US Presses Iraq On Regional Threats Originating From It's Soil.

[Luigi1]

Here's some articles of Dinarian interests...

Direct From The SANDBOX Report.

The top stories are:

-Corruption arrests are made & money recovered.

-US presses Iraq over attacks on nations originating from it's soil.

Last month UAE was attacked with drones by pro Iran forces in Iraq.

Treat as Rumors.  not verified.  Your opine.

 

 

 

Iraq Seizes $10 Million, Dozens Of Properties In Oil Corruption Case.

ARTICLE:  Iraqi authorities seized on Tuesday nearly 40 properties, $10 million in cash, three billion Iraqi Dinars (≈ $2.29 million), & large quantities of weapons in an expanding corruption case involving former Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan Mohammed Mahmoud.

 

According to a statement from the Supreme Judicial Council, preliminary investigations led to the seizure of properties in Baghdad, Saladin & Erbil, along with around 1.5 kilograms of gold.  The investigating judge said authorities also confiscated large quantities of light & medium weapons, adding that inquiries remain ongoing to identify all individuals & entities linked to the case.

 

Mahmoud, who previously served as deputy oil minister for refining affairs, was arrested last week on corruption-related charges.

 

Earlier this week, security forces arrested the financial director of the North Refineries Company in Baiji, though authorities have not publicly disclosed the reasons for the detention or any charges against him.

 

Arrest Of Oil Official Linked To Fuel Shortages Across Iraq.

ARTICLE:  The arrest of Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan al-Jumaili has contributed to fuel supply disruptions & long queues at filling stations across Baghdad & several Iraqi provinces since the Eid al-Adha holiday.

 

Sources familiar with the matter told Shafaq News that some northern refineries have slowed or halted fuel shipments in protest against the detention of al-Jumaili, who previously headed the North Refineries Company, creating additional pressure on gasoline supplies reaching the capital.

 

Al-Jumaili was arrested on May 30 as part of a corruption investigation linked to government contract reviews & anti-corruption measures.

 

The disruptions have coincided with a worsening fuel crunch on the ground, where motorists reported spending hours searching for gasoline & moving between multiple stations in an attempt to refuel.  The government has denied any fuel shortage, attributing the pressure on stations to increased consumption driven by high temperatures & greater use of cooling systems.

 

However, the continuing queues have fueled public frustration, with many residents questioning why fuel remains difficult to obtain despite official assurances that supplies are sufficient to meet daily demand.

 

No unified explanation has yet emerged from the authorities responsible for fuel distribution, leaving uncertainty over when conditions at filling stations will return to normal.

 

Fire Losses In Duhok Hit $1,6M+ In 2026.

ARTICLE:  Civil Defense teams in Duhok province recorded 357 incidents since the beginning of 2026, including 204 fires that caused material losses estimated at 2.5 billion Iraqi Dinars (about $1.62M), with an increase of about 35 million Dinars compared with last month, a Civil Defense official told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

 

Biwar Abdulaziz, the Directorate’s spokesperson, stated that the province also recorded 19 drowning incidents, along with five other fatalities, including one suicide by drowning in a dam & four deaths caused by blazes. He added that Civil Defense teams rescued 41 people during the same period from drowning, traffic accidents & structural collapses before transferring them to hospitals for treatment.

 

The directorate carried out 3,035 field inspections of buildings, residential complexes & other sites in and around Duhok to verify the availability of firefighting systems, automatic fire-control equipment & compliance with safety regulations.

 

During the harvest season, he explained that abundant rainfall this year contributed to significant growth in vegetation & crops, prompting the directorate to implement a preventive plan to protect wheat fields & farms from fires.

 

The plan includes deploying 30 firefighting teams across agricultural areas to reduce response times & contain any outbreaks quickly.”

 

As for the summer swimming season, Abdulaziz pointed out that diving teams have been stationed at dams, rivers & other water sites to respond to drowning incidents.  He noted that heavy rainfall has altered the conditions of many water bodies & raised water levels compared with last year.

 

Iraq Cancels Settlement Deal With Korek Telecom.

ARTICLE:  Iraq's Communications & Media Commission (CMC) on Tuesday canceled its settlement agreement with Korek Telecom, citing the company's failure to comply with contractual obligations despite being granted multiple opportunities to resolve outstanding issues.

 

The regulator said it would begin implementing the legal and regulatory measures stipulated under the agreement, including actions related to the company's operations & assets per Iraqi law.

 

It also directed its Consumer Voice Department to receive & process complaints from Korek subscribers & address any issues resulting from the decision, urging government institutions, private entities & the public not to enter into new agreements or commitments with the company. “Korek would bear responsibility for any legal or financial consequences arising from the cancellation.”

 

In 2025, CMC ordered the suspension of internet services provided by Korek Telecom, a move that sparked criticism from residents & activists in the Kurdistan Region over its impact on consumers & businesses.

 

Summer Heat Power Shortages Boosts Nightlife On Erbil's Iskan Street.

ARTICLE:  Climbing summer temperatures in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, are driving growing crowds to Iskan Street, which has become a major nighttime destination for families & tourists.

 

Kamran Ahmed, a visitor, told Shafaq News on Tuesday that Iskan Street offers a welcome escape from the high temperatures.

 

Staying at home during this weather is unbearable,” he remarked.  We come here because it is our outlet in the city center.  The open-air atmosphere, ice cream & meeting friends are what make summer nights enjoyable.

 

The street's appeal extends beyond Erbil residents.  Large numbers of visitors from Iraq's central & southern provinces have continued to arrive since the Eid Al-Adha holiday, during which, the city welcomed 112,657 visitors, according to the Erbil Tourism Directorate.

 

US Chargé D'affaires Presses Iraq On Regional Threats.

ARTICLE:  US Chargé d'Affaires to Iraq Joshua Harris said Tuesday that ending threats emanating from Iraqi territory is essential to regional peace, following a meeting with Iraqi President Nizar Amedi.

 

In a post on X, Harris also valued a productive discussion with Amedi “on shared priorities for a strong & mutually beneficial US-Iraq partnership.

 

US Embassy Baghdad:
Harris valued a productive discussion with President Amidi on shared priorities for a strong & mutually beneficial US-Iraq partnership.  They discussed the imperative of decisive Iraqi action to safeguard Iraq’s sovereignty, build trust & end the threat to regional peace emanating from Iraqi territory. 

 

Earlier Tuesday, Harris met with National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji, where he praised the Coordination Framework's stated support for consolidating the weapons of Iraqi factions under state authority & severing any operational ties between the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)— an umbrella of predominantly Shiite armed factions operating under nominal Iraqi state authority— & structures outside Iraq's official defense establishment.  

 

 

 

[Luigi1]

Here's another article related to the above...PM declares war on corruption...

 

 

 

Iraqi PM Declares War On Corruption, Orders Ministers To Disclose Assets Within One Week.

ARTICLE:  Iraqi PM ali al-Zaidi has declared an all-out war against systemic corruption, marking his administration's first major policy move by mandating all cabinet ministers to publicly disclose their financial assets within one week.

 

Ministerial Accountability & Contract Audits:

During his inaugural cabinet session, PM al-Zaidi designated the eradication of administrative & financial corruption as his administration's absolute highest priority. al-Zaidi issued a strict directive requiring every government minister to submit exhaustive documentation regarding their personal wealth & assets to the Federal Commission of Integrity within seven days.

 

In tandem with the asset mandates, the Prime Minister ordered an immediate, comprehensive audit of all active contracts signed by ministries & public institutions.

 

Any identified irregularities or legal infractions are to be fast-tracked to the judiciary to ensure negligent officials face criminal prosecution.

 

Creation Of The Supreme Sovereignty Council For Integrity:

To solidify institutional oversight, the PM signed an executive decree on May 30, 2026, establishing the "Supreme Sovereignty Council for Integrity, Oversight & Public Asset Recovery."

 

The council’s primary mandate focuses on tracking, monitoring, and auditing large-scale government projects and procurement contracts.

 

The ultimate goal of the new body is twofold: preventing the ongoing embezzlement of state funds and orchestrating the repatriation of billions in capital stolen during previous administrations.

 

High-Profile Arrests & Multi-Trillion Dinar Heist Thwarted.

The anti-graft crackdown yielded immediate results just 24 hours after the new measures were codified. Adnan Hamad Hamoud, the former director of the North Refineries Company & a former deputy minister of oil, widely referred to in domestic circles as the "Oil Whale" was arrested on sweeping corruption charges.

 

Simultaneously, investigators from the Commission of Integrity successfully foiled a major financial plot aimed at siphoning 1.5 trillion Iraqi Dinars (IQD) from two state-owned banks in Baghdad. Law enforcement officials confirmed that two suspects have already been detained in connection with the multi-trillion-Dinar banking conspiracy.

 

A Technocratic Strategy & Protect Public Wealth:

In his maiden address to the nation after assuming office, PM al-Zaidi characterized financial and administrative corruption as the single greatest bottleneck stymieing Iraq’s economic development. al-Zaidi, who possesses a robust background in economics & commerce, stressed that his government will deploy its full legal power to safeguard public wealth.

 

These domestic measures come at a critical time, as int'l watchdogs consistently rank Iraq among the most non-transparent and corrupt nations globally.

 

The Looming Shadow Of The "Heist Of The Century:

Despite the swift momentum of the new administration, the monumental challenge of recovering vast sums of capital smuggled out of the country in recent years remains unresolved.

 

The greatest test of al-Zaidi's anti-corruption campaign is the ongoing fallout from the infamous "Heist of the Century," a scandal that saw trillions of Dinars systematically looted from state coffers.

 

To date, many of the primary suspects continue to evade justice, moving freely both inside Iraq & abroad due to entrenched patron-client networks linked to highly influential political actors.