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KURDISTAN24Kurd Appointed Head of Iraq’s Military Academy for First Time in History12M THE NEW ARABIraq's Al-Zaidi meets MBS in Riyadh to discuss security and investment57M SHAFAQKurdistan Region drafts strategy to protect minorities1H KURDISTAN24Iraq Dismantles Two Human Trafficking Networks, Foils Sale of Two Newborns1H THE NEW REGIONIraqi security service foils sales of infants by human trafficking rings2H 964 MEDIABody including BP takes over four Kirkuk oilfields, targeting 450,000 bpd2H SHAFAQUSD/IQD edges up in Baghdad and Erbil2H SHAFAQWeapons, explosives cache seized inside Baghdad Husseiniya2H SHAFAQCounterfeit Iraqi dinars raise market fears, prompt crackdown2H ANADOLUIraq, Saudi Arabia discuss strengthening border security coordination3H THE NEW ARABCould the US exit from Iraq fuel an Islamic State resurgence?3H KURDISTAN24Prime Minister Barzani Meets Syrian Al-Ghad Movement Leader4H AMWAJPundit’s sniping at ‘resistance’ leaders exposes Iraqi factions’ rift over arms4H IRAQI NEWSBP to help Iraq produce 450,000 barrels per day from Kirkuk oilfields4H SHAFAQBaghdad markets remain deserted after dollar rate hike4H IRAQI NEWSErbil to get first Mövenpick resort under Accor, KRD Holding deal4HKURDISTAN24Kurd Appointed Head of Iraq’s Military Academy for First Time in History12M THE NEW ARABIraq's Al-Zaidi meets MBS in Riyadh to discuss security and investment57M SHAFAQKurdistan Region drafts strategy to protect minorities1H KURDISTAN24Iraq Dismantles Two Human Trafficking Networks, Foils Sale of Two Newborns1H THE NEW REGIONIraqi security service foils sales of infants by human trafficking rings2H 964 MEDIABody including BP takes over four Kirkuk oilfields, targeting 450,000 bpd2H SHAFAQUSD/IQD edges up in Baghdad and Erbil2H SHAFAQWeapons, explosives cache seized inside Baghdad Husseiniya2H SHAFAQCounterfeit Iraqi dinars raise market fears, prompt crackdown2H ANADOLUIraq, Saudi Arabia discuss strengthening border security coordination3H THE NEW ARABCould the US exit from Iraq fuel an Islamic State resurgence?3H KURDISTAN24Prime Minister Barzani Meets Syrian Al-Ghad Movement Leader4H AMWAJPundit’s sniping at ‘resistance’ leaders exposes Iraqi factions’ rift over arms4H IRAQI NEWSBP to help Iraq produce 450,000 barrels per day from Kirkuk oilfields4H SHAFAQBaghdad markets remain deserted after dollar rate hike4H IRAQI NEWSErbil to get first Mövenpick resort under Accor, KRD Holding deal4H

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IRAQ MONITOR · THE BRIEFING

The Militia Digest

THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2026 · DAILY EDITION

The Militia Digest

Kataib Hezbollah’s Hoquq bloc announced a boycott of today’s vote to complete Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet through Al-Ittijah TV (KH — official). Hoquq MP Miqdad al-Khafaji (KH — parliamentary bloc), who had personally pledged a boycott on Tuesday, rejected additional ministries and government posts as a budget burden. MP Noor Adel criticized new ministries and deputy-prime-minister posts, citing more than 1,000 mud-built and prefabricated schools and urging spending on schools, hospitals and medicines. Sadiqoun lawmaker Safaa al-Jabri (AAH), by contrast, expressed hope that AAH’s deputy-prime-minister candidate Laith al-Khazali would eventually become prime minister. He also reported efforts to remove al-Khazali from U.S. sanctions lists. The cabinet-completion vote is scheduled for later today.

Sadiqoun political-bureau member Mahdi al-Husseini (AAH) called on Wednesday for institutionalizing the PMF and passing its law, speaking on Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official). He said everyone agreed on legislating the law. That followed Sadiqoun general-body member Hakim al-Muhammadawi’s (AAH — Sadiqoun) Tuesday warning of mass demonstrations if the law was not passed. Al-Ain News, however, reported that the Coordination Framework had postponed passing the bill following U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s visit. The report cited unnamed political sources close to the Framework and government, who said al-Zaidi had briefed Framework leaders on his discussions with Barrack.

Separately, KH security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf . He also . He . Al-Assaf . Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) subsequently .

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asked on Wednesday whether al-Zaidi would support Iran or remain neutral if the United States and Israel again attacked it through Iraqi airspace

asked whether the government would pursue Iraqi youths joining Iran’s defence

questioned the government’s positions on the U.S. blockade of Iran and Saudi conduct in Yemen

called for annual days to burn and trample American and Israeli flags

reported that fighters at defensive berms were burning an American flag in response to his appeal

iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) on Wednesday headlined a message from adviser Hamid al-Rafiq to Saudi Arabia that its alliances would not help it. His remarks contrasted with al-Zaidi’s assurance that Iraq would not allow attacks on Saudi Arabia from its territory. Reconstruction and Development Coalition member Amir al-Rubaie relayed the territorial assurance on Al-Ahad. During Wednesday’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, al-Zaidi renewed Iraq’s condemnation of the attack on King Khalid International Airport. Al-Ahad also said the visit opened the possibility of restarting the Iraqi-Saudi pipeline toward Yanbu.

Separately, al-Khafaji said today that the dollar’s rise had increased passport fees and HEPIQ platform charges. He criticized citizens being made to pay for contracts he described as unfair. A report citing an unnamed informed source put the passport-fee increase at 10,000 dinars, from 91,000 to 101,000, effective today. On Al-Ahad, Sadiqoun MP Riyadh al-Tamimi (AAH) said al-Zaidi had pledged to prevent the dollar exchange rate rising above 158,000 dinars. He also said the parliamentary Finance Committee had advance knowledge of the exchange-rate increase.

The Militia Digest — Thursday, 15 October 2026, daily edition · Iraq Monitor