Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Tuesday Afternoon 2-17-26
President Barzani Marks Ramadan With Call For Tolerance And Unity
2026-02-17 / Shafaq News- Erbil
Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday extended Ramadan greetings to Muslims in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and worldwide.
In a post on X, Barzani said the holy month should strengthen tolerance, harmony, and coexistence, describing them as pillars of the Region’s social fabric. He expressed hope that Ramadan would help ease suffering and crises and amplify messages of unity and peace.
Nechirvan Barzani @IKRPresident
On the occasion of the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, I extend my warmest congratulations to the Muslim community of Kurdistan, Iraq, and the world. I hope that the coming of this blessed month becomes a source of goodness, prosperity, and resilience for the people of Kurdistan and the entire region.
May we seize this sacred occasion as an opportunity to deepen the spirit of tolerance, coexistence, and unity, which has always been the noble identity of our homeland Kurdistan.
From the Almighty God, we beseech that this blessed month becomes the beginning of the end of hardships and troubles, and that the message of peace and coexistence spreads throughout the world.
May Ramadan be blessed for all, and may every year bring goodness and joy.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed through fasting from dawn to dusk and heightened spiritual reflection. Iraq’s Sunni Endowment and the Kurdistan Region’s religious authorities announced that Wednesday will mark the first day of Ramadan, while several other Muslim-majority countries declared Thursday as the start date due to differing moon-sighting criteria.
KDP Bloc Rejects Parliament Vote On Army Chief, Cites Lack Of Consensus
2026-02-17 Shafaq News- Baghdad The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) parliamentary bloc objected to the mechanism used to vote on the position of Iraqi Army Chief of Staff during the parliamentary session, the bloc’s head, Shakhawan Abdullah, told Shafaq News on Tuesday.
Abdullah clarified that lawmakers had agreed beforehand to keep the agenda unchanged, “but the Speaker of Parliament (pro- Iran) introduced additional items, prompting objections from the Deputy Speaker in accordance with internal regulations.” He called the step a violation of the law and “an unsuccessful beginning,” noting that the KDP would address the matter later.
He also argued that presenting a candidate for a position and voting on it while the government is operating in a caretaker capacity constitutes “a constitutional violation.” Abdullah described the current Chief of Staff’s relationship with the Kurdistan Region as positive, stating that “this position was allocated to the Kurds and cannot be taken and given to another component. If the position of Chief of Staff is taken from the Kurds, dialogue must be pursued, and the issue discussed.”
In its latest session, the Iraqi Parliament confirmed the continuation of Baghdad Mayor Ammar Musa Kazem and Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah in their posts.
MPs from Al-Azm bloc, led by Muthanna Al-Samarrai, condemned “Iraqi Parliament’s presidency proceeding with measures that affect the political balance at the national level,” adding that these steps “do not take into account the principle of genuine partnership in managing state institutions and distributing senior positions.”
Iraqi Parliament Approves Amended Bylaws, Confirms Army Chief And Baghdad Mayor
2026-02-17 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq’s Council of Representatives voted on Tuesday to approve the amended internal bylaws related to parliamentary committees, and confirmed the continuation of Baghdad Mayor Ammar Musa Kazem and Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah in their posts.
Hamam Al-Tamimi, a lawmaker from the Badr bloc led by Hadi Al-Ameri, said during a press conference after the session that his bloc gathered the signatures required to confirm the Army Chief of Staff, adding that the bloc “takes responsibility for correcting the course of security leaders.” He noted that this step “is the first by the Council of Representatives to confirm a commander of the Iraqi Army, with the institution managed in an official capacity rather than by proxy.”
Earlier, the Council of Representatives issued a parliamentary order to form a temporary committee comprising 19 lawmakers to amend Internal Regulation No. (1) of 2022, specifically regarding permanent parliamentary committees. The order stipulated that the committee would be chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and include a number of male and female lawmakers. The committee is tasked with amending provisions related to the permanent parliamentary committees.
Later, the Speakership of the Council announced the permanent parliamentary committees for the current legislative term, which are:
1- Legal Committee.
2- Finance Committee.
3- Security and Defense Committee.
4- Integrity Committee.
5- Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee.
6- Foreign Relations Committee.
7- Services and Reconstruction Committee.
8- Electricity and Energy Committee.
9- Economy, Industry and Trade Committee.
10- Investment and Development Committee.
11- Health and Narcotics Control Committee.
12- Regions and Governorates Not Organized in a Region, Planning and Government Program, and Endowments Committee.
13- Transport, Communications and Governance Committee.
14- Culture, Media, Tourism and Antiquities Committee.
15- Education Committee.
16- Higher Education Committee.
17- Agriculture, Water Resources and Environment Committee.
18- Labor, Civil Society Organizations, Federal Public Service, Youth and Sports Committee.
19- Migration, Displacement, Community Reconciliation and Tribes Committee.
20- Martyrs, Victims and Political Prisoners Committee.
21- Human Rights, Women, Family and Childhood Committee.
22- Border Crossings and Protection of National Product Committee.