Iraq News Now

Key Takeaways:

• Mohammed Allawi To Be Iraq’s Next PM; Saeroun And Fatah Endorse Allawi, Protesters Reject Him; At Least Eight Killed, Scores Injured After Sadr’s Followers Attack Protesters – On February 1, President Barham Salih tasked former communications minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi with forming Iraq’s next government, ending two months of deadlock since outgoing PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi resigned on November 30. Allawi pledged to form an inclusive and non-partisan government. He promised that government forces won’t be used against the people, calling on protests to continue and maintain pressure for reforms. He has 30 days to present his cabinet to Parliament for a vote of confidence. On February 1, the Saeroun and Fatah coalitions endorsed Allawi’s nomination. Other political blocs said they were not involved in Allawi’s selection, comparing the process to the 2018 deal between Saeroun and Fatah that produced the government of Adil Abdul-Mahdi. On February 1, protesters in Baghdad and several provinces rejected Allawi’s nomination, viewing it as another product of the political compromises rooted in the ethno-sectarian quota system that perpetuate the interests of establishment parties. On February 2, Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his followers to begin opening roads and public spaces occupied by protesters. Bands of Sadr’s followers attacked the Turkish Restaurant building, a main gathering place for protesters near Tahrir Square, and forcibly took control of the building. They also clashed with protesters in Babylon, Karbala and Najaf, in an attempt to wrest control of the protest sites there. Sadr’s followers used handguns, rifles, bladed weapons and batons to beat and intimidate protesters. On February 5, there was a serious escalation in violent attacks by Sadr’s followers against protesters in Najaf. At least eight protesters were killed by live ammunition and up to 100 others were wounded. PM-designate Mohammed Allawi condemned the “utterly unacceptable” attack, and warned he might have to step down. more…
• Joint Anti-ISIS Operations Resume; U.S. Seeks OK For Patriot Deployment In Iraq As New Rockets Strike Bases; IED Targets Prominent Protest Leader – On January 30, the Iraqi military announced that it was resuming joint anti-ISIS operations with the U.S.-led International Coalition for the meantime until the two sides can design a “new relationship.” On January 30, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the U.S. was in the process of requesting permission from Iraq to position Patriot missile defenses at Iraqi bases to protect American personnel there. CENTCOM chief, General Frank McKenzie said he raised the question of the Patriot deployment during his February 4 meetings with Iraqi leaders. On January 31, five katyusha rockets struck without causing casualties near the Qayyarah air base, which hosts forces from the U.S.-led International Coalition. On January 30, ISIS militants kidnapped seven civilians at a fake checkpoint in Diyala. On February 1, ISIS militants kidnapped two brothers in Salah ad-Din. On February 2, ISIS militants attacked the Makhmour refugee camp in Ninewa, killing one camp guard and injuring three people. On February 4, two successive IED explosions west of Baghdad injured three Iraqi soldiers. On February 4, ISIS militants kidnapped and murdered two civilians west of Kirkuk. On February 5, an IED targeted the tent of prominent activist, Dr. Alaa al-Rikabi in central Nasiriyah. Rikabi was unharmed, but four protesters were injured.
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• UNICEF Report Points To Funding Gap Impacting Winter Protection For Children; 12,000 Iraqis Returned From Abroad Since May 2018; Ninewa Plains Locals Demand And End To Militia Presence – On January 31, a UNICEF report showed that approximately half the people in need at the end of 2019, or 3.3 million, were children, 658,000 of whom were IDPs. UNICEF appealed for $72.9 million in funding for 2019 programs, which allowed most programs to meet or nearly meet their funding goals with the exception of winter needs, which were only 42% funded, leaving 91,200 children vulnerable to the winter cold. On February 4, the International Organization for Migration said that 12,114 Iraqis returned home during the 20 month period between May 2018 and December 2019. The majority of returnees came from Turkey and Syria. On February 5, the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights member called on PM-designate Mohammad Allawi to release detained protesters and compensate victims of government and militia violence to demonstrate goodwill and open dialogue with demonstrators. On February 6, dozens of locals from the towns of the Ninewa plains area organized a demonstration to protest the presence of PMF militia in their towns. The demonstrators accused the PMF militias of perpetuating their displacement and imposing illegal taxation on traffic through the Ninewa plans. more…
• Oil Exports Dropped 3.5% In January; Finance Ministry Downplays Paycheck Delays; Trade Between Iraq And Turkey Jumped 20% In 2019 – On February 2, the Ministry of Oil announced that crude oil exports for January reached more than 102.485 million barrels (an average of 3.305 million bpd), representing an approximately 3.5% decline from December’s 3.43 million bpd. These exports generated over $6.2 billion in revenue, $500 million below December’s figures. On February 3, following reports of delayed paychecks, the Finance Ministry issued a statement confirming that sufficient funds were available to pay all civil servants salaries on time. On February 3, the Ministry of Planning announced a national program for youth employment that will offer loans ranging from ID 30 million to ID 50 million to encourage young Iraqis to pursue commercial projects. On February 6, the Turkish ambassador to Iraq said that the trade volume between Iraq and Turkey grew from $13 billion in 2018 to $15.8 billion last year. On February 6, PUKmedia reported that the Dutch government is funding a new project to increase the productivity of farming businesses in Iraq through introducing modern technologies and more efficient growing and marketing practices. more…

For more background on most of the institutions, key actors, political parties, and locations mentioned in our takeaways or in the stories that follow, see the ISHM Reference Guide.