Sunday, 18 October 2026

Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) on Sunday described AAH’s cabinet gains as its entitlement and a positive beginning for the government’s success. He called for addressing weapons outside state authority and putting public interests before private and party interests, but did not announce an AAH weapons handover. His remarks followed Commander-in-Chief spokesman Sabah al-Numan’s Friday assertion that no factions rejected weapons regulation. Sadiqoun (AAH — parliamentary bloc) also proposed constitutional review under Article 142 on Sunday. It called for a bloc committee and a parliamentary committee representing the main components to submit recommendations within four months. Its working paper addresses the presidential-election quorum, the definition of the largest parliamentary bloc and constitutional deadlines whose breach carries no consequence. The bloc requested formation of the parliamentary committee at the earliest session and a published timetable, with parliamentary consideration and a public referendum to follow.

Separately, an investigation by Sahih Iraq documented 21 ISIS attacks between July 1 and October 14, including 12 in Kirkuk governorate. The report counted two attacks in July, four in August, 10 in September and five in the first two weeks of October. An Iraqi Army brigadier general and a warrant officer were killed in Kirkuk on October 14 by an explosive device left at a bombed ISIS hideout. Following the U.S.-led coalition’s withdrawal on 30 September, Kurdistan Regional Government Coordinator for International Advocacy Dindar Zebari warned Sunday that security gaps and the withdrawal could allow ISIS to regain a foothold. He urged Baghdad to establish a specialised court to document ISIS atrocities, secure their legal recognition and prosecute those responsible. In Sinjar, Zebari criticised the failure to implement the Baghdad–Erbil agreement to restore government authority and said reconstruction remained stalled and displaced residents unable to return.

The PMF on Saturday attributed that day’s explosion at its eastern Baghdad ammunition depot to an internal fault, citing preliminary Interior Ministry forensic findings and no indication of an external attack. It reported five injured personnel. Reuters’ security and medical sources instead reported one dead and four injured. Kurdistan24 reported one dead and five injured and carried witness testimony of an aircraft strike. Speaking on Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official), security researcher Abd al-Hussein al-Juraykhi called for consequences if an attack was established and measures to prevent recurrence if the cause was accidental. The channel’s reporter challenged the PMF’s shift from reporting no injuries to five and said he had not observed its leadership visiting or following up with the wounded. PMF investigators and a prime-ministerial committee were continuing their work on Sunday, with the internal-malfunction explanation still preliminary.

Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) on Sunday described AAH’s cabinet gains as its entitlement and a positive beginning for the government’s success. AAH had announced a Saturday reception celebrating confidence granted to First Deputy Prime Minister Laith al-Khazali and Labour and Social Affairs Minister Mohammed al-Mousawi. Qais al-Khazali connected the celebration to military resistance for sovereignty and ending occupation, saying those sacrifices served the state’s success and independence. He also called for addressing weapons outside state authority and putting public interests before private and party interests. That followed Commander-in-Chief spokesman Sabah al-Numan’s Friday assertion that no factions rejected weapons regulation. Al-Khazali did not announce an AAH weapons handover.

Sadiqoun (AAH — parliamentary bloc) on Sunday proposed constitutional review under Article 142. It called for a bloc committee and a parliamentary committee representing the main components to submit recommendations within four months. Parliamentary consideration and a public referendum would follow, and the bloc requested formation of the parliamentary committee at the earliest session and a published timetable. Its working paper addresses the presidential-election quorum, the definition of the largest parliamentary bloc and constitutional deadlines whose breach carries no consequence. Sadiqoun ruled out bargaining away basic principles and freedoms and said changes affecting basic principles must meet Article 126’s strict conditions. Separately, Ishraqat Kanoon lawmaker Mohammed Jassim al-Khafaji said on Sunday that a Federal Supreme Court challenge had been filed against the appointment of three deputy prime ministers and creation of three ministries. He argued that the appointments violated constitutional provisions and that the ministries required prior legislation.

Separately, Victory Coalition spokesman Aqil al-Rudaini and political analyst Imad al-Musafir said on Al-Ahad on Saturday that political blocs benefited from or exploited the delay in passing the oil-and-gas law. Al-Rudaini argued that passage would protect Iraq’s money and property and curb oil smuggling and theft. He also alleged that the Kurdistan Region had recruited foreign oil-extraction companies without Baghdad’s knowledge. Kurdistan Democratic Party member Wafa Mohammed Karim renewed support for passage and said the Region and operating companies currently take orders from SOMO. The recruitment allegation and Karim’s account of current SOMO control concern different periods and do not necessarily contradict each other.