Country: Iraq Source: Enabling Peace in Iraq Center Please refer to the attached file. Key Takeaways:POLITICS: Federal Supreme Court Crisis Deepens with Judge Omairi’s Resignation – On June 23, news reports citing sources close to Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court (FSC) said that FSC chief judge Jasim al-Omairi has submitted his resignation. The reports come just days after nine FSC judges submitted their resignations in protest of what they reportedly described as poor leadership and unilateral decision-making by Omairi, as well as attempts to subject the FSC to political interference. Other sources, however, indicated that the resigning judges had also expressed serious concerns about ongoing disputes with the Court of Cassation, which is headed by Judge Faeq Zaidan, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council. At the same time, correspondence between Omairi and Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani suggests that Omairi himself may be attempting to balance political pressures with perceived threats to the FSC’s reputation. In a letter addressed to Mashhadani on June 17, Omairi urged political leaders to meet and reach a consensus on sensitive cases before the FSC in order to “avoid making contradictory decisions” and “preserve the dignity” of the judiciary. Omairi added that the FSC was “fully prepared” to act in accordance with any consensus reached. The resignations come at a time when the FSC is expected to rule on two sensitive cases: the deadlock over public sector salaries in the Kurdistan region, and the validity of a maritime borders treaty with Kuwait. The Supreme Judicial Council, the FSC, and the Iraqi government have not issued any statements regarding the resignations. In other developments, on June 24, Iraq’s Foreign Affairs Ministry welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, calling it a positive step toward de-escalation and stressing the need to uphold the cessation of hostilities to create a favorable environment for resuming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. The Iraqi government had previously condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and the use of Iraqi airspace in the attacks and called for immediate action to prevent the conflict from spreading. more…SECURITY: Air Force Commander Replaced; Unidentified Drones Destroy Iraqi Air Defense Radars – On June 21, Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi issued instructions to retire the commander of Iraq’s Air Force, Lieutenant General Shihab Jahid, for reaching the official retirement age. Abbasi appointed Lieutenant General Muhannad Ghalib al-Assadi as acting air force commander, according to Iraqi military sources. On June 24, unidentified drones targeted radar systems at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and at the Imam Ali airbase in Nasiriyah, a senior Iraqi military spokesman said. The early morning attacks destroyed or heavily damaged two radar systems but caused no casualties. One of the systems was described in news reports as a Lockheed Martin TPS-77 radar that had yet to enter service with Iraq’s air defense command. Security sources mentioned that the drones used in the attacks were small, suggesting they were launched from areas near the targeted bases. Security forces reportedly shot down drones that approached four other Iraqi military sites before they could strike, though the spokesman did not specify the locations. Other sources said that two drones targeted the Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province—home to many U.S. military personnel—but were intercepted and destroyed. No group or country has claimed responsibility for the drone strikes. In other developments, on June 21, the Wasit province command of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said that one of its senior officers was killed in an Israeli airstrike inside Iran. The officer was identified as al-Mousawi, a senior member of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (PMF Brigade 14). more…ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Oil Exports Down in May; World Bank Approves $930 Million Financing Deal to Upgrade Iraq’s Railways – On June 24, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that crude oil exports during May averaged 3.278 million barrels per day (bpd), about 87,000 bpd below April. The exports generated $6.361 billion in revenue, roughly $377 million less than April’s total. Nearly all exports originated from southern and central fields, as pipeline exports from Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region remain suspended. On June 25, the World Bank announced it had approved nearly $1 billion in financing to support upgrades to Iraq’s railway infrastructure. The $930 million Iraq Railways Extension and Modernization (IREM) project aims to modernize 650 miles of existing railways between the southern port of Umm Qasr and Mosul in northern Iraq, via Baghdad. The project will also upgrade Iraq’s aging fleet of locomotives and rolling stock, restore maintenance facilities in Baiji, and supply needed equipment and spare parts to sustain operations. Additional components of the IREM project include investment in a new railway safety management system, personnel training, infrastructure improvements, emergency response capacity, and institutional support for the Iraqi Railways Company. The project is viewed as a key step toward implementing the Development Road project, which will link the Gulf to Turkey and Europe via Iraq. In other developments, on June 24, Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that the country’s airspace has been fully reopened to civilian traffic following the Iran-Israel ceasefire. 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.POLITICS: Federal Supreme Court Crisis Deepens with Judge Omairi’s ResignationOn June 20, large crowds of Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers held demonstrations in Baghdad and several central and southern provinces to protest Israel’s military strikes on Iran and its violation of Iraq’s airspace. Separately, supporters of the Coordination Framework and Popular Mobilization Framework held their own anti-Israel protest in Baghdad on Saturday to express solidarity with Iran.On June 23, news reports citing sources close to Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court (FSC) said that FSC chief judge Jasim al-Omairi has submitted his resignation. The reports come a few days after nine members of the Court had submitted their resignation. News reports suggest the nine judges decided to step down to protest what they described as poor leadership and unilateral decisions by Omairi, as well as attempts to subject the Court to political interference. But other sources indicated that the FSC judges had expressed serious concerns about deep-running disputes with the Court of Cassation, which is headed by judge Faeq Zaidan, the president of the Supreme Judicial Council. At the same time, a correspondence between Omairi and parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani suggests that Omairi himself may be trying to balance political pressures with perceived threats to the Court’s reputation. In a letter addressed to Mashhadani on June 17, Omairi had urged political leaders to meet and come to a consensus about sensitive cases presented before the FSC in order to “avoid making contradictory decisions” and “preserve the dignity” of the judiciary and the public’s confidence in the institution. Omairi added that the FSC was “fully prepared” to act in accordance with the outcome. The resignations come at a time when the FSC is expected to deal with two sensitive cases: deadlock over public sector salaries in the Kurdistan region, and maritime border disputes with Kuwait. Last Thursday, the FSC postponed a session scheduled to issue a new ruling in disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan regional government over budget and salaries due to lack of quorum. The FSC was also expected to make a decision about appeals submitted by President Rashid and Prime Minister Sudani seeking to repeal a 2023 FSC decision that nullified the 2013 treaty with Kuwait concerning maritime borders. The Supreme Judicial Council, FSC, and the Iraqi government have not issued any statements about the resignations.On June 24, Iraq’s Foreign Affairs Ministry welcomed the U.S. diplomatic initiative that led to a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, just days after Washington had ordered targeted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In a statement, the ministry also applauded Qatar’s efforts to mediate a ceasefire agreement. The statement said the ceasefire was a positive move towards de-escalation and stability in the region, and stressed the need to uphold the cessation of hostilities to create a favorable environment to resume negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Earlier, in a rare rebuke on Iran’s actions, the Foreign Affairs Ministry had voiced “deep concern” about Iran’s missile attack on U.S. bases in Qatar, calling it a “dangerous turning point” in the crisis. The Iraqi government has been keen to find a quick end to the conflict between Iran and Israel and avoid having Iraq get pulled into the fighting. A meeting between Iraq’s president, prime minister, parliament speaker, and head of the judiciary on June 22 strongly condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the use of Iraq’s airspace in the attacks, and called for immediate action to stop the conflict and prevent its spread. Prime Minister Sudani spoke on the phone with Saudi Crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss efforts to contain the crisis. Meanwhile, Sudani’s government reached an agreement with the Iran-backed Iraqi militias to distance Iraq from the conflict and refrain from getting involved in the fighting unless Iraq comes under direct attack, according to a lawmaker affiliated with the powerful Badr militia.On June 26, security sources in Sulaymaniyah said that security forces arrested three current and former lawmakers, as well as several journalists attempting to cover a demonstration by teachers demanding their delayed salaries. The arrested lawmakers include Ali Hama Salih, the head of the al-Mawqif al-Watani bloc in the regional parliament, and his colleagues, Rebwar Karim and Ghalib Mohammed, both former members of the Iraqi parliament from the same group, itself an offshoot of the Gorran (Change) Party. For months, government employees in the Kurdistan region have been staging frequent demonstrations demanding regular pay amid protracted budget disputes between the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad.Sources cited in this section include: Mawazin, Shafaq, INA, al-Sumaria, ISHM archive, Rudaw, Iraq Observer, Bas News, Iraqi PM’s office, Baghdad Today.SECURITY: Air Force Commander Replaced; Unidentified Drones Destroy Iraqi Air Defense RadarsOn June 21, the Wasit province command for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said that one of its senior officers was killed in an Israeli airstrike inside Iran. The officer was identified as al-Mousawi, a senior member of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (PMF brigade 14). He was reportedly killed alongside three members of Lebanese Hezbollah, including a person who had served as personal secretary to former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli airstrike targeted a facility belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near the Iraq-Iran border, according to Iranian and Lebanese press reports.On June 21, medical sources in Salah ad-Din province said that a child was killed and five were wounded after an unknown explosive projectile landed among them in al-Dujail district, south of Samarra.On June 21, Iraqi military sources said that Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi has issued instructions to retire the commander of Iraq’s air force, lieutenant general Shihab Jahid, for reaching the official retirement age. Abbasi has appointed lieutenant general Muhannad Ghalib al-Assadi as acting air force commander, the sources added.On June 22, security sources in Basra said that unidentified individuals broke into a storage facility at the South Rumaila oil field and stole 124 “landmines with their detonators.” Another source, however, reported that the theft was conducted by members of “a powerful group” who took the explosives to an unknown location. According to these sources, the stolen items were unexploded remnants of war that had been previously removed from the work site. Authorities reportedly arrested several suspects in connection with the theft on Sunday, sources said without providing details about the outcome of the investigation or the motive behind the theft.On June 24, an Iraqi military spokesman said that unidentified drones targeted radar systems at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and at the Imam Ali airbase in Nasiriyah. The early morning attacks destroyed or heavily damaged two radar systems but left no casualties, Iraqi military officials told reporters. One of the systems was described as a Lockheed Martin TPS-77 radar that had yet to enter service with Iraq’s air defense command. Security sources mentioned that the drones used in the attacks were small, suggesting that they were launched from areas close to the targeted bases. Security forces shot down drones that approached four other Iraqi military sites before they could strike the facilities, the spokesman added, without specifying the locations. But other security sources said that two drones targeted Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province, where many U.S. military personnel are located. The base’s air defenses intercepted and shot down the drones without reports of casualties or damage, the sources added. No group or country has claimed responsibility for the drone strikes.On June 26, the Security Media Cell reported that Iraqi counter-terrorism service troops killed two senior ISIS militants during four days of intelligence-driven operations in the Wadi Zghaytoun region of Kirkuk. The slain militants were identified as the top ISIS commanders in the Riyadh region in southwest Kirkuk.On June 26, police sources in Halabja province said that three people were killed and four more were injured when an explosion happened in the village of Sazan near the border with Iran. The sources attributed the explosion to the misuse of TNT in fishing.Sources cited in this section include: Shafaq, Baghdad Today, al-Sumaria, Reuters, Ultra Iraq, INA, Rudaw.ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Oil Exports Down in May; World Bank Approves $930 Million Financing Deal to Upgrade Iraq’s RailwaysOn June 21, Iraq’s state-owned Grain Trade General Company said that wheat farmers across the country have delivered more than 4.1 million tons of grain since the beginning of the current harvest season, with deliveries continuing in eight of Iraq’s provinces (Ninewa, Salah ad-Din, Kirkuk, Anbar, Diyala, and the Kurdistan region). Total harvest is expected to exceed 4.7 million tons, which the government expects to allow Iraq to be self-sufficient in wheat for the third consecutive year, the company’s director said on Saturday. The official added that Iraq still has 1.7 million tons of wheat remaining from last year, providing–along with the current harvest– enough grain to cover consumption for more than a year.On June 23, Iraq’s Basra Oil Company said that several foreign oil companies operating in Iraq’s southern oil fields have temporarily evacuated some of the foreign workers due to security concerns amid hostilities between Israel and Iran. TotalEnergies, BP, and ENI have evacuated 60% or more of their foreign staff, the company said in a statement. Production has not been affected as Iraqi crews took over field operations with remote support and monitoring from the foreign companies, the statement added. Chinese oil companies and Russia’s Lukoil have not conducted any evacuations, the statement added.On June 24, Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that the country’s airspace has fully been reopened to civilian traffic after a ceasefire was announced between Iran and Israel. In a statement, the authority said the decision was made after a full evaluation of the security situation and in coordination with the relevant national and international bodies. Iraq had closed its airspace ten days prior on June 14 as a security precaution amid hostilities between Iran and Israel in which the two countries exchanged airstrikes and missiles across Iraq’s airspace. Operations at Baghdad International Airport were returning to normal as of reporting.On June 24, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that crude oil exports during May totaled more than 101.63 million barrels, for an average of 3.278 million barrels per day (bpd). The May exports are about 87,000 bpd below the levels reported in April. In its statement, the Ministry of Oil said the exports generated $6.361 billion in revenue, about $377 million below April. Nearly all of the oil produced came from fields in southern and central Iraq and was exported through the ports of Basra, while small amounts averaging slightly less than 10,000 bpd were exported by trucks to Jordan. Exports by pipeline from the northern fields in Kirkuk, as well as fields under the control of the Kurdistan regional government, remained suspended.On June 25, the World Bank said it approved a plan to provide nearly a billion dollars in financing to support upgrades for Iraq’s railway infrastructure. The $930 million Iraq Railways Extension and Modernization (IREM) project aims to modernize 1,047 kilometers of existing railways between the southern port of Umm Qasr Port and Mosul in northern Iraq through the capital Baghdad. The major project will also include upgrades to Iraq’s fleet of mostly old locomotives and rolling stock, repair maintenance facilities at Baiji, and supply the needed equipment and spare parts to sustain operations. The project will also invest in a new railway safety management system, personnel training, infrastructure improvements, and emergency response, along with capacity building for the Iraqi Railways Company. The project is envisioned as a key step towards realizing Iraq’s goal of establishing the Iraq Development Road (IDR). Commenting on the news, the World Bank Middle East Division Director, Jean-Christophe Carret, noted that: “The IREM project is vital for transforming Iraq into a regional transport hub and helping achieve the IDR’s goals of improved connectivity and economic diversification and growth.”Sources cited in this section include: INA, ISHM archive, al-Sumaria, the World Bank.Derived from firsthand accounts and Iraq-based Arabic and Kurdish news sources, the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor is a free publication of the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center.