Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Evening 7-27-26
Masrour Barzani renews his support for the Zaidi government in combating corruption, and demands that Baghdad assume its responsibility in protecting the Kurdistan Region from the threat of drones - 7/27/2026
Latest News Monday, July 27, 2026 Erbil - One News - The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, announced his government’s support for the steps taken by Prime Minister Ali Zaidi’s government in combating corruption, stressing the region’s readiness to provide assistance and cooperation with the federal government to address outstanding problems in a final and radical manner.
Barzani said that the Kurdistan Region supports the federal government and seeks to strengthen cooperation with it, stressing that the region calls for resolving the crises that the region is going through peaceful means, away from escalation and wars.
On the security front, Barzani held the federal government responsible for averting the threat of drones targeting the region, stressing that Kurdistan is not a party to the war, and that his government has demanded respect for the region’s sovereignty and the prevention of the use of Iraqi territory or airspace to target it.
He added that the continued drone attacks require Baghdad to take practical measures to protect the security of the region and its citizens, reiterating the call to adopt dialogue and peaceful solutions to address the region's crises.
On the economic front, Barzani pointed out that the fuel quota allocated to the region by the federal government is not sufficient to cover local consumption, noting that the regional government has requested an increase in the quantities sent.
The regional government chief attributed the rise in fuel prices to the crises and tensions in the region, and the resulting pressure on supplies and markets.
Barzani affirmed that the regional government is committed to supporting and cooperating with the al-Zaidi government, both in combating corruption and in addressing financial and security disputes, in order to contribute to maintaining stability and reaching lasting solutions to the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil.
https://1news-iq.net/مسرور-بارزاني-يجدد-دعمه-لحكومة-الزيدي/
PM Barzani: Erbil-Bound Drones Sent From Nineveh
2026-07-27 / 04:30 Shafaq News- Erbil Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday said some drones targeting Erbil were launched from Nineveh province, urging the federal government to stop armed IRI groups from using Iraqi territory to “threaten” the Region.
Speaking at a press conference, Barzani stated that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had sought an air-defense system through Baghdad and several foreign governments but was not permitted to acquire one, although defensive systems alone “will not end the threat.”
On July 24, Global Coalition air defenses shot down five explosive drones over Erbil, according to the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate, which reported that the aircraft approached from west of the province and caused no casualties, although falling debris ignited dry vegetation.
Around 20 drone and missile attacks have targeted the Kurdistan Region since July 17, including US-linked sites around Erbil and Iranian-Kurdish opposition bases in Erbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah. The strikes killed at least nine people and wounded six, all members of Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups.
Iran’s army has taken responsibility for attacks on US infrastructure and Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups, but no Iraqi IRI armed faction has claimed the strikes. (so they can't be blamed and give the GOI leverage to remove their arms) Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada denied (they lie outright) on July 17 that any operation had been launched from Iraqi territory, while Saraya Awliya Al-Dam rejected reports linking it to the attacks on July 25 as false and unsupported by evidence.
Read more: Two weeks of attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran claims US damage
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/PM-Barzani-Erbil-bound-drones-sent-from-Nineveh
Salaries Await Liquidity... Funding Crisis Delays Employee Payments
Baghdad Today - Baghdad An informed source revealed today, Monday (July 27, 2026), that the salaries of most state employees for this month have been delayed, despite the month having ended, attributing this to a lack of financial liquidity and a decline in public revenues.
The source told Baghdad Today that the delay in paying salaries is due to the repercussions of the war between the United States and Iran, and the accompanying closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which affected oil exports and contributed to a decline in financial revenues, making it difficult to provide the necessary liquidity to release employee salaries.
He added that the Ministry of Finance had announced on the 22nd of this month the release of funding for the salaries of state employees, but a large number of institutions have not yet been able to disburse the dues of their employees, due to the continued financial liquidity crisis. https://baghdadtoday.news/303975-.html
MP Miqdad Al-Khafaji Demands The Ministry Of Finance Explain The Reasons For The Delay In Salary Payments.
House of Representatives, Office of the Minister
Dr. Miqdad Al-Khafaji, Surgeon House of Representatives Najomeh Ne Nushtiran
Republic of Iraq Council of Representatives ۸۰۹ Number: Date: 26/7/2026
Greetings... To: Ministry of Finance / Minister's Office
Subject: Clarification and Follow-up on the Reasons for the Delay in Salary Disbursement
Based on the provisions of Article (61/Second) of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq of 2005 and the provisions of Articles (15) and (27) of the Law of the House of Representatives and its Formations No. (13) of 2018, and based on the numerous appeals and complaints received by our office from employees, retirees, and social welfare beneficiaries,
We kindly request your review and explanation of the reasons for the monthly delay in releasing and distributing the salaries of employees, retirees, and beneficiaries, which has negatively and directly impacted the daily lives of citizens and their ability to meet their basic financial obligations
We also request the swift establishment of a specific and urgent regulatory mechanism, obligating all ministries, non-ministerial entities, and governorates to adhere to the specified annual and monthly deadlines for submitting payroll lists and receiving notifications, with a fixed and specific date designated each month for disbursing entitlements without any delay. as required by law.
We kindly request your response, along with detailed reasons for the delay, within the legally specified period, so that we may inform the public and take With utmost respect and appreciation
Deputy Dr. Al-Kharaj Miqdad Al-Khafaji Please be advised... With appreciation. Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputies - O Administration - For filing
Due To A Lack Of Liquidity, The Ministry Of Finance Postpones Salary Payments, And Parliament Moves To Summon The Minister.
Today 12:35 Information / Baghdad... An informed source reported on Monday that the Ministry of Finance and the Accounting Department have decided to postpone the disbursement of salaries for employees of ministries and government departments for three days due to a temporary shortage of cash liquidity.
The source told Al-Maalomah that "this measure prompted the Parliamentary Finance Committee to take urgent action, as it intends to summon the Minister of Finance and the Directors General of the Accounting and Budget Departments in the coming hours."
The source added that "the summons will be held within the committee or in the Parliament building to provide an urgent briefing to the public and the legislative authority regarding the current cash liquidity situation and the reasons that led to this emergency halt in the salary funding process." End/25
Salary Phobia: Citizens Are Apprehensive, But The Government Reassures: It Has Been Thoroughly Reviewed Before Distribution.
Information / Special.. The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, revealed today, Monday, the reasons for the delay in disbursing employee salaries during the current month and previous months, while reassuring citizens that the disbursement of salaries cannot be delayed for more than a month.
Saleh told Al-Maalomah that “the delay in salaries is due to regulatory financial procedures related to auditing and preparing the salaries of each ministry and institution government within what is known as the (trial balance), which includes each ministry’s share of salaries and disbursement units.”
He added that "there are about 1,000 disbursement units in Iraq, all of which are included in the trial balance, and then submitted to the General Accounts Department for detailed auditing in accordance with the highest standards of financial governance."
Saleh explained that "the trial balance includes the number of employees, their salary costs, promotions, bonuses, and all details related to the monthly salary," noting that "the audit process may be repeated once or twice to verify the funds before they are disbursed monthly after the procedures are completed."
He pointed out that "the state provides financial allocations to employees of companies that have been shut down since 2003, as a result of the declining economic and investment policies in the country, which have not provided solutions for these companies to return to production and benefit from them locally or through export."
Saleh pointed out that “the total amount allocated to the salaries of state employees in its various formations, in addition to the salaries of retirees, beneficiaries of the social protection network, wages, and grants, amounts to about 8 trillion Iraqi dinars.”
The Prime Minister's financial advisor emphasized that "salaries must remain a red line for the government, as they represent a source of livelihood for approximately 40 million Iraqi citizens," explaining that "the state's fiscal policy is concerned with addressing any liquidity shortfalls and securing the necessary funds through various means, whether through domestic or external borrowing." (End of page 25)
From Oil Dominance To A Diversified Economy: Al-Zidi's Government Aims To Raise Non-Oil Revenues To 46% And Expand Private Sector Contribution Over The Next Decade
latest newsMonday,July 27, 2026Baghdad - One News - The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Financial and Economic Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, revealed a long-term governmental plan to restructure public finances and the Iraqi economy over the next ten years, by diversifying revenue sources and reducing dependence on oil, in parallel with expanding the role of the private sector and increasing its contribution to the gross domestic product.
Saleh said that the government’s fiscal policy aims, during the next decade, to achieve economic stability and sustainable development, through restructuring public expenditures and revenues, and adopting the federal budget as a tool to reorganize the real economy and revitalize the productive sectors.
He explained that the financial track includes two main objectives; the first is to raise the share of non-oil revenues to about 46% of total public revenues, compared to a percentage that does not exceed 10% or less currently, in order to limit the impact of oil price fluctuations and the volatility of its revenues on public finances.
The second objective is to raise the private sector’s contribution to GDP from about 37% currently to 54% over the next ten years, by expanding the investment and production environment and promoting economic activity outside the government sector.
Saleh pointed out that revitalizing the productive sectors would provide sustainable job opportunities and reduce the unemployment rate to about 3% of the total workforce, instead of its current level of about 13%.
According to the government's proposal, these goals reflect an effort to reshape the structure of the Iraqi economy and gradually move from a model heavily reliant on oil revenues and public spending to a more diversified economy driven by broader productive and investment sectors. https://1news-iq.net/من-هيمنة-النفط-إلى-اقتصاد-متنوع-حكومة/