Tuesday, 20 October 2026

A minister said on Monday that the country had restored oil exports above 3.4 million barrels per day. The figure compares with Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein’s Friday estimate of nearly $60 billion in losses from the Strait of Hormuz closure and resulting halt in Iraqi oil exports. Chinese customs data separately put September crude imports from Iraq at 4.84 million tons, or about 1.18 million barrels per day. Those shipments rose from August but remained 19% lower than a year earlier.

On security, Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed on Tuesday called for a third joint Iraqi Army–Peshmerga brigade to address gaps in disputed areas. He said the two existing formations were insufficient to counter ISIS activity. Ahmed warned that ISIS militants continued to exploit areas beyond the effective control of either federal or Peshmerga forces. He urged Baghdad and Erbil to strengthen security coordination, intelligence sharing and readiness following the coalition’s withdrawal. His request follows Sahih Iraq’s documentation of 21 ISIS attacks between July 1 and October 14, including 12 in Kirkuk governorate.

Separately, Finance Minister Falih al-Sari directed state-owned Rafidain Bank on Monday to resume lending to public-sector employees. He also instructed the bank to simplify loan applications and expand financing for private businesses. An official Rasheed Bank document dated October 19 lists public-sector employee advances of 5 million to 25 million IQD, repayable over five years at 8% annual declining-balance interest without a guarantor. Pensioners qualify for advances of 5 million to 15 million IQD under the same repayment and interest terms, also without a guarantor.

In Mosul, families on Tuesday were receiving the remains of 47 people killed by ISIS in Hamam al-Alil in 2016. Forensic examinations had established their identities before the handover. Nineveh Governor Abdul Qader al-Dakhil and Nineveh Court of Appeal President Judge Raed Hamid al-Musleh oversaw an official funeral attended by officials and victims’ families. Most of the victims belonged to the Jabbour tribe, and those killed included civilians and police personnel. A relative said families had been left waiting on sidewalks without a designated reception area or drinking water, accusing state institutions of failing to show them sufficient respect.

The Coordination Framework on Monday reaffirmed the 30 June 2027 deadline for bringing weapons outside official authority under state control and authorized government steps supporting compliance. Al-Ghadeer TV (Badr Organization — official) and iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) carried the commitment, with iNEWS reporting Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s attendance. The government also directed pursuit under the Anti-Terrorism Law of those inciting violence or obstructing state weapons control. The prime minister’s media office instructed state institutions to file criminal complaints against people using media for those purposes. Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) characterized the announcement as a threat against media institutions promoting weapons outside state authority. It contrasted that pressure with government interviews on Gulf channels it accused of hostility toward Iraq while operating freely in Baghdad.

Al-Ghadeer also carried allegations on Monday that U.S. influence inside parliament was obstructing passage of the PMF law. iNEWS quoted MP Hamed al-Mousawi saying the bill had reached parliament and contained more than 77 articles. Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated) had quoted his earlier account as more than 17 articles. iNEWS also placed PMF legislation alongside the budget and dual-nationality matters at the top of parliament’s agenda.

Separately, former Babyloun MP Duraid Jamil said on Monday that a deputy premier would not pass unless Babyloun obtained the Migration Ministry. Speaking on Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official), he said Babyloun would not relinquish the portfolio and had submitted three nominees. Kurdistan Democratic Party MP Shirwan al-Dobardani said his party had rejected two nominees submitted by al-Zaidi because they were affiliated with Babyloun. He said it would vote for an independent Christian migration minister. Badr parliamentary bloc MP Qusay Abbas al-Shabaki said Suwayana won three of the five Christian-quota seats with KDP support and alleged that Peshmerga personnel voted for it under party direction. Al-Dobardani acknowledged supporting Suwayana in return for Shia forces’ support for al-Kildani.

Separately, Baa Platform (Badr Organization — official) published verse on Monday declaring that the Saudi army would be annihilated, with a closing hashtag placing the declaration in a Yemen frame. On Al-Ahad today, security expert Abdul Karim Khalaf said Saudi oil and economic facilities were exposed to Yemeni fire. He named Aramco and Saudi airports as Yemeni military priorities. Hoquq MP Saud al-Saadi (KH — parliamentary bloc), meanwhile, submitted questions to the defence and foreign ministers, Sabereen and Unit 10,000 (KH — affiliated) reported, over the assignment of attaché duties to Iraq’s deputy military attaché in Saudi Arabia and his attendance at a Saudi-led coalition meeting against Yemen. Sabereen and Unit 10,000 reported his request for the legal basis and nomination and assignment records within 15 days.