Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Late Saturday Evening 9-26-26
Iraq Declares Four-Day Holiday For Sovereignty Days
2026-09-26 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq’s Cabinet on Saturday declared a four-day holiday in state institutions from September 30 through October 3 to mark the country’s “Sovereignty Days,” Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s media office said.
Al-Zaidi had previously instructed ministries, government bodies and provincial authorities to coordinate with the Government Media Cell on events marking Iraqi Sovereignty Day.
The Council of Ministers Declares an Official Holiday Across State Institutions from Wednesday, September 30, through Saturday, October 3, in Celebration of the Republic of Iraq’s Sovereignty Days
Media Office of the Prime Minister September 26, 2026
Iraq is expected to mark the completion of the US-led Coalition’s military withdrawal on September 30, following the handover of its remaining bases and facilities to Iraqi authorities.
Iraq and the United States agreed in September 2024 to end the US-led Coalition’s military mission against ISIS in Iraq through a phased plan shifting bilateral security relations from the Coalition framework to a direct partnership.
The first phase ended in September 2025, while Coalition forces remained in the Kurdistan Region to support operations against ISIS in Syria, with the final phase scheduled for completion by the end of September 2026.
The Global Coalition was formed in 2014 to support Iraqi forces against ISIS after the group seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. Its role later shifted largely to training, advising and intelligence support.
Read more: Iraqi Army after US-led Coalition withdrawal
https://shafaq.com/en/society/Iraq-declares-four-day-holiday-for-Sovereignty-Days
US Hands Over Diplomatic Center At Baghdad Airport To Iraqi Government
The center was previously part of the US’ Victory Base military installation, before being repurposed as a diplomatic support hub during the US troops’ withdrawal from Iraq in 2011.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq and the US on Thursday signed an agreement to hand over the US Embassy’s Diplomatic support Center at Baghdad International Airport to the Iraqi government, as part of procedures paving the way for the US-led global coalition’s withdrawal by the end of September.
The agreement was signed by the Iraqi foreign ministry’s Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom and the US Charge d’Affaires in Iraq Steven Fagin.
“This step is part of the Iraqi government’s efforts to finalize procedures regarding the conclusion of the International Coalition’s mission and the foreign military presence in Iraq,” the statement stressed.
The US-led coalition was brought to Iraq in 2014 at Baghdad’s invitation to help repel the Islamic State (ISIS) advance across the country. Under an agreement between Washington and Baghdad, the coalition is set to complete its withdrawal from all Iraqi territory by September 30.
The two sides affirmed that the agreement represents “a key step” in regulating relations between the two countries and establishing framework for a “new phase” of bilateral ties built on “expanding areas of convergence and joint action to serve the mutual interests.”
The Diplomatic support Center was a diplomatic and logistics facility run by the US State Department and situated on the west side of Baghdad International Airport. It was previously part of the US’ Victory Base military installation, before being repurposed as a diplomatic support hub during the US troops’ withdrawal from Iraq in 2011.
The center, alongside other US interests in Iraq, was subject to drone attacks from Iran-aligned armed factions during the regional conflict that began in late February.
The new Iraqi government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has sought to disram non-state armed actors and restrict weapons to the state; a campaign heavily supported by Washington, as US interests and facilities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have been repeatedly struck by these groups over the years. https://thenewregion.com/posts/6620
Barak: There Is No Justification For The Factions To Remain After The American Withdrawal And Their Integration Into State Institutions
Baghdad - One News - 9/25/2026 US Special Envoy to Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack affirmed that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s approach to dealing with the militias is a smart move, based on ending their existence as independent entities and integrating their members into Iraqi state institutions.
Barak said that what the Prime Minister is doing in Iraq is “very smart,” explaining that when the militias begin to disband, their members can be integrated into the Iraqi government and receive the same salaries, provided that the integration process is carried out on an individual basis.
He added that the goal of this path is to reach a single state, by unifying individuals within its institutions instead of the continued existence of separate armed formations.
Barak pointed out that there was no reason for the militias to continue to exist, given the departure of the Coalition forces and United States. https://1news-iq.net/باراك-لا-مبرر-لبقاء-الفصائل-بعد-الانسح/
Iraq inflation rises 0.7% in August
2026-09-26 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq’s consumer price index rose 0.7% in August from July and increased 3.3% year on year, according to data from the country’s Statistics and GIS Authority.
The general consumer price index reached 110.9 in August, up from 110.1 in July.
Compared with August 2025, when the index stood at 107.4, consumer prices rose 3.3% year on year. https://shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-inflation-rises-0-7-in-August
US Dollar Falls In Baghdad And Erbil
2026-09-26 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil The US dollar closed Saturday’s trading lower in Iraq, hovering around 156,300 dinars per 100 dollars.
According to a Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchange markets at 156,300 dinars per 100 dollars, down from the morning session’s 156,800 dinars.
In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 156,750 dinars and bought it at 155,750 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 156,400 dinars and buying prices at 156,350 dinars.
https://shafaq.com/en/Economy/US-dollar-falls-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil