Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Sunday Morning 3-8-26
The Central Bank Of Iraq: Our Reserves Cover 12 Months Of Imports, And We Are Exploring Alternatives To Secure Salaries
Baghdad – One News 3/08/2026 The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed the strength of foreign reserves, noting that they cover about 12 months of imports, reflecting the stability of the country’s financial situation.
The bank explained that it is prepared to face any potential economic fluctuations, while continuing to support bank liquidity and ensure the smooth flow of foreign transfers. He also noted that a number of alternatives and measures were discussed that would ensure the securing of salaries and basic expenses during the coming months.
https://1news-iq.net/البنك-المركزي-العراقي-احتياطياتنا-تغ/
PSM Restricts Military Wing To “Humanitarian” Activities Only
2026-03-08 Shafaq News- Baghdad Saraya Al-Salam fighters have been instructed to limit their activities to “humanitarian” duties only, Muqtada Al-Sadr aide Saleh Mohammad Al-Iraqi said on Sunday, as the US-Israel-Iran war continues.
In a statement, Al-Iraqi said the group, the armed wing of Al-Sadr’s Patriotic Shiite Movement, would organize relief operations, including opening Al-Sadr’s guesthouse to distribute medical, service, and humanitarian assistance in coordination with affiliated organizations.
Citing rising attacks “from inside and outside” Iraq, Al-Iraqi called for efforts to assist civilians while asking God to protect the country from “colonialism, terrorism, extremism, and corruption.”
Iraq has seen a surge in drone and rocket attacks as the confrontation between Iran and the United States and Israel widens. Earlier today, a rocket landed in a football field in Basra, while air defense systems intercepted and destroyed two drones targeting Camp Victoria inside Baghdad International Airport.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a network of Iran-aligned armed factions, also claimed 24 attacks over the past 24 hours using drones and missiles against US bases in Iraq and across the Middle East. Saraya Al-Salam, although Shiite, is not part of the Popular Mobilization Forces or the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/PSM-restricts-military-wing-to-humanitarian-activities
Al-Sadr Freezes The Security And Military Activities Of The Peace Brigades: Their Duty Is Purely Humanitarian
Baghdad – One News 3/08/2026 The leader of the Shiite National Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, directed the Peace Brigades to adhere only to their "humanitarian duty".
“The Minister of the Commander,” quoting al-Sadr, said: “O God, protect Iraq, its holy sites, and its people from all evil. There are those who want to harm it from within and from abroad.
From here, we direct our dear brothers in the Peace Brigades, especially in these harsh circumstances, to carry out their humanitarian duty only until further notice, especially with the escalating pace of attacks from within and from abroad.”
He continued, “Therefore, we will direct them in a subsequent statement to open the Al-Sadr guesthouse and to issue special authorizations for medical, service, and humanitarian aid and the like, according to the time and place specified at that time, and in coordination with our dear brothers in the Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous administration.”
Leader Barzani: Aggression Against Kurdistan Region Will Not Be Tolerated
2026-03-08 Shafaq News- Erbil (Updated at 18:10) Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani condemned on Sunday the wave of attacks targeting civilian areas, economic infrastructure, and Peshmerga positions in the Kurdistan Region, warning that continued assaults threaten the Region’s stability and security.
In a public message, Barzani stressed that “the people of Kurdistan have never embraced war but have always sought peace and coexistence. When faced with conflict, they defend their rights and security, guided by a long-standing culture of peace.”
Urging the Government of Iraq, Iraqi Parliament, and the Shiite Coordination Framework to act decisively to halt the violence, he added that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means, noting that war leaves nothing but destruction and suffering in its wake. Barzani Headquarters بارەگای بارزانی sronotSdpec7ugt1c2ma73lma14ta910tiat245i00h23fhh3mglc30l07a0 ·
A Message From President Barzani To The Public Opinion.
In the name of the merciful God.
Throughout history, the nation of Kurdistan has never been with war and always wanted peace and harmony. Even if war was fought, they defended themselves and their rights. It is an unchanging principle and it is originally from a strong and rich faith in peace and unity of the Kurdistan nation.
It is very sad that there is a lot of war and tension in our area, now and then, we hope that all problems and problems will be resolved through peace, because war is always the cause of destruction and destruction.
It is a surprise that some groups and parties are under the name of the mob, with excuses and unnecessary lies, they allow themselves to attack the civil and sub-economy of Kurdistan Region and the bases and headquarters of Peshmarga. This is a war and a public assault on the rights of the citizens, stability and security of Kurdistan Region.
This is where everyone should know well that Independence has its limits. Peshmarga has never accepted injustice or injustice from any side, it can't and it should not be possible that the war selling and destroying the stability of the Kurdistan region and the security of the people by those groups should continue.
For this purpose, we ask the government, the council of representatives of Iraq and the political parties specially the coalition framework to put a line and a limit to those abuses, because the continuing war will have bad consequences.
I am expressing my condolences to the families and relatives of those loved ones who were martyred as a result of the unprecedented attacks, we will ensure that the people of Kurdistan will continue to make Kurdistan far from war and misery, peace, security and the lives of the people are safe and victorious. It will be for the Kurdistan nation.
Masoud Barzani
Barzani also criticized groups operating under the name of the “Resistance,” describing their attacks as “a direct assault on citizens,” while warning that “self-restraint has limits, and the Peshmerga will not tolerate aggression that undermines the security of Kurdistan and its people.”
Meanwhile, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the deadly attacks on Erbil, describing them as “unjustified” and driven by “blind hatred and deep-seated malice” toward the region and its people.
Speaking at the funeral of Walat Taher, a member of Erbil International Airport’s Asayish forces killed in the attacks, he stressed that Kurdistan has “never been and will never be a source of threat” to neighboring countries.
The Kurdistan Region has recently witnessed rising military tensions, with repeated strikes on strategic sites, including the Harir Air Base and Erbil International Airport, amid ongoing confrontations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Read more: Caught between war and neutrality: Kurdistan navigates escalating US-Iran confrontation
President Masoud Barzani: We Call On The Government, The Parliament, And Political Parties To Put An End To These Attacks
Kurdistan – One News 3/08/2026 In a message regarding the attacks on the Kurdistan Region, President Masoud Barzani declared that the people of Kurdistan have never been in favor of war and have always called for peace and coexistence, saying: “All parties must know very well that restraint also has its limits. The Peshmerga have never accepted injustice and oppression from any party.”
In recent days, following the outbreak of hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel, armed groups have been launching attacks from Iraq on cities in the Kurdistan Region. Last night alone, approximately 20 drones and missiles attacked Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, resulting in the death of a security officer in Erbil.
President Barzani says: “This hostility and undermining of the stability of the Kurdistan Region and the security of its citizens by these groups cannot and should not continue. For this purpose, we call on the Iraqi government, the Council of Representatives, and the political parties, especially the Coordination Framework, to intervene seriously and put an end to these attacks.” https://1news-iq.net/الرئيس-مسعود-بارزاني-ندعو-الحكومة-ومج/
Iraq Vows Neutrality In Rising Regional Conflict
2026-03-08 Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraq has ruled out becoming part of the ongoing regional conflict, warning that its territory will not be used for attacks on neighboring countries, as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to escalate.
At the extraordinary Arab League ministerial meeting held via video on Sunday, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein led Iraq’s delegation and condemned recent assaults across Iraq, noting they are intended to draw Baghdad into the regional war, which the country categorically opposes, calling for its end.
He further underlined Iraq’s commitment to diplomacy, stressing its longstanding support for negotiations between Iran and the United States, while cautioning that an expanding conflict threatens all regional countries and risks prolonging the war.
"The situation in the Strait of Hormuz poses serious risks," he warned, adding that it could directly affect Iraq, the wider region, and global energy markets, potentially triggering energy shortages and large-scale displacement.
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XCLUSIVE: Washington Eyes Kurdish Unrest To Pressure Tehran
2026-03-08 Shafaq News- Washington The administration of US President Donald Trump is betting on internal unrest —particularly among Iranian Kurdish groups— as part of a broader strategy to pressure the Iranian government amid the escalating military confrontation with Tehran and its allied factions, former US diplomat William Lawrence told Shafaq News on Sunday.
Lawrence, director of regional studies at the National Council on US-Arab Relations and a professor at the American University in Washington, said the conflict that erupted on February 28 between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other is part of a long-running confrontation unlikely to end soon.
Drawing on more than 15 years of diplomatic service in seven Middle Eastern countries, Lawrence described the current war as an extension of decades of tension between Iran and its adversaries rather than a short-lived crisis.
He also ruled out the possibility that the confrontation could evolve into a Vietnam-style war, noting that Vietnam involved a large-scale ground invasion, while there are no indications that the United States plans to invade Iran with ground troops.
nstead, in his view, the conflict more closely resembles scenarios seen in Venezuela, Libya, or Afghanistan before direct intervention, where air power is used to shape developments on the ground without deploying large US ground forces.
Read more: Between war and neutrality: Kurdistan navigates US-Iran confrontation
Kurdish Uprising
According to Lawrence, Trump seeks to pressure Iran’s political system and views unrest in Iran’s Kurdish regions as a potentially positive development. Localized uprisings in Iranian Kurdistan, he explained, could serve as the starting point for broader internal instability across the country.
He compared this approach to earlier conflicts where local forces advanced with external backing. The model resembles the 2001 Afghanistan campaign, when Kabul fell through the advance of “local militias” supported by US special forces and American air power.
Reports indicating Kurdish forces have moved deeper into Iranian territory would likely suggest that those groups received firm assurances of aerial support from US and Israeli aircraft.
Even so, he expressed doubt that such a strategy could lead to the collapse of the Iranian government. Iran’s military establishment and affiliated forces number roughly one million personnel, making widespread defections unlikely. He also pointed to historical experience suggesting that many Iranians reject leaders perceived as chosen or supported by foreign powers, recalling lessons associated with the events of 1953.
Inside the United States
Trump, Lawrence said, remains deeply concerned about the upcoming midterm elections. He pointed to divisions within the American right as well as growing opposition among left-leaning voters and independents to attacks on Iran and what they view as unconditional support for Israel.
He explained that the administration is seeking a swift outcome that could be presented domestically as a victory before the elections. Losing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate would significantly weaken Trump politically, potentially reopening the door to renewed impeachment efforts.
In Lawrence’s assessment, the administration’s handling of the crisis appears closely tied to electoral considerations, with the possibility that Washington may ultimately seek symbolic concessions from Iran similar to those he believes were achieved in cases such as Denmark’s position on Greenland or recent dealings with Venezuela.
Twenty-one Countries Involved
The professor also revealed that the conflict has expanded beyond the immediate parties involved, saying that 21 countries are currently participating militarily in various forms. Among those recently joining operations are Azerbaijan, Greece, France, and the Netherlands, while Egypt remains the only major Middle Eastern country that has not entered the conflict directly so far.
Russia and China, he added, are supporting Tehran through weapons supplies, intelligence sharing, and drone technology, though there are currently no indications that Moscow or Beijing intend to enter the fighting directly with their own forces.
The war, he concluded, is unlikely to produce a decisive military victory for either side. Instead, it will likely end only after the parties reach a stage of exhaustion, eventually forcing negotiations toward a ceasefire or a fragile settlement. For Iran, the survival of the regime itself would amount to victory, while for Washington, success would mean forcing a change in the regime’s behavior.
For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington, DC.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/World/EXCLUSIVE-Washington-eyes-Kurdish-unrest-to-pressure-Tehran