Amid continued U.S.-Iran tensions, PM Mahdi issued decree placing Iran-backed militias under his command and ordering their integration into formal security framework, and security forces intensified operations against Islamic State (ISIS). Mahdi 1 July issued decree legalising Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Unit (PMU) militias, granting him authority to appoint PMU head, forcing them to sever ties with political groups and integrating them into conventional security forces; Shiite cleric and political leader Moqtada al-Sadr and Hikma opposition bloc 2 July commended move. U.S. Treasury 18 July sanctioned four Iraqis, including two PMU commanders, for corruption and human rights abuses. Drone 19 July dropped grenade on base in Salah al-Din province, where Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders were present; attack unclaimed, Pentagon denied responsibility. Security forces upped operations against ISIS. Security forces 8 July killed three ISIS militants, following launch of operation in Mosul, Anbar and Salah al-Din provinces; U.S. military 15 July confirmed it had carried out airstrikes in support of Iraqi forces. In capital Baghdad, double suicide bombings claimed by ISIS same day killed at least five civilians. In Sinjar mountains, PMUs 24 July clashed with ISIS militants, killing five. Suspected ISIS attacks 31 July killed seven members of security forces in Dujail, Salah al-Din province, and Kalar, Suleimaniya province. Govt 9 July said it had signed agreement with Iraqi Kurdistan regional govt for security cooperation in Nineveh, Salah al-Din, Diyala and Kirkuk provinces. In Iraqi Kurdistan’s capital Erbil, unidentified gunmen 17 July killed two, including Turkish diplomat; Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) denied involvement. Turkey continued air and land raids against PKK targets in north, killing fourteen 20 June-20 July. Israeli warplanes attacked Iraqi army bases in Amerli, Salah al-Din province and in Ashraf, north east of Baghdad 19 and 28 July, both suspected of housing Iranian advisors and missiles, one Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander reported killed.

Amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions, unclaimed attacks on U.S. assets increased (see Iran), and in south protests erupted demanding jobs and better services. Unidentified assailants fired rockets at military bases housing U.S. personnel near capital Baghdad and in Mosul 17 and 19 June; 19 June fired rocket on facility housing staff of foreign oil and gas companies including U.S. company ExxonMobil in Basra; attacks caused no casualties and nobody claimed responsibility. PM Mahdi 18 June ordered Iraqi armed groups to cease attacks on military installations and said foreign troops in Iraq could not act against another country without govt approval. U.S. Sec State Pompeo 15 June granted Iraq new 90-day sanctions waiver to continue importing Iranian electricity and gas. Parliamentary blocs threatened to withdraw support to govt which would undermine its ability to rule: Hikma parliamentary group 17 June declared intention to join opposition. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr 18 June gave govt ten-days to fill five remaining ministerial posts; if not, Sadrist movement currently supporting govt would “change its stance”; parliament 24 June approved appointment of interior, defence and justice ministers. Protests erupted 20 June in southern provinces and Basra, where demonstrators called for more jobs and better services. In Baghdad, protesters 28 June stormed Bahrain’s embassy in protest against Bahrain’s hosting of U.S. conference to build support for its Middle East peace plan, prompting Bahrain to recall ambassador. In Kurdistan region, regional parliament 10 June elected Nechirvan Barzani of dominant Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) as new president; second strongest party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) boycotted vote in protest against what it called KDP’s unilateral decisions on how to share key positions. Regional parliament 11 June including PUK MPs approved Barzani’s nomination of his cousin Masrour Barzani as region’s PM. Islamic State (ISIS) maintained low-level operations in Salah al-Din and Kirkuk provinces, killing thirteen. In north, Turkey continued strikes against Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

Govt continued to stay neutral amid intense U.S.-Iran rivalry, Islamic State (ISIS) continued low-intensity insurgency and Turkey clashed with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in north. U.S. 6 May approved deployment of aircraft carrier and bomber task force to Persian Gulf in response to “Iranian threats”. U.S. Sec State Pompeo 7 May made surprise visit to Baghdad and reportedly warned Iraqi leaders of their responsibility to protect U.S. troops and citizens against possible attacks by Iranian-backed militia. President Salih 8 May reiterated govt’s neutral stance in U.S.-Iran standoff and PM Mahdi 15 May denied threats to U.S. assets from Iran or Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Units. U.S. 15 May decided to pull some diplomatic staff from Baghdad and Erbil; U.S. oil company ExxonMobil 18 May evacuated foreign staff, after it signed $53bn deal with Baghdad 7 May. Unidentified assailants 19 May fired rocket at Green Zone in Baghdad which landed a mile from U.S. embassy. ISIS continued low-intensity attacks: in Salah al-Din province, suspected ISIS fighters 8 May killed seven in al-Mazari village; in Nineveh province near Mosul, militants 9 May targeted village chief and his family, killing five; in Baghdad, suicide bombing same day killed eight; in Mosul province, explosion 26 May killed five in market in Rabia. In Kirkuk province, gunmen 16 May killed nine police officers in two separate attacks; coordinated explosions 31 May killed at least three in Kirkuk city centre. Anti-corruption protests 16 May broke out in Najaf and clashes with security personnel left four dead. In north, Turkey and PKK continued to clash: at Sherwan Mazin border crossing, PKK 4 May killed three soldiers; Turkey same day reported 28 militants “neutralised” in subsequent pursuit; cross-border air raids 1-16 May hit PKK targets in Hakurk, Zap, Metina and Gara areas; Iraqi Kurdistan officials 14 May reported one civilian dead in Turkish drone strike.

Govt pursued efforts to expand relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia, and continued operations against Islamic State (ISIS) remnants. PM Mahdi 6 April visited Iranian President Rouhani in Tehran to discuss expansion of energy imports from Iran and boost trade. In reaction to U.S. President Trump’s 8 April decision to designate Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as Foreign Terrorist Organisation, Shiite paramilitary groups and members of al-Fatah parliamentary coalition same day visited Iranian consulate in Najaf in show of solidarity. After Saudi delegation visited Iraq 3 April reopening consulate in Baghdad and promising $1bn grant, Mahdi 17 April visited Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; two leaders signed thirteen agreements on trade, energy and political cooperation. PM Mahdi 10 April appointed leader of Badr Organisation and al-Fatah member Hadi al-Ameri as his Special Representative in Basra province in south, tasked with improving services. Basra Council 3 April voted to hold autonomy referendum and residents of Basra staged mass protests against federal govt 13 April. Operations against ISIS continued: in Kirkuk and Diyala provinces, counter-terrorism forces 11 April began operations in Hamrin mountains against ISIS remnants, killing twelve militants and Abu Idris, ISIS head of “general security” in Diyala. In Anbar province, security forces arrested twelve suspected terrorists. ISIS 14 April published video of execution of seven Sunni militiamen and village chiefs accused of collaboration. In north, Turkish military conducted cross-border raids against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets: in Mount Qandil 1 April and in Gara region 5 April.

Iranian President Rouhani visited Iraq for first time as president and leading Kurdish parties agreed to share power in Kurdistan, as Islamic State (ISIS) kept up insurgency. Rouhani visited Iraq 11-13 March, meeting President Salih and PM Mahdi and signing MoUs for joint projects involving energy sector, trade and railway infrastructure. In Najaf, site of Shiite shrine, Rouhani met Shiite cleric Sistani, who insisted that Iraqi govt must take control of Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) Shiite militias, some of whose factions are considered loyal to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). U.S. Treasury 6 March blacklisted PMU faction Harakat al-Nujaba close to IRGC. U.S. 19 March granted govt new 90-day sanction waiver so it could continue importing energy from Iran. In Kurdistan, two leading parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), 4 March reached deal to speed up formation of regional govt, allocating high executive and security positions to KDP and making PUK junior partner. Parliament 27 March voted to sack Ninewa’s governor Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan after at least 90 people killed in ferry accident in provincial capital Mosul. ISIS-related clashes continued: insurgents 6 March ambushed PMU on Mosul-Kirkuk road, killing six; in Mosul, car bomb killed two 8 March; in north Baghdad, militants 19 March killed three soldiers; security forces arrested five alleged ISIS members in east Mosul 20 March. After Syrian rebels Syrian Democratic Forces transferred some 400 suspected ISIS foreign fighters from Syria to Iraq, Iraqi authorities 15 March initiated court proceedings against fourteen French nationals. In north, Turkish air raids 3-6 March targeted Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) positions in Haftanin and Hakurk areas; Iraqi army 17-19 March clashed with PKK-backed Yezidi militias in Sinjar district, five militia members and two soldiers killed; talks late month between militias and army chief of staff eased fighting.

Debate intensified over U.S. military presence and Islamic State (ISIS) continued insurgency. U.S. President Trump 3 Feb said U.S. military will remain in Iraq “to watch Iran”; President Salih 4 Feb criticised statement and stressed Iraq’s sovereignty. In surprise visit to Iraq, acting U.S. Sec Defence Patrick Shanahan 12 Feb corrected Trump’s remarks saying counterterrorism goals guide U.S.-Iraq partnership. Statements come after Shiite MPs from Sadrist Sayirun alliance and Iran-backed al-Fatah coalition 31 Jan submitted draft legislation demanding end of agreements which govern presence of U.S. troops in Iraq and bilateral security cooperation. Resisting these demands, PM Mahdi 20 Feb stressed Iraq’s sovereign request for presence of U.S. troops and their importance to national security. Parliament 31 Jan passed federal budget for 2019 which signalled improved relations between Baghdad and Kurdistan Regional Govt (KRG): KRG to receive same share of budget as in 2018 but due to overall increase will receive nearly 30% more funds and central govt guaranteed salaries to Kurdish public servants and security forces, even if it makes deductions from budget transfers. Sayirun and al-Fatah 11 Feb said they had agreed to form joint committee to speed up cabinet formation. In Kurdistan, two main parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), 15 Feb announced preliminary agreement on outline for next regional govt, first govt since late 2017 independence referendum. ISIS continued insurgency: near Samarra north of Baghdad, gunmen 3 Feb wounded nine people, including six Iranian Shiite pilgrims, and two roadside bombs 14 Feb killed eight members of Shiite Popular Mobilisation Forces; in Najaf, Anbar and Salah al-Din provinces, ISIS 7-17 Feb kidnapped twenty civilians, reportedly killed nine of them and released five in return for ransom; suspected ISIS sleeper cells 23 Feb killed five fishermen in Therthar Lake, 60km north of Baghdad. In north, Turkey carried out raids against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK); Turkey 22 Feb said it had carried out fifteen operations in Harkuk region of Iraq, destroying PKK hideouts.

In surprise visit to U.S. military base at Ain al-Asad in Anbar province 27 Dec, President Trump confirmed continued U.S. military presence in Iraq despite planned withdrawal from Syria; some MPs criticised visit as violation of Iraqi sovereignty. As U.S. increased pressure on Iraq to stop importing gas from Iran, U.S. Sec State Pompeo 9 Jan met PM Mahdi and members of cabinet to discuss greater economic cooperation. Amid U.S. attempts to forge strategic alliance to confront Iran including the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt and Jordan, King Abdullah of Jordan visited 14 Jan to reassure Iraq of Jordanian cooperation. Iranian FM Zarif 13 Jan embarked on five-day visit to Iraq taking in Baghdad, Erbil and Suleimaniya, signalling continued commitment to Iranian presence in Iraq. In Kurdistan, two main parties, Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), from early Jan attempted to draft new agreement to forge power-sharing arrangement, but continued to disagree on redistribution of positions in new Kurdish cabinet, assignment of positions in Baghdad, and appointment of new Kirkuk governor. Suspected Islamic State (ISIS) attacks continued: in Tikrit, Salah al-Din province (north) car bombing killed two and injured six 8 Jan and two roadside bombs killed four policemen and wounded eleven 26 Jan, another blast killed two and injured a dozen in Al-Qaim, Anbar province (west) 11 Jan and another killed one soldier in Kirkuk (north) 23 Jan. FM Ali al-Hakim 30 Jan met Russian FM Lavrov in Moscow; Russia pledged to support Iraq in fighting ISIS and to reestablish security ties between two states. In far north, Turkey continued operations against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) conducting two major airstrikes 6 and 20 Jan killing seven and six civilians respectively. In response to raids, hundreds of protesters 26 Jan stormed Turkish military base in Dohuk province (north) and burnt Turkish military vehicles; clashes resulted in at least one killed and ten injured.

In govt formation process following May 2018 legislative elections, rival political blocs continued to contest remaining empty cabinet posts, especially interior and defence. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr late Nov denounced Iran’s support for former National Security Adviser Faleh al-Fayyad for interior minister. MPs aligned to Sadr and former PM Abadi boycotted parliamentary session to vote in remaining ministers 4 Dec, preventing Fayyad’s election. Parliament 24 Dec approved Shaima Khalil as education minister and Nawfal Moussa as migration minister, leaving three seats unfilled. In Kurdistan, dominant party Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) 3 Dec appointed KDP head Massoud Barzani’s son and nephew as Kurdish PM and president respectively. KDP 13 Dec announced willingness to reopen road connecting Dohuk, Dohuk province (north) and Sinjar, Nineveh province (north west) to help enable displaced Yazidis to return home. Islamic State (ISIS)-related insecurity continued; bombing in Youssef Bek village, Diyala province (east) killed two policemen 11 Dec and bombing in Ramadi, Anbar province (west) killed policeman 15 Dec. Govt 12 Dec claimed its airstrike against ISIS camp in Syria killed 44 militants. In north west, ISIS-claimed car bombing killed three people in Tal Afar, Nineveh province 25 Dec. In far north, Turkey continued operations against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) with airstrikes killing eight militants 13 Dec and six more 16 Dec. U.S. 20 Dec granted Iraq 90-day extension of its exemption from U.S. sanctions on Iran-related trade, allowing Iraq to continue importing Iranian electricity and gas while it finds alternative sources.

Following May legislative elections, new PM Mahdi – installed in Oct – still to appoint eight of 22 cabinet ministers, including interior and defence ministers. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr 27 Nov said he would only accept independent candidates for these security positions. Govt 16 Nov announced deal with Kurdish region to restart oil exports from Kirkuk oilfields through pipeline to Turkey; flows halted since 2017 Kurdish independence referendum. Islamic State (ISIS)-related insecurity continued, mainly in west and north. Bombings in various locations in capital Baghdad killed some seven civilians 4 Nov. Car bombing killed at least five in Tikrit, Salah al-Din province (north) 18 Nov, while roadside bomb 22 Nov killed at least four students in Shura area, Nineveh province (north west). Unidentified gunmen 12 Nov shot dead local paramilitary leader and eight others near Garma, Anbar province (west). Govt 20 Nov claimed to have killed 40 ISIS militants in two airstrikes in eastern Syria. In far north, Turkey continued operations against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), claiming airstrikes 9-11 Nov killed 38 militants. New President Salih 11 Nov urged U.S. to consider relieving Iraq from effect of renewed sanctions on Iran; U.S. 5 Nov granted Iraq 45-day exemption to continue importing Iranian electricity and gas while it finds alternative sources. Salih 17 Nov met with Iranian President Rouhani, reaffirming Iraq’s commitment to trade relations.

Breaking deadlock since May legislative elections, parliament 2 Oct elected Kurdish politician Barham Salih as president, who same day appointed Shiite politician Adel Abdul Mahdi as PM and tasked him with forming govt. In second round parliamentary vote for president (by convention a Kurd), Salih, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) nominee, defeated Fuad Hussein, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) nominee, with 219 votes to 22, after KDP MPs withdrew in protest; they claimed that largest Kurdish bloc had right to name president. Two competing Shiite alliances – Reform and Construction bloc led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Construction bloc led by Hadi al-Ameri – agreed on Mahdi as compromise candidate for PM. According to constitution, Mahdi has until 1 Nov to form cabinet; parliament 25 Oct approved fourteen of 22 cabinet ministers proposed by Mahdi. Iraqi Kurdistan PM Barzani 17 Oct met with outgoing PM Abadi and PM-designate Mahdi in Baghdad to discuss Erbil-Baghdad issues, including allocation of national budget for Kurdistan and control over disputed territories. Electoral commission 20 Oct issued results of Kurdistan’s Sept parliamentary elections: KDP won most seats with 45 and PUK came second with 21; following over 1,000 allegations of electoral fraud, electoral commission carried out investigation, cancelled results from over 96 polling stations and annulled 120,000 votes. Islamic State (ISIS)-related insecurity continued, mainly in west and north; improvised bomb attack on bus in Baiji, Salah al-Din province 6 Oct, killed one; car bomb 23 Oct killed six in Qayyara, Nineveh province. ISIS claimed responsibility for roadside bomb 30 Oct that killed three Shiite pilgrims in Khanaqin in north east. In far north, Turkey continued operations against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), claiming airstrikes killed eleven militants 4 Oct and three 18 Oct.