#Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces

[etccsy]

The horizon of American strikes on Shiite militias

Khoury's article proposes actionable strategies for Washington amidst these escalating tensions. It advocates for the expansion of airstrikes along the Syrian-Iraqi border and offers support to Arab groups to effectively counter Iranian proxies. #Biden

By, Issam KhouryCSIORS, Feb 2024 Researcher Charles Lister[1] published an article on January 24, 2024, titled “America Is Planning to Withdraw From Syria—and Create a Disaster,”[2] in which he stated that the White House is not interested in continuing the missions of American forces in Syria, based on information from four sources within the Defense and State Departments. As the #MiddleEast…

[komsomolka]

In July, the Iraqi Central Bank halted all foreign transactions in Chinese Yuan, succumbing to intense pressure from the US Federal Reserve to do so. The shutdown followed a brief period during which Baghdad had allowed merchants to trade in Yuan, an initiative intended to mitigate excessive US restrictions on Iraq’s access to US dollars. While this Yuan-based trade excluded Iraq’s oil exports, which remained in US dollars, Washington viewed it as a threat to its financial dominance over the Persian Gulf state. [...]

Since the signing of Executive Order 13303 (EO13303) by President George W Bush on 22 May 2003, all revenues from Iraq’s oil sales have been funneled directly into an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. EO13303, titled “Protection of the Development Fund for Iraq and Other Property in Which Iraq Has an Interest,” has been renewed annually by every US president, including Joe Biden in 2024. This executive order essentially places control over Iraq’s oil revenues under the discretion of the US President, leaving Baghdad with limited control over its resources and earnings. [...]

Whenever Washington feels that Iraq is not compliant with US regional goals, these fund transfers can be delayed or reduced. In January 2020, for instance, after the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel US troops following the assassination of Iranian Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Deputy Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Trump administration threatened to freeze Iraq’s access to its oil revenues. [...] The country’s inability to control its own funds has prevented long-term reconstruction and development, forcing it to rely on international loans. [...]

Iraq ceased to be under occupation, at least formally, when it signed the “Strategic Cooperation Framework” agreement with the US in 2008, which says that American forces are present in Iraq only at the request of the Iraqi government.

Attempts by the UN to restore Iraq’s control over its finances have largely failed. In 2010, UNSC Resolution 1956 demanded the closure of the DFI by no later than 30 June 2011 and the transfer of all proceeds to the Iraqi government. Despite these clear legal directives, the DFI account remains under US control at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in defiance of the UN Security Council resolution. Worse yet, enduring US dominance over Iraq’s financial resources has deeply exacerbated the corruption and dysfunction plaguing the country. [...]

Today, both the US Administration of Joe Biden and the Iraqi government led by Mohammad Shia al-Sudani – which has not taken steps to free Iraq’s sovereign funds – can be considered in violation of United Nations Resolution 1956 issued in 2010.

[zvaigzdelasas]

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Friday said he would set up a dialogue to discuss the removal of the U.S. military presence in his country after an American strike killed an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad on Thursday. In an address, al-Sudani said the agreement under which American troops are based in Iraq states the equal sovereignty of both countries, which was violated by the U.S. strike.

“We have repeatedly emphasized that in the event of a violation or transgression by any Iraqi party, or if Iraqi law is violated, the Iraqi government is the only party that has the right to follow up on the merits of these violations,” al-Sudani said in remarks shared by his office. “We affirm our firm and principled position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justifications for its existence have ended,” he added. The prime minister said he was in the process of setting up a bilateral dialogue with the U.S. to discuss the removal of some 2,500 American troops in his country.

“It is a commitment that the government will not back down from, and will not neglect anything that would complete national sovereignty over the land, sky, and waters of Iraq,” he said.[...]

The U.S. strike on Thursday killed Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, the leader of an Iranian-backed militia group Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN), after landing near a security headquarters in Baghdad. HHN is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a network of [primarily Shi'ite] militias in Iraq.[...]

Al-Sudani, [...] Friday condemned the U.S. for the strike and said the Popular Mobilization Forces are “an official presence affiliated with the state.”

5 Jan 24

[satellitebroadcast]

Iraqi Health Ministry spokesman Saif Al-Badr to Al-Akhbar:

Iraq has offered Lebanon its full support, including the readiness to receive any number of the wounded from last week’s massacres, and to provide assistance in the form of medicine, medical supplies, equipment, and personnel such as doctors and nurses. He added that, following the directives of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani and with oversight from Health Minister Saleh Mehdi Al-Hasnawi, a military plane carrying a medical team of 20 specialists and 50 tons of medical supplies was dispatched to Lebanon on Tuesday. According to Iraqi sources, the total aid sent by the Iraqi government and the Popular Mobilization Forces has reached 75 tons as of yesterday.

[captain-price-unofficially]

Ammunition cooking off at a Popular Mobilization Force (PMF) base in the Babylon Governorate of Eastern Iraq after an airstrike by an unknown entity, killing multiple PMF members and Iraqi security forces. Damage to the base is claimed to be significant. Both Israel and the US deny involvement. 19 April 2024

[workersolidarity]

🇮🇱⚔️🇮🇶 🚀🪖💥 🚨

ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES LAUNCH THREE AIR RAIDS ON IRAQ'S POPULAR MOBILIZATION FORCES

📹 A military base belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) burns following several Israeli occupation airstrikes targeting the base in the Iraqi province of Babil, south of Baghdad.

According to a report in Al-Mayadeen News, what was most likely Israeli drones targeted the Kalsu military base in Musayib, south of Baghdad, carrying out three waves of raids at the main entrance to the base, as well as an office belonging to the PMF, killing one person and wounding six others.

Iraq had a multitude of American air traffic over its airspace at the time of the strikes, including an American refueling jet, and also an American State Department plane which was following a route through Iraqi airspace towards Beirut.

The Popular Mobilization Forces confirmed with Al-Mayadeen that multiple explosions were recorded taking place at the Kalsu Base.

#source

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[eretzyisrael]

ByQASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press and ABSEWELL Associated Press

BAGHDAD -- A U.S. airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad on Thursday killed a high-ranking militia commander, militia officials said.

Thursday’s strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries. It also coincides with a push by Iraqi officials for US-led coalition forces to leave the country.

The Popular Mobilization Force, or PMF, a coalition of militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military, announced in a statement that its deputy head of operations in Baghdad, identified as Abu Taqwa, had been killed “as a result of brutal American aggression.”

A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information that has not yet been publicly released, confirmed details of the strike Thursday, saying that Abu Taqwa was targeted because he was actively involved in attacks on U.S. personnel. Abu Taqwa was identified as a leader of the Harakat al-Nujaba group.

That group, one of the militias within PMF. was designated a terrorist organization by Washington in 2019.

[beardedmrbean]

Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli Middle East expert and Princeton political science student, loved posting on X, formerly Twitter.

Her social media posts praised protesters in Syria for their "immense courage," called out authoritarianism in Russia, and even lauded anti-corruption protesters in her native Israel.

And then, on March 21, 2023, the posts stopped.

Tsurkov, 37, who was doing field studies in the Karrada district of Baghdad for her doctoral dissertation, was kidnapped by what Israeli and U.S. government officials say was Kataib Hezbollah, one of many Iranian-backed militia groups that in recent months have conducted more than 170 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.

Tsurkov's abduction, which happened while she was leaving a Baghdad café, reignited scrutiny over the deep ties between Kataib Hezbollah and the Iraqi government.

After Tsurkov's kidnapping, Iraq did not immediately acknowledge her disappearance. But Iraqi officials, in a July statement to Reuters, said the government had launched an investigation into her abduction.

The Iraqi government repeatedly declined to speak to ABC News on the record about Elizabeth Tsurkov or Kataib Hezbollah.

_____________

Proof of life

For months after Tsurkov's disappearance, there was no word. No progress. No ransom demands. Tsurkov's family didn't even have proof she was alive.But then, seven months after she was taken, a video showing a woman who appeared to be Elizabeth Tsurkov was broadcast on the Iraqi TV station Al Rabiaa. The woman had black, unkempt hair. She had dark circles under her eyes. And she read, in Hebrew, what Tsurkov's family says was a coerced statement and falsely claimed she was both an Israeli spy and a CIA agent.Emma Tsurkov, Elizabeth's sister, called that claim "absurd.""She has never seen a power structure she did not want to criticize. She would be the worst suited person to be a spy ever in existence."Emma Tsurkov believes her sister was kidnapped by Kataib Hezbollah militants because she is an Israeli citizen. Israel and Iraq do not have formal diplomatic relations, so Elizabeth Tsurkov, who attends Princeton on a U.S. student visa, traveled into the country with a passport from Russia, a country where she also has citizenship.Nearly a year since Elizabeth Tsurkov's kidnapping, Emma Tsurkov has not given up hope her sister will be released."It's like I'm missing a limb, but no one can see it," she told ABC News. "We're not twins, but I guess we're as close to twins as people who aren't twins can be, and I know in my gut that she's alive. I trust her to keep herself alive. And I know that she is trusting me to get her out of there."

Getting Elizabeth home

In her attempts to secure her sister's release, Emma Tsarkov is pushing the United States to put pressure on the Iraqis because of what she says are significant, sometimes overlooked connections between the Iraqi government and the terrorist group holding Elizabeth, Kataib Hezbollah."The only thing standing between her and freedom is a stern phone call from Washington, D.C., to Baghdad, telling the Iraqi government 'you need to get her out.' This is not sustainable. She cannot stay there," Emma Tsurkov told ABC News.Kataib Hezbollah has an official role in the Iraqi government through its position in Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, a government-sponsored organization of militias often compared to a kind of Iraqi national guard.The group is one of "at least four Iran-aligned militias that [have] attacked U.S. forces" while also being "part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of militias that receives funding from the Iraqi government," according to a 2023 report by inspectors general for the Departments of State, Defense, and USAID."You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that you've got a dysfunctional formal Iraqi security establishment that has effectively been instrumentalized and co-opted by these militia groups," Ranj Alaaldin, Director of the Crisis Response Council and a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told ABC News. ________________

Founded in 2014, the PMF cobbled together numerous Iraqi militias and is most notable for its role in fighting ISIS. But several militias in the PMF, including Kataib Hezbollah, are supported by and have deep ties to Iran.

Alaaldin explains after the defeat of ISIS the influence of Kataib Hezbollah and similar militias only grew in Iraq with help from Iran, which experts say aims to use the groups to ultimately drive U.S. troops out of Iraq.

"As far as Iran and Kataib Hezbollah and the PMF are concerned, the U.S. presence in Iraq, U.S. forces, are the last remaining barrier to them imposing their influence and control on the country at large," he said.

Despite ties to Iran and repeated attacks on American troops in Iraq, experts warn Kataib Hezbollah leaders continue to play a significant role in the PMF and thus the Iraqi government, including holding key official roles in the Iraqi military establishment.

"They are part and parcel of the Iraqi state and government. They are recognized forces within the Iraqi Constitution," said Alaaldin, who added that relationship "presents a tricky conundrum for both the Iraqis but also the Americans, because it's not a very black and white picture."

It's a complex, geopolitical struggle that Emma Tsurkov is now forced to navigate. She says she will never give up on securing her sister's release.

"I am never going to stop until I have her back. The only question is how many obstacles will I have to overcome to get her back?" Emma Tsurkov said.

[mariacallous]

Exclusive: Iraq seeks quick exit of US forces but no deadline set, PM says

BAGHDAD, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Iraq wants a quick and orderly negotiated exit of U.S-led military forces from its soil but has not set a deadline, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said, describing their presence as destabilising amid regional spillover from the Gaza war.

Longstanding calls by mostly Shi'ite Muslim factions, many close to Iran, for the U.S-led coalition's departure have gained steam after a series of U.S. strikes on Iran-linked militant groups that are also part of Iraq's formal security forces.

Those strikes, which came in response to dozens of drone and missile attacks on U.S. forces since Israel launched its Gaza campaign, have raised fears that Iraq could once again become a theatre for regional conflict.

"There is a need to reorganise this relationship so that it is not a target or justification for any party, internal or foreign, to tamper with stability in Iraq and the region," Sudani told Reuters in an interview in Baghdad on Tuesday.

Giving the first details of his thinking about the future of the coalition since his Jan. 5 announcement that Iraq would begin the process of closing it down, Sudani said the exit should be negotiated under "a process of understanding and dialogue".

"Let's agree on a time frame (for the coalition's exit) that is, honestly, quick, so that they don't remain long and the attacks keep happening," he said, noting that only an end to Israel's war on Gaza would stop the risk of regional escalation.

"This (end of the Gaza war) is the only solution. Otherwise, we will see more expansion of the arena of conflict in a sensitive region for the world that holds much of its energy supply," Sudani said.

A U.S. withdrawal would likely increase concern in Washington about the influence of arch foe Iran over Iraq's ruling elite. Iran-backed Shi'ite groups gained strength in Iraq after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

The Pentagon on Monday said it had no plans to withdraw U.S. troops, which are in Iraq at the invitation of its government.

Iraq, OPEC's second-largest oil producer, has been among the fiercest critics of Israel's Gaza campaign, describing the mass killing and displacement of Palestinian civilians as a textbook case of genocide, claims Israel vehemently denies.

But Iraq's government has repeatedly also said the attacks by armed groups on foreign forces and diplomatic missions in Iraq were illegal and went against the country's interests, and says it has arrested some perpetrators and prevented attacks.

At the same time, Baghdad has condemned U.S. strikes on bases used by the groups, as well as a recent strike against a senior militia commander in the heart of Baghdad, as grave violations of sovereignty.

Critics say the armed groups, including Kataeb Hezbollah and Haraket Hezbollah al-Nujaba, use their status as members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state security force that began as a grouping of militias in 2014, as a cover.

When striking at U.S. forces, they operate outside the chain of command under the banner of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq; when the U.S. retaliates, they mourn their losses as members of the PMF and reap the rewards of rising anti-U.S. sentiment.

U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq and toppled former leader Saddam Hussein in 2003, withdrawing in 2011 but then returning in 2014 to fight Islamic State as part of an international coalition. The U.S. currently has some 2,500 troops in Iraq.

With Islamic State territorially defeated in 2017 and on the demise ever since, Sudani said the coalition's raison d'etre had long-since ended.

YEARS IN THE MAKING

But calls for the coalition's withdrawal have been around for years and, so far, little has changed. Iraq's parliament in 2020 voted for its departure days after the U.S. assassinated top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and a senior Iraqi militant commander in a strike outside Baghdad airport.

The next year, the U.S. announced the end of its combat mission in Iraq and a shift to advising and assisting Iraqi security forces, a move that changed little on the ground.

The Gaza war has put the issue back in centre stage, with many Iraqi groups that brought Sudani's government to power and are close to Tehran calling for the final exit of all foreign forces, a move long sought by Iran and its regional allies.

The chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said in a speech on Friday that U.S. strikes in Iraq should pave the way for the final withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, which would also make their presence in northeastern Syria untenable.

Sudani said he was seeking the coalition's exit because Iraq could now defend itself from terrorism and should exert full sovereignty over its territory - thereby avoiding giving anyone an excuse to draw Iraq into regional conflict.

"Ending its presence will prevent more tensions and the entanglement of internal and regional security issues," Sudani said.

He said Iraq was open to establishing bilateral relations and engaging in security cooperation with coalition nations, including the U.S. This could including training and advising Iraqi security forces as well as weapons purchases.

The U.S. "is not an enemy to us and we are not at war with it, but if these tensions continue it will definitely impact and create a gap in this relationship," he said.

[indiaepost]

Five paramilitary members killed in drone attack in Iraq

Up to five Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi members were killed and six others wounded in an unknown drone attack on a military base in Iraq’s Babil province, an Interior Ministry source said. Unknown drones bombed a military base of the Hashd Shaabi forces, also known as Popular Mobilization Forces, in the Jurf al-Nasr area in the northern part of Babil province, the source told Xinhua on…

[lily31617494399]

A prison sentence on corruption charges for a former director of an Iraqi payment card company, linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces

Iraq/Economy

An Iraqi counts Iraqi dinars in an exchange shop in central Baghdad. May 25, 2009 (Photo via Getty Images)

News: After a months-long investigation, the Iraqi judiciary issued a prison sentence against the former director of Qi Card, Bahaa Abdul Hussein, who was arrested in September 2020 and remained in the custody of the authorities until he was convicted on corruption charges, and a fine of more than 10 million was imposed on him. Millions of Iraqi dinars (6,846 US dollars). Qi Card is considered a pioneer in providing electronic payment services in the country, as it facilitates the payment of salaries and pensions for more than a million Iraqis.

Coverage: The Iraqi Anti-Corruption Court has sentenced the director of Qi Card to four years in prison for bribing the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Ahmed Abdul Jalil al-Saadi, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported on January 24. The agency added that Abdul Hussein’s sentence was based on investigations by the Corruption and Major Crimes Committee established by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in August. It is worth noting that Iraqi journalist Mazen al-Zaidi had tweeted  on January 13, accompanying a television interview with politician Faiq al-Sheikh Ali, in which he alleged that the former director of Qi Card, Abdul Hussein, had made his confessions under torture.

Most Iraqi and regional media outlets covered this news with coverage similar to that of the official Iraqi News Agency (INA), including the Iraqi National News Agency (NINA) , Baghdad Today , The National website , and Ultra Iraq website .

The independent Iraqi media outlet, Nas, also published a report on January 24 focusing on the charges against the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Al-Saadi, against whom the court issued a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million Iraqi dinars (US$6,846). ) for receiving bribes from Abdul Hussein. A special security force, SWAT , arrested Al -Saadi at his home, and six other officials, as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

The arrests of Abdul-Hussein and Al-Saadi last fall sent shock waves through social media in Iraq, with reactions varied among users of Yalla , a popular Facebook page in Iraq. While some saw the sentences as a scapegoat to protect prominent figures, others expected the convicted corrupt individuals to be pardoned eventually.

Context/Analysis: Qi Card was established as a joint venture between the private sector, represented by the Iraqi Electronic Payment Systems Company, and the government sector, represented by Rafidain Bank. The venture established the International Smart Card Company (ISC) in Baghdad in 2007, which operates Qi Card .

According to a report in the Financial Times (FT) in 2019, the International Smart Card Company (ISC) had transferred salaries, benefits and pensions to seven million Iraqis through its Qi Card prepaid card service. Reports in 2017 indicated that only 23 percent of Iraqis over the age of 15 had accounts with financial institutions.

Several media outlets claimed that the Popular Mobilization Forces had misused Qi Card services. Last July , the New York Times made strong allegations accusing the Popular Mobilization Forces of registering 70,000 “alien” elements in the Qi Card electronic payment system.

According to The Times, the aim was to embezzle around $800 million a year. The Middle East Eye website claimed in a recent report published on January 2 this year that the slain deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was personally involved in the alleged scheme.

The dispute over Qi Card is likely to have political dimensions. Given the existing tension between Al-Kadhimi and the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Prime Minister may attempt to put pressure on the Mobilization Forces or on its leaders who may be involved in suspicious transactions alongside the former Qi Card director, Abdul Hussein. According to the Middle East Eye report , Abdul Hussein’s arrest affected the payment of the salaries of tens of thousands of Popular Mobilization Forces fighters and retirees.

The Future: Corruption issues are likely to increase, before the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled to be held next fall, as the opposing forces, in the political and security spheres, are expected to attempt to settle scores and mobilize voter support.

 If the sentences against Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi do not spark an anti-Kadhimi political backlash, the latter will likely be emboldened to take bolder steps to target corrupt (and rival) figures with stronger political support from influential parties and paramilitary groups.

The more Kadhimi takes such measures—even if they are extremely risky—the more likely he is to remain in office after the election, but Kadhimi has notably announced that he intends to step down after his current term ends later this year.

[effertzlooklikesongs]

A prison sentence on corruption charges for a former director of an Iraqi payment card company, linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces

News: After a months-long investigation, the Iraqi judiciary issued a prison sentence against the former director of Qi Card, Bahaa Abdul Hussein, who was arrested in September 2020 and remained in the custody of the authorities until he was convicted on corruption charges, and a fine of more than 10 million was imposed on him. Millions of Iraqi dinars (6,846 US dollars). Qi Card is considered a pioneer in providing electronic payment services in the country, as it facilitates the payment of salaries and pensions for more than a million Iraqis.

Coverage: The official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported on January 24 that the Iraqi Anti-Corruption Court issued a four-year prison sentence against the director of Qi Card for bribing the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Ahmed Abdel Jalil Al-Saadi. The agency added that the sentence against Abdul Hussein came based on the investigations of the Corruption and Important Crimes Committee that was established by the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi , last August. It should be noted that the Iraqi journalist, Mazen Al-Zaidi, had published a tweet  on January 13, attaching it to a television interview by the politician Faiq Sheikh Ali, in which he claimed that the former director of Qi Card, Abdul Hussein, had made his confessions under torture.

Most Iraqi and regional media covered this news with coverage similar to that of the official Iraqi News Agency (INA), including the Iraqi National News Agency (NINA) , Baghdad Al-Youm , The National website , and the Ultra Iraq website .

The independent Iraqi media outlet, Nas, also published a report on January 24 focusing on the charges against the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Al-Saadi, against whom the court issued a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million Iraqi dinars (US$6,846). ) for receiving bribes from Abdul Hussein. A special security force, SWAT , arrested Al -Saadi at his home, and six other officials, as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

The arrest of Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi last fall generated shock waves on social media in Iraq, as reactions varied among users on the Yalla page , a Facebook page that is very popular in Iraq. While some considered that the sentences were intended to sacrifice scapegoats in order to protect prominent figures, others expected that pardons would be issued for the convicted corrupt people in the end.

Context/Analysis: Qi Card was established as a joint project between the private sector, represented by the Iraqi Electronic Payment Systems Company, and the government sector, represented by Rafidain Bank. This project established the International Smart Card Company (ISC) in Baghdad in 2007, which manages the Qi card.

According to a report reported by the Financial Times (FT) in 2019, the International Smart Card Company (ISC) had transferred salaries, benefits, and pensions to seven million Iraqis through the Qi Card prepaid card service. Reports issued in 2017 indicated that only 23 percent of Iraqis over the age of 15 have accounts in financial institutions.

Several media outlets claimed that the Popular Mobilization Forces had misused Qi Card services. Last July , the New York Times made strong allegations accusing the Popular Mobilization Forces of registering 70,000 “alien” elements in the Qi Card electronic payment system.

According to the Times, the goal was to embezzle approximately $800 million annually. In a recent report published on January 2 of this year, the Middle East Eye website claimed that the slain deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was personally involved in the alleged plot.

The dispute over Qi Card is likely to have political dimensions. Given the existing tension between Al-Kadhimi and the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Prime Minister may attempt to put pressure on the Mobilization Forces or on its leaders who may be involved in suspicious transactions alongside the former Key Card director, Abdul Hussein. According to the Middle East Eye report , Abdul Hussein’s arrest affected the payment of the salaries of tens of thousands of Popular Mobilization Forces fighters and retirees.

The Future: Corruption issues are likely to increase, before the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled to be held next fall, as the opposing forces, in the political and security spheres, are expected to attempt to settle scores and mobilize voter support.

 If the sentences against Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi do not spark an anti-Kadhimi political backlash, the latter will likely be emboldened to take bolder steps to target corrupt (and rival) figures with stronger political support from influential parties and paramilitary groups.

The more Al-Kadhimi takes such measures - even if they are extremely dangerous - the more likely he is to remain in office after the elections. However, Al-Kadhimi has significantly announced that he is determined to step down after the end of his current term later this year.

[letusbindme1]

A prison sentence on corruption charges for a former director of an Iraqi payment card company, linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces

News: After a months-long investigation, the Iraqi judiciary issued a prison sentence against the former director of Qi Card, Bahaa Abdul Hussein, who was arrested in September 2020 and remained in the custody of the authorities until he was convicted on corruption charges, and a fine of more than 10 million was imposed on him. Millions of Iraqi dinars (6,846 US dollars). Qi Card is considered a pioneer in providing electronic payment services in the country, as it facilitates the payment of salaries and pensions for more than a million Iraqis.

Coverage: The official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported on January 24 that the Iraqi Anti-Corruption Court issued a four-year prison sentence against the director of Qi Card for bribing the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Ahmed Abdel Jalil Al-Saadi. The agency added that the sentence against Abdul Hussein came based on the investigations of the Corruption and Important Crimes Committee that was established by the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi , last August. It should be noted that the Iraqi journalist, Mazen Al-Zaidi, had published a tweet  on January 13, attaching it to a television interview by the politician Faiq Sheikh Ali, in which he claimed that the former director of Qi Card, Abdul Hussein, had made his confessions under torture.

Most Iraqi and regional media covered this news with coverage similar to that of the official Iraqi News Agency (INA), including the Iraqi National News Agency (NINA) , Baghdad Al-Youm , The National website , and the Ultra Iraq website .

The independent Iraqi media outlet, Nas, also published a report on January 24 focusing on the charges against the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Al-Saadi, against whom the court issued a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million Iraqi dinars (US$6,846). ) for receiving bribes from Abdul Hussein. A special security force, SWAT , arrested Al -Saadi at his home, and six other officials, as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

The arrest of Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi last fall generated shock waves on social media in Iraq, as reactions varied among users on the Yalla page , a Facebook page that is very popular in Iraq. While some considered that the sentences were intended to sacrifice scapegoats in order to protect prominent figures, others expected that pardons would be issued for the convicted corrupt people in the end.

Context/Analysis: Qi Card was established as a joint project between the private sector, represented by the Iraqi Electronic Payment Systems Company, and the government sector, represented by Rafidain Bank. This project established the International Smart Card Company (ISC) in Baghdad in 2007, which manages the Qi card.

According to a report reported by the Financial Times (FT) in 2019, the International Smart Card Company (ISC) had transferred salaries, benefits, and pensions to seven million Iraqis through the Qi Card prepaid card service. Reports issued in 2017 indicated that only 23 percent of Iraqis over the age of 15 have accounts in financial institutions.

Several media outlets claimed that the Popular Mobilization Forces had misused Qi Card services. Last July , the New York Times made strong allegations accusing the Popular Mobilization Forces of registering 70,000 “alien” elements in the Qi Card electronic payment system.

According to the Times, the goal was to embezzle approximately $800 million annually. In a recent report published on January 2 of this year, the Middle East Eye website claimed that the slain deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was personally involved in the alleged plot.

The dispute over Qi Card is likely to have political dimensions. Given the existing tension between Al-Kadhimi and the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Prime Minister may attempt to put pressure on the Mobilization Forces or on its leaders who may be involved in suspicious transactions alongside the former Key Card director, Abdul Hussein. According to the Middle East Eye report , Abdul Hussein’s arrest affected the payment of the salaries of tens of thousands of Popular Mobilization Forces fighters and retirees.

The Future: Corruption issues are likely to increase, before the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled to be held next fall, as the opposing forces, in the political and security spheres, are expected to attempt to settle scores and mobilize voter support.

 If the sentences against Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi do not spark an anti-Kadhimi political backlash, the latter will likely be emboldened to take bolder steps to target corrupt (and rival) figures with stronger political support from influential parties and paramilitary groups.

The more Al-Kadhimi takes such measures - even if they are extremely dangerous - the more likely he is to remain in office after the elections. However, Al-Kadhimi has significantly announced that he is determined to step down after the end of his current term later this year.

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Shafaq is Private Iraqi Media]

A group of 88 Iraqi lawmakers submitted a draft law on Saturday to expel foreign forces, including all U.S. troops, from the country.[...]

"We, the members of the Iraqi parliament, are submitting a draft law to expel foreign forces from Iraq," said Lawmaker Falih al-Khazali at a press conference. "This is a result of the continued violations of Iraqi sovereignty by US forces, which have repeatedly targeted the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and its leaders." Al-Khazali said that the draft law is necessary because Iraq no longer needs foreign troops. "We have a strong military and security forces that can defend the country," he said.

13 Jan 24

[authorselenalee]

A prison sentence on corruption charges for a former director of an Iraqi payment card company, linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces

News: After a months-long investigation, the Iraqi judiciary issued a prison sentence against the former director of Qi Card, Bahaa Abdul Hussein, who was arrested in September 2020 and remained in the custody of the authorities until he was convicted on corruption charges, and a fine of more than 10 million was imposed on him. Millions of Iraqi dinars (6,846 US dollars). Qi Card is considered a pioneer in providing electronic payment services in the country, as it facilitates the payment of salaries and pensions for more than a million Iraqis.

Coverage: The official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported on January 24 that the Iraqi Anti-Corruption Court issued a four-year prison sentence against the director of Qi Card for bribing the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Ahmed Abdel Jalil Al-Saadi. The agency added that the sentence against Abdul Hussein came based on the investigations of the Corruption and Important Crimes Committee that was established by the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi , last August. It should be noted that the Iraqi journalist, Mazen Al-Zaidi, had published a tweet  on January 13, attaching it to a television interview by the politician Faiq Sheikh Ali, in which he claimed that the former director of Qi Card, Abdul Hussein, had made his confessions under torture.

Most Iraqi and regional media covered this news with coverage similar to that of the official Iraqi News Agency (INA), including the Iraqi National News Agency (NINA) , Baghdad Al-Youm , The National website , and the Ultra Iraq website .

The independent Iraqi media outlet, Nas, also published a report on January 24 focusing on the charges against the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Al-Saadi, against whom the court issued a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million Iraqi dinars (US$6,846). ) for receiving bribes from Abdul Hussein. A special security force, SWAT , arrested Al -Saadi at his home, and six other officials, as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

The arrest of Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi last fall generated shock waves on social media in Iraq, as reactions varied among users on the Yalla page , a Facebook page that is very popular in Iraq. While some considered that the sentences were intended to sacrifice scapegoats in order to protect prominent figures, others expected that pardons would be issued for the convicted corrupt people in the end.

Context/Analysis: Qi Card was established as a joint project between the private sector, represented by the Iraqi Electronic Payment Systems Company, and the government sector, represented by Rafidain Bank. This project established the International Smart Card Company (ISC) in Baghdad in 2007, which manages the Qi card.

According to a report reported by the Financial Times (FT) in 2019, the International Smart Card Company (ISC) had transferred salaries, benefits, and pensions to seven million Iraqis through the Qi Card prepaid card service. Reports issued in 2017 indicated that only 23 percent of Iraqis over the age of 15 have accounts in financial institutions.

Several media outlets claimed that the Popular Mobilization Forces had misused Qi Card services. Last July , the New York Times made strong allegations accusing the Popular Mobilization Forces of registering 70,000 “alien” elements in the Qi Card electronic payment system.

According to the Times, the goal was to embezzle approximately $800 million annually. In a recent report published on January 2 of this year, the Middle East Eye website claimed that the slain deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was personally involved in the alleged plot.

The dispute over Qi Card is likely to have political dimensions. Given the existing tension between Al-Kadhimi and the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Prime Minister may attempt to put pressure on the Mobilization Forces or on its leaders who may be involved in suspicious transactions alongside the former Key Card director, Abdul Hussein. According to the Middle East Eye report , Abdul Hussein’s arrest affected the payment of the salaries of tens of thousands of Popular Mobilization Forces fighters and retirees.

The Future: Corruption issues are likely to increase, before the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled to be held next fall, as the opposing forces, in the political and security spheres, are expected to attempt to settle scores and mobilize voter support.

 If the sentences against Abdul Hussein and Al-Saadi do not spark an anti-Kadhimi political backlash, the latter will likely be emboldened to take bolder steps to target corrupt (and rival) figures with stronger political support from influential parties and paramilitary groups.

The more Al-Kadhimi takes such measures - even if they are extremely dangerous - the more likely he is to remain in office after the elections. However, Al-Kadhimi has significantly announced that he is determined to step down after the end of his current term later this year.