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A weekly brief of events and news occurred in the disputed territories.
Kirkuk
- On July 28th, an incident unfolded in Dumiz neighborhood as two Kurdish men fell victim to gunfire from the Iraqi national security forces. The attack transpired as the two men were riding a motorcycle through a national security checkpoint. One of the men lost his life instantaneously, while the other died of his injuries after being transported to the hospital. The young men were employed as bakery workers and were on their way home. The grieving relatives of the deceased gathered outside Azadi Hospital, refusing to claim the bodies until they were provided with assurances from the police regarding the apprehension of the perpetrators. General Kawa Gharib, the Kirkuk police commander, issued a statement asserting the “supremacy of the rule of law.” However, leaked information suggests that certain Arab officials are attempting to alter the course of the case, accusing the two young men of being armed aggressors who initiated gunfire against the national security forces. The incident marks the third instance since the distressing events of October 16, 2017, when Iraqi forces alongside Iranian-backed militias with the aid of treacherous elements in the PUK, seized control of Kirkuk, that the national security forces have employed lethal force against civilians without justification. Shakhawan Ashdullah, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, has urgently called for a comprehensive investigation into this case. Additionally, he has advocated for the removal of the director of national security in Kirkuk.
- Over eight months have elapsed since the establishment of the Iraqi government, yet the security transition for Kirkuk are still pending, with control not yet transferred to the local police. As outlined in the current cabinet’s agenda, the plan was to entrust city security to the local police and facilitate the withdrawal of both military forces and Iranian-backed militias from urban areas within three months of government formation. This timeline has not been met, and more than eight months have gone by without the handover of the security responsibilities to the local police.
- According to an amendment to the budget law, which was published in the Iraqi Government Newspaper, Al-Waqā’i, on July 17th, there has been a revision in the budget allocation for Article 140 of the constitution. The original budget amount of 200 billion Iraqi dinars, as stated in the law published on June 26th in the newspaper, has been reduced to 100 billion dinars. This adjustment was made following the correction of “typographical errors” by the Iraqi presidency in the earlier version of the law, though these errors were not linked to Article 140 itself. Article 140 of the constitution pertains to the normalization of Kurdish areas that were affected by the arabization policies during the rule of the former regime. Despite this provision being in place since 2005, successive Iraqi governments have yet to effectively implement it.
- On August 1st, the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) released the oil export statistics for July. According to these figures, the revenue generated from Kirkuk oil solely resulted from exports to Jordan, amounting to $22,084,696 for a total of 344,804 barrels of oil. The sale price per barrel stood at $64.05. Meanwhile, for the fourth consecutive month, the volume of oil exports from Kirkuk to the Turkish Cehan Port remained at zero. This situation has continued since March 22nd, following the suspension of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, which also impacted Kirkuk’s oil exports. An agreement between Turkey and Iraq regarding the resumption of oil exports has not yet been reached.
- On July 16th, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani embarked on a visit to Syria, where he engaged in discussions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In a statement released by Iraqi government spokesman Bassem Awadi on July 17th, it was revealed that Iraq is seeking to revitalize the Baniyas oil pipeline, and the Syrian side has expressed its readiness to cooperate in this endeavor. This initiative gained significance following Turkey’s suspension of oil exports on March 22nd. Iraq has initiated efforts along three pathways to secure alternative oil export options from Kirkuk. First, there’s a focus on reactivating the Baniyas oil pipeline. Second, there’s an emphasis on restoring the strategic corridor connecting Kirkuk to Basra. Third, there’s a pursuit of the completion of the Kirkuk-Aqaba pipeline project.
Khanaqin
- On July 28th, Ali Ghazi, the director of Khanaqin Immigration and Refugees, unveiled a comprehensive community plan designed to address the situation of displaced residents from nine villages in Khanaqin. According to this plan, displaced families from these nine villages face the choice of either establishing a permanent presence within Khanaqin and integrating into the city or returning to their original villages. All residents of these nine villages are Kurdish. Ali Ghazi attributes the hesitance to return primarily to the absence of adequate services and the presence of Iraqi army bases and headquarters within these villages. The Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MDM) has introduced a strategic blueprint referred to as the “Map of Migration,” which holds significant implications for the demographic composition of the disputed territories. A notable aspect of this dynamic is the migration of hundreds of thousands of non-Kurdish individuals from Mosul, Diyala, and Saladin to places like Kirkuk, Khanaqin, and Tuz Khurmatu. However, the reluctance of these displaced populations to return to their original locations adds a layer of complexity to the situation. This entire scenario underscores the intricate challenges involved in managing displacement, demography, and the reintegration of affected communities in the context of the disputed territories.
Shingal (Sinjar)
- On the ninth commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, urged for a resolution to the political stalemate in Shingal. He stressed the importance of implementing the Sinjar Agreement between Baghdad and Erbil. Concurrently, the European Union welcomed the passing of the Yazidi Female Survivors Law and appealed to both Erbil and Baghdad to honor their security accord, which includes the appointment of a new mayor.
- On July 28th, the Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) claimed the “neutralization” of a member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) within the district. The official was identified as Massoud Jalal Osman, also known as Zagros Mosleh, who held membership in the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS). In a separate attack, Turkish intelligence confirmed the demise of another prominent YBS figure, Yilmaz Biram, also known as Akid Kufri. This occurrence resulted from an airstrike, which claimed the lives of Yılmaz and six accompanying fighters. Turkey designates the YBS as an extension of the PKK, and its attacks on the group have resulted in numerous civilian casualties.