Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Wednesday Evening 3-4-26
The Coordinating Framework Decides To Withdraw Al-Maliki's Nomination For Prime Minister
Politics breaking 2026-03-03 Shafaq News – Baghdad An informed source reported on Tuesday that the coordinating framework decided to withdraw Nouri al-Maliki's nomination for the premiership.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that "the leaders of the Coordination Framework agreed during today's meeting to withdraw Nouri al-Maliki's nomination for the premiership."
He added that "the official statement will be issued in the coming hours, and the next two days will witness intensive meetings in order to agree on a new candidate who enjoys the support of the Coordination Framework forces and the rest of the Sunni and Kurdish political forces."
He noted that "today's meeting of the framework witnessed the absence of Nouri al-Maliki, Humam Hamoudi and Abu Ala al-Walai."
For his part, a source in the State of Law Coalition told Shafaq News Agency that "the coordination framework will hold a meeting in the coming days to discuss the issue of adhering to or withdrawing Nouri al-Maliki's nomination for the premiership."
He added that "what was published regarding the withdrawal of the nomination is incorrect, and the coordinating framework has no right to make any decision in the absence of the main members from the meeting."
The “coordination framework,” which includes ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq, is witnessing a division over the nomination of Maliki for the next government, amid American warnings of the repercussions of his selection, which prompted forces within the coalition to try to persuade him to withdraw in order to preserve the unity of the framework. shafaq.com الإطار التنسيقي يقرر سحب ترشيح المالكي لرئاسة الحكومة - شفق نيوز
A Move In The Iraqi Parliament To Cancel The Security Agreement With Washington And Replace It With "China Or Russia"
2026-03-04 Shafaq News – Baghdad On Wednesday, MP Miqdad al-Khafaji, from the parliamentary rights bloc, confirmed that US and Israeli forces targeted several sites belonging to the security forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces, and resistance factions in Iraq.
Al-Khafaji told Shafaq News Agency that "the (American-Israeli) operations resulted in the killing of 19 people and the wounding of dozens of members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the security forces."
He pointed out that no airdrop of US forces on Iraqi territory had been recorded, indicating that the House of Representatives would present in the next session a draft bill to cancel the security agreement with the US side to protect Iraqi airspace, and at the same time another agreement would be sought with global countries such as Russia and China.
According to Al-Khafaji, there is no specific date set for the next session of the House of Representatives, as it was scheduled to be held last Sunday, but some representatives requested its postponement with unrealistic pretexts.
He continued, saying that "the United States of America has proven its conspiracy against the Iraqi people and government by targeting security sites belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as civilian sites, and by exploiting Iraqi airspace to strike other countries."
Sites belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq were subjected to American and Israeli strikes, carried out via drones and missiles, according to informed sources who spoke to Shafaq News Agency earlier.
In response, the factions retaliated by shelling the city of Erbil (the capital of the Kurdistan Region) and some areas of Sulaymaniyah Governorate, which led to an escalation of tension and a widening of the confrontation.
Since Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel have been waging a large-scale military strike against Iran, targeting leaders, officialياd military and nuclear facilities, while Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and American bases in Gulf countries.https://www.shafaq.com/ar/سیاسة/تحرك-في-البرلمان-العراقي-ل-لغا-الاتفاقية-ال-منية-مع-واشنطن-واستبدالها-بـ-الصين-و-روسيا
Kuwait Summons Iraq's Chargé D'affaires To Protest Attacks By Armed Factions
Kuwait – One News 3/04/2026 The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that it had summoned the Iraqi chargé d'affaires to Kuwait and handed him a protest note regarding the targeting of Kuwaiti territory by Iraqi armed factions.
The Ministry stated in a statement that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Ambassador Aziz Rahim Al-Daihani, summoned the Acting Deputy Foreign Minister, Zaid Abbas Shanshul, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the State of Kuwait, to hand him a protest note following the attacks launched by Iraqi armed factions targeting Kuwaiti territory on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
According to the statement, Al-Daihani reiterated his country’s condemnation of these dangerous practices that violate sovereignty and are a clear violation of the rules of international law, noting that they have caused casualties among civilians and military personnel, in addition to serious material losses and damages.
He pointed out that “launching attacks on the State of Kuwait using Iraqi territory or the territory of any neighboring country is a crime of aggression criminalized in international law and is contrary to the principles of territorial integrity,” stressing the importance of Iraq taking practical and tangible steps to address and stop these attacks.
Al-Daihani affirmed “the sovereign right of the State of Kuwait, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, to defend its territory and vital installations against any aggression or threat to its security, in a manner that guarantees the exercise of its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with the provisions of international law.” https://1news-iq.net/الكويت-تستدعي-القائم-بأعمال-العراق-اح/
Kuwait Protests Iraq Over Faction Strikes
2026-03-04 Shafaq News- Kuwait Kuwait on Wednesday summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires Zaid Abbas Shanshul, delivering a memorandum of protest over strikes carried out by Iraqi armed factions on Kuwaiti territory.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait condemned the attacks as a breach of its sovereignty and a violation of international law, reporting casualties among civilians and military personnel, along with significant material damage.
وزارة الخارجية @MOFAKuwait
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by His Excellency Ambassador Aziz Rahim Al-Deihani, Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, summoned His Excellency Dr. Zaid Abbas Shanshul, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the State of Kuwait, in order to hand him a protest note following the attacks launched by Iraqi armed factions that targeted Kuwaiti territories on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
During the meeting, His Excellency the Acting Deputy Minister renewed the State of Kuwait's condemnation in the strongest terms of the dangerous practices that violate its sovereignty and constitute a flagrant violation of the rules of international law, which resulted in casualties among civilians and military personnel, in addition to significant material losses and damages, emphasizing that launching attacks on the State of Kuwait using Iraqi territories or any territories of a neighboring state is tantamount to the crime of aggression under international law and contradicts the principles of regional security, while stressing the importance of the Republic of Iraq taking practical and tangible steps to address and stop those attacks.
His Excellency also affirmed the State of Kuwait's sovereign right, pursuant to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, to defend its territories and vital facilities against any aggression or threat to its security, in a manner that ensures the exercise of its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law.
Stressing that launching attacks against Kuwait from Iraqi soil constitutes an act of aggression under international law and violates the principle of territorial integrity, Kuwait urged Iraqi authorities to take clear and practical steps to prevent further incidents.
The development unfolds as several Iraqi armed factions have declared their involvement in the ongoing war between the United States and Israel against Iran, vowing to target US bases and interests inside Iraq and elsewhere in the region. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Kuwait-protests-Iraq-over-faction-strikes
Iran-Backed Factions Risk Dragging Iraq Into Regional War, Says Al-Alusi
2026-03-04 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq could be dragged into a widening regional conflict due to the expanding influence of Iran-aligned armed factions, politician Mithal al-Alusi warned Wednesday, arguing that state authority is eroding under external pressure.
Al-Alusi told Shafaq News that while Iraq is not officially involved in the current war, developments on the ground reveal “the state’s inability to curb militias loyal to Tehran.”
He alleged that “some factions operate under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with political, parliamentary and media roles distributed to preserve Iranian leverage inside Iraq and across the region.”
Al-Alusi further claimed that certain groups include members from Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, suggesting they could be mobilized to target those countries as part of a broader regional escalation.
He argued that Iraq’s executive and legislative institutions have become constrained by Iranian influence, exposing the country to potential military, financial and diplomatic retaliation while weakening domestic stability.
Referring to repeated strikes in the Kurdistan Region, al-Alusi said the attacks aim to undermine Kurdish leadership and consolidate Tehran’s influence. He dismissed claims by armed factions that operations near Erbil were linked to the USconsulate, describing them as a “pretext.” https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iran-backed-factions-risk-dragging-Iraq-into-regional-war-says-al-Alusi
Iraqi MP Demands End To US Security Pact
2026-03-04 Shafaq News- Baghdad The United States and Israel targeted multiple sites belonging to Iraqi security forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and resistance factions, a senior Iraqi official told Shafaq News on Wednesday.
Muqdad Al-Khafaji, a member of parliament from the Shiite Huqooq (Rights) bloc within the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework (CF), indicated that the operations killed 19 people and injured dozens of PMF and security personnel. (a pro-Iran MP trying to affect policy)
He added that Parliament will prepare a draft to cancel the security agreement with Washington, which allows US forces to operate in Iraqi airspace, while exploring potential agreements with other countries, including Russia and China.
“There is no set date for the next parliamentary session,” Al-Khafaji noted, pointing out that a session originally scheduled for Sunday was postponed after some lawmakers requested delays for reasons he described as “unrealistic.”
Yesterday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) reported launching 67 operations over 48 hours in two Iraqi provinces and four other countries, targeting US “occupation bases” and interests in the region.
A graphic circulated by outlets affiliated with the factions listed several bases it claimed were struck inside Iraq, including Harir base, Ain Al-Asad base, Erbil base, Al-Rukban base, and Al-Rasheed base. In response, the United States struck several Iraq faction bases in Jurf Al-Sakhar (Jurf Al-Nasr), south of Baghdad, as well as in Mosul, Kirkuk, and Nineveh.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraqi-MP-demands-end-to-US-security-pact
Iraq’s Al-Sistani Urges Halt To War On Iran
2026-03-04 Shafaq News- Najaf Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani on Wednesday condemned the ongoing US-Israeli military attacks on Iran, warning they could trigger severe regional and international consequences.
A statement from his office in Najaf said the strikes over the past several days had killed many Iranian citizens, including civilians and children, and caused extensive damage to public and private property.
Launching a war against a United Nations member state without authorization from the UN Security Council to impose conditions or topple its political system would set a dangerous precedent capable of destabilizing the Middle East and the wider world, the cleric cautioned.
“The conflict has already expanded beyond Iran, with military operations affecting other countries and damaging facilities across the region.” https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq-s-Al-Sistani-urges-halt-to-war-on-Iran