U.S.-backed govt forces and allied militias made gains in campaign to retake Mosul in north from Islamic State (IS), taking control of city’s eastern half. Head of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) 19 Jan declared city-centre districts under govt control. Security forces 19 Jan pushed IS out of Tal Kyf, 10km NE of Mosul, and 22 Jan seized road linking Mosul to Dohuk, 90km north. PM Abadi 25 Jan said eastern Mosul “fully liberated”. Knights of Mosul anti-IS insurgents in IS-controlled parts of Mosul reportedly passed intelligence to security forces and killed high-ranking IS members during month. IOM 19 Jan said almost 159,000 people had fled Mosul since offensive began 17 Oct. IS claimed multiple bombings in Baghdad’s Shia districts early month: blasts 2-3 Jan killed 59, twin bombings 8 Jan killed twenty at marketplaces in Jamila and Baladiyat districts. IS 1 Jan killed seven policemen near Najaf, 146km south of Baghdad, 2 Jan killed seven policemen in Samara, 125km north of Baghdad, and four soldiers at barracks near Baji, 210km north of Baghdad. Following dispute over Turkey’s participation in Mosul offensive, PM Abadi 8 Jan met Turkish PM in Baghdad to reestablish diplomatic relations and reduce Turkish military presence in north. National security minister 8 Jan discussed cooperation against “terrorism” with Syrian President Assad in Damascus. French President Hollande and Defence Minister Le Drian in Baghdad 2 Jan reaffirmed commitment to fight against IS. Parliament 30 Jan recommended govt should “respond in kind” to U.S. President Trump’s ban on citizens of Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries entering U.S., govt 30 Jan said it had asked U.S. to reconsider ban on its citizens, PM Abadi 31 Jan said govt would not ban U.S. nationals entry citing U.S. support for fight against IS.

U.S.-backed govt forces and allied militias made slow progress in campaign to retake Mosul in north from Islamic State (IS): govt forces 6 Dec launched fresh assault from northern Mosul retaking al-Qirawan and al-Hadba districts and from south retaking Wahda neighbourhood, 29 Dec began new push on three fronts into eastern districts. Bomb attack 20 Dec on office of Iranian opposition party Democratic Party of Kurdistan (PDK) in Koy Sanjaq, east of Erbil, killed seven people. Three bombs claimed by IS including one suicide bomb killed 29 people in Baghdad 31 Dec. World Bank 20 Dec approved $1.485bn loan to govt to improve public service delivery and stimulate growth.

U.S.-backed govt forces and allied militias continued campaign to retake Mosul in north from Islamic State (IS); Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service pushed westward from eastern suburbs, capturing media office used by IS 21 Nov; Shia Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) took control of Tal Afar airport west of Mosul late month and main road connecting Tal Afar with Mount Sinjar on border with Syria. Fighting around Mosul displaced 8,000 people 3-4 Nov, largest spike since offensive began 17 Oct, pushing total to some 30,000. IS blew up govt buildings in Anah, Anbar province 3 Nov; IS-claimed suicide car bombing 17 Nov reportedly killed at least 30 in wedding at Amiriyat Fallujah, Anbar province. Parliament 26 Nov passed law recognising PMU militias as part of armed forces with full legal status answering to PM.

U.S.-backed govt forces and allied militias 16 Oct began campaign to retake Mosul in north from Islamic State (IS), and reportedly ousted IS fighters from some 90 surrounding villages. IS captured parts of Rutba town, Anbar province in west on road from Baghdad to Jordan and Syria 23 Oct. Iraq-Turkey tensions heightened over Turkey’s involvement in Mosul offensive: Turkish President Erdoğan 6 Oct reiterated intention to participate and told PM Abadi to “know his limits”; Abadi 22 Oct said Turkey should respect Iraq’s sovereignty and rejected offer of support; Turkish artillery 23 Oct shelled IS near Bashiqa near Mosul; U.S. President Obama 26 Oct asked Erdoğan to coordinate actions with Baghdad and Washington DC. Iraqi forces 31 Oct clashed with IS in Mosul’s eastern Karama neighbourhood.

Govt forces and allies continued to recapture territory from Islamic State (IS) in north as militants maintained attacks elsewhere and tensions in govt festered. In preparation for govt forces’ offensive to recapture IS stronghold Mosul, U.S. deployed over 400 more troops early Sept lifting official total in Iraq to 4,460. Advancing toward Mosul, govt forces and allied militias 20-22 Sept ousted IS fighters from Shirqat, 100km south of Mosul. IS claimed responsibility for shooting at checkpoint and two bombs at Tikrit, 150km north of Baghdad 24 Sept that killed eighteen people. Suicide bombings in Shiite-dominated neighbourhoods in Baghdad claimed by IS killed at least seventeen civilians 27 Sept. Turkish warplanes reportedly destroyed Kurdish PKK insurgency’s ammunition depot and shelters in Qandil mountains in north 26 Sept. Parliament 21 Sept passed vote of no confidence in Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) member, over allegations of corruption, forcing him out of office. KDP vowed legal challenge; Zebari 22 Sept accused former PM Maliki of orchestrating removal.

Leadership struggle between PM Abadi and former PM Maliki intensified as security forces continued to prepare to retake Mosul from Islamic State (IS). MPs in Maliki’s State of Law coalition 3 Aug questioned Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi on corruption case; Obeidi released documents implicating parliament speaker Salim al-Jibouri and two State of Law MPs. Jibouri filed defamation lawsuit against Obeidi and Supreme Judicial Council 9 Aug closed case against Jibouri for lack of evidence. Obeidi dismissed 25 Aug following parliamentary vote of no confidence. Abadi continued cabinet reshuffle: parliament 15 Aug approved five new ministers. IS attacked border guard base between Rutba and Trebil near Jordan 16 Aug killing at least nine; attacked Shiite wedding party 28 Aug at Ain al-Tamer, 50km from Karbala, killing eighteen.

Islamic State (IS) increased suicide bombings as security forces pushed closer to IS-held Mosul. Suicide bombing 3 July in Karrada district, central Baghdad killed over 290 people, IS claimed responsibility. Alleged IS suicide bombers and gunmen 8 July attacked Shia shrine in Balad, 90km N of Baghdad, killing over 80. Suicide bombing 24 July at checkpoint in Baghdad claimed by IS killed at least twenty. Suicide bombing 25 July at Khalis, 80km NE of Baghdad, killed at least seventeen. Security forces mid-July continued to push back IS around Mosul in NE, including 17 July taking control of Qarraya air base S of Mosul. IS 31 July attacked two energy facilities NW of Kirkuk, killing at least five. PM Abadi shuffled govt posts in particular in security sector: Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabban, affiliated with Badr Corps Shia militia, resigned 5 July; Abadi dismissed Abdul Amir al-Shammari, former head of Baghdad Operation Command and appointed new inspectors general in four ministries including defence.

Govt forces, Shiite militias and local forces backed by U.S.-led coalition continued operation to retake Falluja (about 50km W of Baghdad) from Islamic State (IS): govt forces advanced from southern outskirts toward city centre, 12 June entered southern neighbourhoods Nuaymiya and Shuhada, late June dislodged IS from eastern neighbourhoods Shurta and Askari. PM Abadi 26 June saidgovt had full control of Falluja, set sights on IS-held Mosul. U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi air force airstrikes around Falluja 28-29 June on suspected IS fighters reportedly killed at least 250. UN 22 June said govt-allied Shiite forces reportedly abused Sunni Falluja residents. ISclaimed suicide bomb and car bomb 9 June killed 24 people in Baghdad. Suicide bomb 28 June at mosque in Abu Ghraib W of Baghdad killed at least fourteen people; no claim of responsibility. Federal court 28 June ruled unconstitutional 26 April parliament session in which MPs approved PM Abadi’s appointment of five new ministers.

Army backed by Shia militias and U.S.-led coalition airstrikes 23 May launched offensive to retake Falluja (about 50km W of Baghdad) under Islamic State (IS) control since January 2014: U.S. military spokesman 27 May said coalition airstrikes had killed 70 IS militants in Falluja including city commander, govt forces advanced to city’s southern edge 30 May. UN 23 May said estimated 50,000 civilians in Falluja at “great risk” from fighting and lack of food, water and health care. UNHCR 27 May said more than 4,200 civilians fled IS-controlled Mosul to Syria in May as IS reportedly has increased executions of men and boys there. Army 19 May said it had re-taken Rutbah (about 550km W of Baghdad on routes to Jordan and Syria) from IS after two-day battle. PM Abadi 26 May appealed for weekly anti-govt demonstrations in Baghdad to stop until Falluja freed, Baghdad streets calm late May. Small steps made toward ending political crisis: Kurdish MPs who left capital end April in protest against cabinet overhaul and after aggression by protestors met Abadi in Baghdad 28 May but did not agree to return to parliament. Parliament convened with quorum 29 May; 167 MPs present including Shiite al-Ahrar bloc affiliated with Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who led anti-govt protests. Two IS suicide bombers blew themselves up and one other bomb detonated in Baghdad 31 May, killing over twenty.

Political disarray in Baghdad intensified amid standoff over attempted cabinet reshuffle, protests by MPs and large-scale demonstrations. After key political groups including opposition Shiite Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) and Sunni Mouttahidoun rejected new cabinet line-up proposed by PM Abadi 30 March, Abadi proposed new list early April. Parliament speaker Salim al-Jibouri 14 April postponed parliamentary vote on second list citing lack of quorum. Over 100 MPs 15 April began sit-in in parliament to protest postponement; some demanded Jibouri resign, Sadrist-affiliated al-Ahrar bloc demanded PM, president and speaker resign. Abadi missed 19 April deadline to submit second list to parliament prompting Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to rally tens of thousands of protestors in central Baghdad, threaten violence if further delays. MPs disrupted parliament session 26 April stopping Abadi presenting third proposal. Protestors 30 April broke into fortified Green Zone and parliament prompting authorities to declare state of emergency. U.S. 19 April said it would send 200 more troops to provide intelligence and battlefield advice as Iraqi forces continue to expel Islamic State militants from Hit, Anbar province. Shiite paramilitary leaders and Kurdish peshmerga commanders 24 April agreed ceasefire but clashes in Tuz Khormato 25 April broke ceasefire and blocked main road from Baghdad to north.