FinPol Digest

  In a tense escalation of regional tensions, the United States has carried out precision strikes in Iraq in response to recent attacks believed to be orchestrated by Iran-backed militia groups. The strikes, strategically targeted to disrupt and degrade these groups' capabilities, mark the latest chapter in the ongoing geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East. The backdrop of this military action lies in a series of attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq attributed to militias with alleged ties to Iran. These attacks, including rocket strikes on military bases hosting foreign troops, prompted a decisive response from the United States. The precision strikes were conducted with the aim of deterring further aggression and protecting American and coalition personnel stationed in the region. The U.S. Department of Defense emphasized the calculated nature of the strikes, designed to minimize collateral damage and avoid escalation into a wider conflict. Tensions between the United ...

  Tensions between Iraq and Sweden have reached a boiling point after a deeply offensive incident involving the desecration of the Quran in Stockholm. In response to the act, which has sparked outrage in Iraq and among Muslims worldwide, the Iraqi government has taken the decisive step of expelling Sweden's ambassador from the country. The incident that triggered the diplomatic crisis occurred in a public gathering in Stockholm when a man, reportedly of Swedish nationality, stomped on the Quran, the holy book of Islam, in a blatant act of disrespect. The video of the incident went viral, provoking widespread condemnation and protests in Iraq and other Muslim-majority nations. Iraqi officials swiftly expressed their indignation, demanding that the Swedish government take immediate action against the perpetrator and offer a formal apology for the offensive act. However, despite assurances of a thorough investigation and condemnation of the incident by Swedish authorities, the Iraqi...

 Iraq, a country with a rich historical legacy, is witnessing a promising revival in its tourism industry. The allure of its ancient sites, coupled with a gradual improvement in stability, has sparked the curiosity of adventurous travelers from around the world. As these remarkable archaeological wonders beckon, a new trickle of tourists is drawn to explore Iraq's cultural heritage, providing a glimmer of hope for the nation's future. Iraq boasts a tapestry of ancient civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria, each leaving behind a treasure trove of archaeological marvels. The ancient cities of Ur, Nineveh, Babylon, and Hatra bear witness to the grandeur and sophistication of past civilizations, captivating visitors with their timeless allure. These sites offer a glimpse into the cradle of civilization, inviting travelers to embark on a journey through time. After years of conflict and turmoil, Iraq has made significant strides toward stability. Efforts ...

  The next two meetings of the Arab League summit will be held in Bahrain and Iraq, senior officials said on Friday. Regional leaders attended a landmark meeting that Saudi Arabia sponsored recently in Jeddah, a city on the Red Sea. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad rejoined the Arab League after spending the previous 12 years outside of it. 2011 saw the suspension of Damascus because of the harsh suppression of pro-democracy protesters that resulted in civil conflict. In his speech to the league, Bahrain's King Hamad remarked, "We are pleased to express that we will welcome you all to the Kingdom of Bahrain, for the forthcoming Arab summit meetings in 2024." Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, the prime minister of Iraq, spoke after him and announced that Baghdad will host the summit in 2025. Mr. Al Sudani stated, “I offer an invitation to hold the Arab Summit in Baghdad in 2025, which looks forward to welcoming our Arab brothers in Mesopotamia.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president...

 Earlier this week, UN officials encouraged the Iraqi government to push for political and economic reforms and also to continue discussions regarding the reparations for the Kuwaitis who disappeared during the 1990 Iraqi invasion. Along with such discussions, the country’s human rights scenario, especially the position of Iraqi women, received attention from the UN officials. Other nations in the region were also discouraged from violating the territorial sovereignty of Iraq. In a Security Council meeting to discuss Iraq, head of UN Assistance Mission for Iraq and the special representative of the secretary-general for Ira1, Jeanine Antoinette Plasschaert, discussed about her conclusions in her UN Report on the implementation of Resolution 2631. In 2022, the Security Council adopted the Resolution 2631, which states that member states should prioritize providing assistance, support, and advice to the people and government of Iraq to help the inclusive advancement of the nation, ...

This year, in an effort to boost reserves and revenue, Iraq aims to let foreign entrepreneurs access more of its undeveloped oil and gas resources. The Oil Ministry said on Monday that Iraq, a member of Opec, will submit 13 locations for a round of bidding. Eight of those are oil and gas fields, while five are locations for exploration . In northern, central, and southern Iraq, there are many locations. Companies have until June 15 to submit their interest statements and supporting documentation for the certification procedure, according to ministry spokesperson Assim Jihad. The bidding round has not yet had a date established. According to Mr. Abdel Ghani, the upcoming round would be an addendum to the fifth bidding round held in 2018. Then, only seven of the 11 suggested blocks and fields were chosen. Iraq started luring foreign oil corporations to explore its resources in 2009, encouraged by an improvement in the security situation. The top major oil firms are Exxon Mobil of the Uni...

 Iraq will produce the fourth-most oil in the world in 2022, according to Yahoo Finance. Iraq averaged 4.48 million barrels of oil production per day in 2022, while the country made record oil sales revenues of $115.657 billion, up from 75.6 billion in 2021. The effects of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict were one of the key reasons why Iraq's oil production increased in 2022. The Basra governorate in southern Iraq and the Kirkuk governorate in northern Iraq account for the majority of the nation's oil production. America was the world's top oil producer, producing 11.9 million barrels of crude oil every day. Saudi Arabia came in third with 10.59 million barrels per day, followed by Russia in second place with 10.75 million barrels per day.

 The Republic of Iraq, which is located at the intersection of numerous trade routes in the Middle East , has joined the UN TIR Convention as the 78th nation. Iraq's ratification of the TIR Convention solidifies its position as a strategic transit center and advances its economic strategy to diversify its economy away from oil. The TIR system will encourage regional trade, economic growth, and stability in Iraq and the surrounding area. We are happy that Iraq has joined the TIR system, said IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto. "This achievement will let Iraq to fulfill its enormous potential as a regional economic hub, promoting east-west and north-south connectivity." He continued, "Iraq's membership to the TIR Convention is a golden chance to confirm the country's readiness to exploit the potential of global trade in fostering economic growth and advancing prosperity and development." The TIR system, which is well-known around the world for its h...

 America will mark the 20th anniversary of the disastrous decision to invade Iraq for the following eight years. More than 80 Missourian service members were killed on March 20, 2003, but this was only the beginning of the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of Iraqis and American soldiers alike.  The fallout from that conflict, which the Bush administration falsely claimed was caused by Saddam Hussein's stockpile of WMD and his hosting of al-Qaida terrorists, is still being felt in both nations to this day. Iraq sways from crisis to crisis. For instance, there is a persistent shortage of medical professionals. That's because, at the time, doctors in Iraq were all trained by Hussein, tended to practice Sunni Islam, and were therefore viewed negatively when the Shiite majority took power. Despite hospitals being overrun with war casualties, doctors and other medical staff were threatened and told to leave. The initial weeks of the war were planned with an eye toward troop...

  Iraq and Iran signed a border security agreement on Sunday, a move Iraqi officials said aimed primarily at tightening the frontier with Iraq's Kurdish region, where Tehran says armed Kurdish dissidents pose a threat to its security, Reuters reports. The joint security agreement includes coordination in "protecting the common borders between the two countries and consolidating cooperation in several security fields", a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office said. Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani signed the deal with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, the prime minister's office said. "Under the signed security deal, Iraq pledges it would not allow armed groups to use its territory in the Iraqi Kurdish region to launch any border-crossing attacks on neighbour Iran," said an Iraqi security official who attended the signing. The fron...

 After a protracted political crisis in the nation, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made his first trip to Iraq in six years on Tuesday. The United Nations is fully committed to assisting in the consolidation of the institutions in this country, according to Guterres, who stated that he wished to show "solidarity with the people and the democratic institutions of Iraq." He did, though, say that he was "sure that Iraqis would be able to overcome the barriers and problems they still face through an open and inclusive discourse." Having arrived in Baghdad overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Guterres is scheduled to meet with the prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani , as well as members of youth and women's rights organizations, on Wednesday. He will travel to a camp for refugees in the country's north on Thursday before traveling to Irbil to meet with officials from the Iraqi Kurdistan regional authority. The summit of the Least Developed Countries w...

 Eight rockets were fired at a Turkish military base in northern Iraq on Wednesday, according to a security organization in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. Two rockets landed inside the facility at the military base, according to the Counter-Terrorism Group. An Iranian-backed militia claimed responsibility for the attack at the military base. A Turkish security source said the attack caused no damage to the military base. No casualties have been reported yet. After the attack, the Islamic Resistance Ahrar al-Iraq Brigade, an Iran-backed umbrella group of Shiite militias called the Popular Mobilization Forces, claimed responsibility for the attack.  According to the Iraqi Kurdish region's anti-terrorism department, the rockets were fired at Turkey's Zilkan military base in the northern Nineveh province, which hosts Turkish troops. Reportedly,  Turkey  has been carrying out operations in Iraq for decades against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Turkey has repeatedl...

 I want to share something concerning what I read today. It’s how Iran needs to stay significant, to maintain the tension, to keep up with the danger. Its impact is undermined in Iraq, where Tehran appears to not be able to control the public authority, so everything it can manage is blocked by the method involved with shaping one. In Yemen, the Houthis are depleted by the conflict and have consented to a détente. In Lebanon, there are major areas of strength against Hezbollah, and the electorate's principal worry in the current month's parliamentary political decision is to remove them. As it loses political impact, Iran will repay with all the more hard power. It is making a base for Hamas in Lebanon. Iran realizes that the continuous compromise isn't to its greatest advantage, since it will prompt facilitated approaches that will extraordinarily debilitate Iranian impact in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. In any case, it isn't all terrible information for Iran. Russia , c...

 I want to share something intriguing about what I read today. This is about the activity in Iraq tracked down a reason with the need to "stop" the security and dread dangers confronting the country, particularly Daesh. Hezbollah can track down a lot more in Lebanon . Since the declaration passed in Iraq, individuals from the Popular Mobilization Units, an arrangement of Shiite local army gatherings, have been conceded a large number of similar privileges as individuals from the military.  For me, The law in Iraq carried the PMU into the state device, with the civilian armies revealing straightforwardly to the state head, who is destined to be a Shiite under Iraq's overseeing framework. However, actually, the genuine manager is Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Such a stage, which would be the first in evolving Lebanon, has never been considered as of recently. Today, nonetheless, territorial and homegrown signs are adjusted for this perilous advance. Hezboll...

 I want to share something intriguing about what I read today. It’s the boundless humorousness, that Aoun has consoled citizens that he would stay as president until he had uncovered each bad authority. Hurrah! Notwithstanding, his rundown of "filthy" lawmakers should be very lengthy, and apparently, he's saving direct relations and partners until last. I can see that Lebanon we know and love is passing on its feet, as the most brilliant and best leave in huge numbers, escaping appetite, destitution, and joblessness. There is a longing for change and we should involve the decisions as a vital instrument to this end. For me, In Lebanon and Iraq, Iran 's partners prevail upon and over again on the grounds that a minimum amount of MPs, for their own bad private addition, will sell out their countries and their comrades. What's more, this is just conceivable in light of the fact that enough residents gullibly or recklessly vote in favor of such deceivers.

An aircraft being operated in coalition with the United States has shot down a drone over the Syrian sky on Saturday. They supposedly felt that it was a threat to the country and hence this move was taken.  The US military confirmed the news on Monday while also asserting they had strong itel about the threat that the drone apparently possessed.  The spokesperson of the US army Colonel Wayne Marotto said, “Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and defeated a UAS through the air to air engagement in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Green Village.” Recently the US officials had expressed that it was deeply concerned about the dangers that the US personnel possess in Syria and Iraq and hence it will be regularly monitoring the situation and will take every needful step in this regard. Earlier few diplomats and troops were attacked in the region by three drones and rockets which wounded two American service members. 

I want to share something interesting about what I read today. It's about how Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq are meeting up to support ties and construct a typical territorial vision in the midst of changing international real factors. In fact, King Abdullah, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimiheld a one-day highest point in Baghdad, they're third inside three years, during which they talked about normal difficulties and consented to fortify monetary participation.  However, it will require a very long time to make an interpretation of the pioneers' vision into the real world. That vision, as portrayed by Al-Kadhimi, would see" another Levant" arising after the times of disturbance that have cleared the district, highlighting a US intrusion of Iraq, partisan infighting, Iranianintruding in the undertakings of Iraq and Syria, and the development of Daesh and its branches. For me, The reality was the main visit by an Egyptian head of state...

Is the only issue in Iraq limited to poverty and violence? Majorly, one might be confused with it but recent developments in the country prove that is not the case. The majority of the income that people earn is controlled by militia groups, threatening the life patterns of the general people.   On Tuesday, a study concluded that the militia groups deeply penetrated in Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces use various unethical moves in order to protect their earnings that they derive from corruption happening all over the country. They resort to threats, kidnappings, and numerous other forms of violent behaviors to get the benefit of the deep-rooted corruption in the nation.  Yes, you read that right. Most of the coverage that Iraq receives is about violence, terrorism, crimes, or poverty and that hides the real culprit behind the whole system--corruption. The corruption is embedded in the system so smoothly that from the top level of officers to the workers, are unable to ...

 It’s been few months after the year 2021 started and her’s Iraq still facing the twin dangers of Daesh refocusing and the cumbersome impact of support of Iran partisan volunteer armies. Notwithstanding its military destruction and loss of regional control in 2018, Daesh actually keeps a huge presence in western Iraq, addressing a suffering danger to the nation's security and its capacity to balance out those regions.   What’s even more concerning is that the presence of partisan state armies offends neighborhood populaces utilized by Daesh as an appearance for its quality. Unmistakably the two gatherings feed off one another and that the stewing struggle has made it hard to settle those zones. This contention will likewise make it hard to unreservedly lead the forthcoming decisions in those regions.

 Anti-government protests in Iraq have seen a never-ending curve and now have grown to the extent of police resorting to extreme measures. These protests have been going on for over a year and a few days ago the protests marked their one-year anniversary and on the second day of the show, the police clashed with dozens of protesters and fired tear gas in Baghdad. The police took this step when some of the protesters started burning tires and hurling rocks on the strategic Al-Jumhuriyah bridge across the Tigris River, an area that leads to the famous green zone. According to the photographs released by AFP, the police can also be seen using stun grenades. As per reports, the green zone is only separated by a concrete wall from where the protests are being held in Tahrir square. Iraqi reports cannot enter the green zone where the parliament, government offices, and the United States embassy is situated. Iraq has seen the largest protest ever since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. ...