Iran Coordination Framework News Today

President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Nechervan Barzani arrived in Tehran on Sunday on a visit described by a source from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework as a “last-ditch effort to postpone elections in the Region and maintain its unity.” Iranian media said he is expected to meet with President Ebrahim Raisi, parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

An Iraqi military investigations committee announced on Tuesday that the attack on the Kalso base on Saturday was not carried out by jets or drones. It said the attack in the southern Babil province was carried out by a rocket and that the base held three types of material that are used in manufacturing explosives. One member of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and eight others were wounded in the strike.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is preparing for a busy month when he will meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington in mid-April before receiving Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baghdad on April 22. The meetings will be held days after Iraq marks the 21st anniversary of the US invasion, which took place on April 9, 2003.

The Iraqi judiciary acquitted and released the murderer of prominent researcher and security expert Hisham al-Hashimi last week. Spokeswoman for the judiciary Sinan Ghanem told Asharq Al-Awsat that a court had acquitted Ahmed Hamdawi al-Kinani due to a “lack of evidence.” The court’s decision came after the case was reopened last Wednesday, and al-Kinani was released Sunday, said an official with one of the country's Iran-backed militias.

Iraqi Minister of Labor Ahmed al-Asadi announced on Friday that he would take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections as part of a coalition led by Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani. Speaking in a televised interview, his remarks may have revealed the PM’s intention to form such a coalition when he has yet to make an official announcement about it. Asadi added: “Sudani has yet to reveal his political program. Several candidates are expected to join his electoral list should he anno...

Head of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement and one of the most prominent members of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework, Ammar al-Hakim condemned on Monday “attempts to destabilize the country through resorting to the use of arms.” He made his remarks during a meeting with US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski a day after Secretary-General of the Iran-aligned Nujaba movement Akram al-Kaabi warned Washington that the suspension of attacks against American troops was the “calm before the sto...

Armed Iraqi factions have taken “swift” precautions on the ground in anticipation of a potential strike by the United States in retaliation to attacks on American forces deployed in the region. Some pro-Iran factions evacuated their positions and even replaced the vehicles they use to try to throw off any surveillance. Iraqi sources on the ground told Asharq Al-Awsat that an air of tense anticipation has prevailed among the factions, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

President of the Kurdistan Region Nechervan Barzani received on Tuesday Major General Joel B. Vowell, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve of the Global Coalition in Iraq and Syria, to discuss terrorism and attacks by factions against coalition bases. The visit came days after the federal government decided to form a bilateral committee to make arrangements for ending the mission of the US-led international coalition in the country.

Calls are growing in Iraq for the withdrawal of the international anti-ISIS coalition and US forces deployed in the country following the US killing on Thursday of a militia leader Washington blames for attacks on American troops. The US strike in Baghdad targeted Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, the Pentagon said, adding he was a leader of Harakat al-Nujaba who was involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq announced on Tuesday the results of the provincial council elections after counting 90 percent of the ballots. The Taqadum party of ousted parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi won the most votes in the capital Baghdad. The State of Law coalition of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki came second. Some 6 million Iraqis out of 23 million eligible voters took part in the elections.