Tuesday, 27 October 2026

In Maysan, the judiciary released Provincial Council head Mustafa Duair (AAH — Sadiqoun) after he complied with legal procedures, Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) reported Tuesday. Al-Zaidi had ordered an inquiry over Duair’s Sunday threat of civil disobedience unless Baghdad reopened Sheeb, the crossing with Iran it closed on 20 October. The dispute over reopening continued: Badr’s parliamentary bloc demanded that the crossing reopen and warned of consequences for Maysan’s economy and residents’ livelihoods. Council presidency spokesman Hakim Atiya also appealed to al-Zaidi to reconsider the closure. By Tuesday, iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) reported higher food and construction-material prices and a continuing truck-owners’ sit-in.

Separately, the Kurdistan Regional Government on Tuesday decided to record unpaid public-sector salary entitlements from previous years as an official debt owed to employees. Finance Ministry spokesman Hunar Jamal said the decision would protect employees’ rights and commit the government to future repayment. He said salary funding and transfer dates remained the federal Finance Ministry’s responsibility, with no obstacles on the regional side preventing distribution. The region’s Higher Education Ministry meanwhile confirmed that no new students would receive overseas scholarships this year because of Iraq’s financial crisis. Its missions director, Yasin Saleh, said some applicants selected in the three announced phases could not travel because Baghdad had frozen their files for lack of funds. Students already studying abroad continue to have their expenses covered.

On regional security, Alhurra reported Monday, citing unnamed Iraqi government sources, that Washington had warned Baghdad that US forces would directly strike armed groups in Iraq if they joined a renewed war with Iran. Those sources also said Washington would not commit to coordinating such strikes with Baghdad in advance. Separately, Iraqi security forces on Tuesday engaged an unidentified drone near Baghdad’s Green Zone, the Security Media Cell said. Its head said the response caused the loud noise heard across the capital. The cell’s initial statement reported no casualties or damage.

The judiciary released Maysan Provincial Council head Mustafa Duair (AAH — Sadiqoun) after he complied with legal procedures, Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) reported on Tuesday. Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi had ordered an inquiry over Duair’s Sunday threat of civil disobedience unless Baghdad reopened Shib, the crossing with Iran it closed on 20 October. Unit 10,000 (KH — affiliated) went beyond Sabereen’s procedural account, describing the release as the judiciary rejecting the prime minister’s request. Badr’s parliamentary bloc demanded reopening and warned of consequences for Maysan’s economy and residents’ livelihoods. Council presidency spokesman Hakim Atiya appealed to al-Zaidi to reconsider the closure. By Tuesday, iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) reported higher food and construction-material prices and a continuing truck-owners’ sit-in. Unit 10,000 also relayed residents’ three-day reopening deadline and their stated intention to demonstrate if the crossing remained closed.

In Sinjar, the Sinjar Resistance Units said their Monday integration agreement with Baghdad also covers the Sinjar Women’s Units, putting their combined strength at 4,165 fighters. Anadolu, citing an Iraqi official, named the Interior Ministry and PMF as destinations for the fighters. Shafaq News reported that federal authorities had assumed security responsibility on Mount Sinjar as integration began. House of Coexistence in Sinjar founder Mirza Danayi supported integration and ending the units’ separate affiliation on Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official). Political analyst Faiq Yazidi described integration as an Iraqi security arrangement and urged Turkey to change its policy toward Sinjar.

Separately, Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) received Finance Minister Falih Sari on Monday to discuss economic stability and the general budget. Al-Ahad said they discussed a budget proportionate to economic conditions and the state’s requirements and priorities. Parliamentary Finance Committee member Ghufran al-Shammari said parliament had extended its legislative term by 30 days to pass the budget, in remarks carried by FAA (Ansar Allah al-Awfiya — official). She rejected measures harming citizens’ purchasing power and said the higher dollar exchange rate had raised prices. MP Salah al-Zuhairi meanwhile said a request submitted to parliament’s speaker carried 70 MPs’ signatures seeking budget-funded positions for former PMF personnel whose contracts were terminated.

Unit 10,000 and Shabab al-Islam (Ashab al-Kahf — owned) published identical allegations on Monday that aircraft operating from bases in Jordan violated Iraqi sovereignty on 25 October. Their list comprised eight MQ-9s, two F-16s, one CH-53, two MQ-1s, one KC-135 and two E-11s. Separately, Alhurra, citing unnamed Iraqi government sources, reported that Washington had warned Baghdad that US forces would directly strike armed groups in Iraq if they joined a renewed war with Iran. Those sources also said Washington would not commit to advance coordination with Baghdad. On Al-Ahad, political analyst Nabil al-Azzawi predicted that Iraq would enter no war and would adopt positive neutrality.