorities had contacted diplomatic missions to verify nationalities and complete case files before court proceedings. He urged governments to take responsibility for their nationals and provide logistical support to ease prison overcrowding. Hussein separately raised repatriation with U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin in Washington, stressing international cooperation to return detainees to their countries of origin. The New Region described detainees of 67 nationalities, while al-Araji described suspects from 62 countries. Al-Araji said Iraq would handle cases under Iraqi law, bilateral agreements and reciprocity, but could not carry the responsibility alone.
Oil-tracking company Kpler recorded average non-Iranian crude flows from Iraq and Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz of 13.5 million barrels per day between 22 and 28 September. That was comparable to levels before the war between Iran, the United States and Israel began in late February 2026. Tankers were passing with U.S. escorts, although overall maritime traffic remained below pre-war levels and vessels still faced attack risks. In Mosul, however, drivers and residents said gasoline shortages were nearing the end of their first month. Taxi driver Abu Mohammed described waits of two hours on some mornings and four or five on others. Those queues continue after the Oil Ministry said imported gasoline from Syria was entering Iraq and covering domestic demand.