Crisis Chronology

IRAQ

12/26/2023

US launches air strikes in Iraq on pro-Iran forces who have targeted US forces. The Iraqi government protests.

12/18/2023

The governing Shia alliance, called the Shia Coalition Framework (CF), takes 101 of 285 council seats in local elections, strengthening Iran’s influence in the country. The alliance includes several of Iraq’s most influential Iran-allied military-political groups, including the Badr Organization and Asaib Ahl al-Haq; another group headed by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; and a third that includes moderate Shia leader Ammar al-Hakim and former Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi. The vote was boycotted by Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr’s supporters.

12/08/2023

US embassy in Baghdad targeted by rockets, causing minor damage and no casualties.

11/14/2023

Supreme Court dismissing parliament speaker Mohamed al-Halbussi, the highest-ranking Sunni Muslim politician, for falsifying a letter of resignation of another Sunni lawmaker, Laith al-Duleimi. Al-Duleimi was also dismissed from parliament. Three ministers submit their resignations in protest. Paraliament is dominated by a coalition of Iran-backed Shiite parties.

11/09/2023

US forces in Iraq attacked in three places by drones and an explosive device.

07/26/2023

Protests outside fourteen banks that have been banned by the US from dealing in US dollars due to alleged money laundering and siphoning money to Iran. The dinar falls further. The protestors call on the government to ameliorate the inflation and lack of money for investment.

11/20/2022

Turkey launches attacks against Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Army in Syria and against Kurdish forces in Iraq.

11/19/2022

Government forces continue crackdown on protestors.

11/14/2022

Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran attacks the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in Iraq, saying that it bombed terrorist groups.

11/13/2022

A bombing in a highly trafficked street in Istanbul is bombed. Turkish authorities accuse the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party.

10/13/2022

New heads of state

Parliament elects Abdul Latif Rashid, a Kurd as required, to be president. The election was fiercely contested by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) which nominated Rashid, and its traditional rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Rashid then nominates Shia politician Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to prime minister. Al-Sudani is supported by the pro-Iran Coordination Framework but opposed by al-Sadr. He will have thirty days to form a government for parliament’s approval. In advance of the votes, rockets fall in the Green Zone.

09/29/2022

More rockets hit Green Zone in Baghdad.

09/28/2022

After the Speaker of Parliament announces he is leaving the Sadr coalition to join its opposition and elected a new government, supporters of al-Sadr storm Baghdad’s Green Zone. Rockets are reported to have landed in the Zone.

08/30/2022

Al-Sadr denies responsibility for the rioting, but apologizes to the Iraqi people for the violence, compliments the security forces on their neutrality, and tells his followers to go home. Some begin to leave.

08/29/2022

Al-Sadr says that he is withdrawing from politics. His followers once again storm government offices.

08/29/2022

As rioting continues and death toll increases, military orders a nationwide curfew and the government follows.

07/31/2022

Al-Sadr followers again occupy legislative chamber and say they will stay until their demands are met: new elections, constitutional changes, and the ouster of al-Sadr’s opponents.

07/27/2022

Followers of al-Sadr demonstrate in the legislative chamber. They oppose the candidacy of Iran-backed Mohammed Shia al-Sudan nominated by the Coordination Front.

06/12/2022

All of the PMs of al-Sadr’s bloc resign at his request, in a move designed to allow parliament to elect a speaker, since he has realized that he cannot elect a speaker without the support of the Iran-backed groups, which he opposes. When a member resigns, the candidate with the second-highest number of votes becomes a parliamentarian, which will likely benefit al-Sadr’s opponents from the so-called Coordination Framework, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shia parties, and their allies – something al-Sadr would be unlikely to accept.

05/30/2022

Sadrists still unable to reach agreement with other parties on a governing coalition. The main opposition comes from the Coodination Mobilisation Forces (CMF), an Iranian-backed political arm of the Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces, which has boycotted several votes on a new president. Al-Sadr has proposed a coalition called the Saving the Homeland, which would include his Sadrist bloc, the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance (al-Siyada), and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and would have 180 seats in the 330-seat parliament. However before a new government can take office, two-thirds of the parliament must elected a new president and this is what the CMF has prevented. In addition, while the Saving the Homeland alliance has agreed to nominate the interior minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, Rebar Ahmed, for the presidency, while the KDP’s rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, has stuck to its candidate Barham Saleh, the current president.

05/07/2022

Dispute between Shiite scholar Mahmoud al-Sarkhi and Moktada al-Sadr flares into violence. Al-Sarkhi is firmly against both the US and the Iranian influence in Iraq. Al-Sadr has been more political in his stances, and although al-Sarkhi was formerly a follower of al-Sadr, they are now at odds.

05/05/2022

Severe and widespread sandstorms sicken thousands.

05/02/2022

Thousands flee fighting as the military tries to clear the Sinjar region of a Kurdish militia, the YBS.

03/13/2022

Iran claims responsibility for missile attack near US consulate inn Erbil, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

02/06/2022

Supreme Court suspends presidential candidacy of Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, citing a complaint about corruption during Zebari’s tenure as finance minister. He was dismissed by parliament in 2016. The court said that such behavior would violate the constitutional requirement that the president be a person of “good reputation and integrity.

11/07/2021

Al-Kadhimi survives assassination attempt by drones on his residence. He was unharmed.

11/05/2021

Protests against the election by pro-Iranian groups turn violent and at least two are killed. The groups say there was fraud, though the electoral commission has dismissed claims that were submitted.

10/12/2021

Pro-Iranian groups say there was widespread fraud in the election and promise to appeal the outcome.

10/10/2021

Parliamentary elections. Turnout is extremely low, as voters feel there is little change or progress whomever they vote for.

10/10/2021

In elections today, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc wins the largest percentage of seats in parliament, about 70. Kurdish parties won 61, Sunni parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi’s Taqaddum coalition won 38 seats, and former prime minister Maliki’s State Of Law coalition came third overall with 37. The Iran-leaning Fateh (Conqest) Alliance did not perform well and the Iran-leaning groups are seen as the biggest losers.

07/26/2021

US says it will end combat mission in Iraq, after a meeting with Iraqi prime minister Al-Khadhimi. The move will likely bolster Al-Khadhimi’s position in Iraq, where the legislature has been calling for the removal of troops. The US has not actually been participating directly in combat for some time.

04/01/2021

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi visits Saudi Arabia.

03/02/2021

Airbase in Iraq that is used by US forces is bombed.

02/18/2021

NATO announces that it will increase its troops in Iraq due to increased Islamic State activity there.

02/15/2021

Rocket attack on coalition military base near Erbil. A group called Saraya Awliya al-Dam, an Iran-allied group, claims responsibility.

11/18/2020

Key border crossing between Saudi Arabia and Iraq reopened after thirty years, a sign of warming relations between the two countries.

11/17/2020

US Pres Trump orders further withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, against the advice of the military. By the end of the year, there will be 2500 troops in each country.

09/09/2020

US says it will continue to draw down troops in Iraq, from about 5500 now to about 3200 by the end of September.

08/20/2020

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi meets with US President Trump to discuss the continuing draw-down of US forces in Iraq. They announce a new package of US aid for energy and finance projects This trip may hurt him politically with the pro-Iran factions in Iraq.

08/20/2020

US Pres Trump says that US troops will leave Iraq “shortly,” but no one in the government will specify a timetable.

06/17/2020

Turkey launches an all-out air and land attack on Kurds in Iraq.

06/11/2020

US and Iraq begin negotiations on withdrawal of American troops and combatting Iranian aggression.

05/06/2020

Parliament elects Mustafa al-Kadhimi to be prime minister. He is a former intelligence chief and supported by the US. He has said he would meet with protestors.

04/09/2020

Intelligence Chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi is asked to form a government after Shiite parties block attempt by former Najaf governor Adnan Al-Zurfi in the last two days. Al-Kadhimi seems to have support from most groups.

03/26/2020

US continues to draw down troops from Iraq.

03/17/2020

Salih designates former Najaf governor Adman al-Zurfi to be prime minister. He heads the Nasr coalition of former president Al-Mahdi and is seen as friendly to the West, which may be a problem for some.

03/12/2020

US strikes at Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq, suspected of launching attacks that killed US soldiers.

03/12/2020

US blames Iran-backed group Kata’ib Hezbollah for the killing of US soldiers in Iraq

03/11/2020

Three US military are killed in a rocket attack in Iraq, bringing the total this week to five.

03/02/2020

Allawi withdraws his candidacy for prime minister and criticizes legislature for failing to confirm his cabinet due to political infighting.

02/23/2020

Government reports outbreak of COVID-19 virus.

02/01/2020

Pres Barham Salih names Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, former communications minister under al-Maliki but resigned in protest, to be interim prime minister until new elections are held. Protestors reject Allawi, but Sadr supports the choice.

01/26/2020

Amid clashes between government forces and remaining protestors, in which the government was firing live rounds and tear gas, five rockets land in the Green Zone, including one or more on the American Embassy. Mahdi condemns the action. The protestors are now demanding snap elections.

01/23/2020

Protestors call for US troops to withdraw.

01/20/2020

Protests in Baghdad continue.

01/17/2020

Anti-government protests in Baghdad are broken up by security forces.

01/09/2020

Abdel Mahdi instructs US to prepare to withdraw troops from Iraq. The US declines to do so, saying that the Amadhi government is to be replaced.

01/07/2020

Iran fires ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq. There are no casualties, which seems to have been Iran’s intent. Ayatollah Khamenei calls the attack just a “slap in the face,” and suggests there may be other reprisals.

01/05/2020

Iraq parliament votes to expel US troops over the killing of Suleimani in a non-binding resolution.

01/02/2020

US kills high-ranking Iranian

US kills top Iranian military commander, Qassam Soleimani, head of Quds force, probably the second-most powerful leader in the country at the Baghdad airport. Iran vows revenge.

01/01/2020

US forces fire rubber bullets and tear gas at protestors outside embassy. US sends 750 special forces soldiers to Baghdad. Protestors end attacks.

12/31/2019

Protestors besiege the US embassy in Baghdad denouncing the airstrikes.

12/29/2019

US strikes bases of the Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, on the Iraq-Syria border to deter attacks on US personnel. The bases were in both Syria and Iraq.

12/26/2019

Barham Salih threatens to resign if he is forced to name Asaad Al Eidani as PM-designate. Al Eidani, supported by Iran, has been criticized by protestors.

12/07/2019

Drone attacks the compound of Muktada al-Sadr.

12/06/2019

Protestors in Baghdad are shot in drive-by shooting.

11/29/2019

Adbul Mahdi says he will resign after Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani says parliament should “reconsider its options” for the government.

11/21/2019

Tribal leaders meet with Abdul Mahdi, evoking much criticism from protestors.

11/17/2019

Leaked cables between Iran and Iraq in 2014-15 show heavy involvement of Iraq in Iranian affairs and access to Iranian intelligence.

11/15/2019

Shia leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani calls for new election law to bring “new faces” into the government. He has endorsed a UN plan that would respond to protestors’ demands but said the current political leaders don’t want real change.

11/14/2019

Four more people killed in protests, bringing the total to more than 300.

11/06/2019

Protests continue. More than 260 have been killed by security forces.

11/02/2019

Protestors in southern Iraq block roads.

11/01/2019

Pres Salih says that Abdul Mahdi has agreed to step down once a replacement is named, and that new parliamentary elections will be held.

10/26/2019

More are killed in protests in Baghdad and the southern city of Nasiriya. Some of the deaths in the south are attributed to conflict between Shiite militias. Abdul Mahdi sends elite counter-terrorism forces to the cities.

10/21/2019

US will move some Syrian troops to western Iraq border to continue fight against Islamic State. Iraq army says that the troops do not have permission to stay.

10/09/2019

Abdul Mahdi announces three days of mourning, shuffles his cabinet and asserts that those responsible will be punished. The response is not positive.

10/04/2019

Abdul Mahdi addresses the nation, defending the government and calling on protestors to stop. He says he will institute a stipend for destitute families and asks for time for the government to carry out its reform agenda.

10/03/2019

Protests continue and more are killed. Government shuts down the internet. President Barham Saleh calls on security forces to respect the people’s right to protest.

10/02/2019

As protests continue, seven protestors are killed.

10/01/2019

Two are killed in protests against the government in Baghdad. Economic issues are primary: jobs, food, electricity, and public services.

09/10/2019

US launches major bombing attack on alleged ISIS camps in Iraq.

08/26/2019

Some Iraq parliamentarians call for US troops to withdrawal after Israeli air raids of Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces camps in Iraq.

08/05/2019

Iran seizes another tanker said to be smuggling oil to Iraq.

04/23/2019

US requires sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil, intending to reduce the country’s exports to zero and ending waivers extended to eight countries. Buyers of Iranian oil include major factors in the geopolitics and US allies, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Oil prices are likely to rise, especially given the instability in Venezuela and Libya.

03/13/2019

Mahdi and Rouhani sign agreements on trade and travel. Rouhani is also granted a rare audience with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

03/11/2019

Iran Pres Rouhani visits Iraq and visits Prime Minister Abel Abdul-Mehdi to discuss US sanctions.

10/24/2018

Abdul Mahdi is sworn in as prime minister, although parliament refuses to confirm eight of his twenty-two cabinet nominations after objection from all opposition groups.

10/02/2018

Abdul Mahdi named prime minister

Adel Abdul Mahdi is named prime minister by President Salih. Mahdi, seen as a compromise between the two Shia blocs in parliament, has been in government for many years.

10/02/2018

Parliament elects Barham Salih, a Kurd and member of PUK, as president, a post held by a Kurd in recent administrations. Salih is a moderate Kurd and member of the PUK.

10/02/2018

Adel Abdul Mahdi is named prime minister by President Salih. Mahdi, seen as a compromise between the two Shia blocs in parliament, has been in government for many years.

09/08/2018

Government imposes a curfew in Basra. Sairoon coalition and Fateh Alliance call for Abadi to step down as prime minister.

09/06/2018

New protests in Basra against corruption and a failure of basic services.

09/03/2018

Parliament fails to elect a speaker, the first step in electing a president. The Reform bloc including Sadr’s Sairoun Alliance, Abadi’s Nasr coalition, and former prime minister Ayad Allawi's Al-Wataniya, claims to have had 177 votes to 145 for the Construction group including Maliki’s State of Law coalition and Hadi al-Ameri's Fatah coalition. However the Construction group says some MPs defected to their side, including fired security advisor Alfayyadh. There is also a dispute about whether only the heads of groups need to sign on to a coalition or whether all MPs should sign.

08/31/2018

Iran reported to be sending missiles to Shiite militias in Iraq.

08/31/2018

Abadi fires national security advisor Falih Alfayyadh, who heads the Iranian-backed paramilitary group Hashd al-Shaabi (a group of largely Shia militias known as Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs)) because of “political activity.”

08/29/2018

Parliament questions Rouhani on economy and is unsatisfied with his answers.

08/21/2018

Iran announces that it resumed electricity supplies to Iraq and other states on 8/11.

08/20/2018

Sadr’s Sairoon coalition in talks to form a government with Abadi’s Nasr alliance, the Hikma bloc led by Shia cleric Ammar al-Hakim, and the Wataniyya bloc led by former prime minister Iyad Allawi and two other groups, which would give it a parliamentary majority.

08/13/2018

Government says it will not follow all US sanctions against Iran. Iraq is heavily dependent on Iran for gas, food supplies, electricity, and water, largely because the United States' invasion, which disrupted much national infrastructure and relationships.

07/29/2018

Electricity minister is fired. Saudi Arabia reported to be sending fuel to southern Iraq at highly reduced rate.

07/16/2018

Security forces begin to crack down on protests in Basra.

07/15/2018

Sadr tweets his program, naming several political groups in a way that suggests they could be allied, including Abadi’s coalition, two Sunni alliances, and two Kurdish parties. He outlines his program as ending the practice of giving out cabinet posts on a sectarian basis, fighting corruption, and naming technocrats to manage some key agencies.

07/07/2018

Iraqi police open fire on protests in Basra over shortages of jobs, electricity, water, and other basic services.

06/23/2018

Sadr and PM Abadi announce a political alliance, though they will still need other support to form a majority. With Amiri’s bloc, the coalition will have 140 seats in parliament; 165 are necessary for a majority.

06/22/2018

Supreme Court upholds recount order.

06/12/2018

Iran-backed parties enlarging their alliance and may soon be able to have a majority in parliament to form a government. Sadr’s Toward Reform party has allied with Hadi al-Ameri’s Conquest Alliance. Ameri lead the militias that were important in stopping the Islamic State and is seen as ally of Iran. Previously, the National Alliance of Ayad Allawi and the National Wisdom Trend of Ammar al-Hakim have said they would support Sadr. Together they would comprise more than 140 seats of the 165 necessary to gain a majority.

06/10/2018

Storage site holding half of ballot boxes from the election catches fire.

06/06/2018

Government orders a manual recount of all votes in 5/12 election and fires all members of the election commission after a ministerial report on the election.

05/14/2018

With about half the votes counted, Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s coalition leads, with Amiri’s in second and Abadi’s in third. Sadr cannot become prime minister because he did not stand for election. Turnout was less than 50%. If Sadr’s coalition maintains its proportion of the vote, it would have less than one-sixth of the seats in parliament.

05/12/2018

Voting for all 329 seats in parliament. One quarter of the seats must go to women candidates and nine others for certain minorities. Turnout is low. Abadi’s Nasr coalition may have a slight edge in support, but Amiri’s Fatah alliance is running strongly. Turnout is said to be low.

05/10/2018

Election for parliament. PM Abadi’s Victory Alliance is thought to have a slight lead, but the Shiite vote may well be split this year with a challenge from former PM Nouri al-Maliki. A third leader is Hadi al-Amiri head of the Iranian-backed Shiite militia, the Badr Organization. All are attempting to bring both Sunnis and Shiites together under the same umbrella.

05/05/2018

Election commission announces final results. Sadr’s Saeroon Alliance wins 54 of 328 seats. The Fatah Alliance of Hadi al-Amiri wins 48 seats and Abadi’s Victory Alliance wins 42.

03/19/2018

Government agrees to send money for salaries of state employees, to Kurdistan, a step toward normalizing relations. The amount of payment is not yet determined.

03/01/2018

Parliament requires government to set a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

01/22/2018

Supreme Court rules against calls by Sunni and Kurdish legislators to delay parliamentary elections, expected to be called for 5/18.

01/20/2018

Iraq parliament postpones election scheduled for 5/12 to allow displaced citizens to return home.

01/06/2018

Kosrat Rasul, leader of PUK, returns to Kurdistan after medical treatment in Germany.

01/03/2018

Abadi, under pressure from allies, formulates plan to dismantle the Shiite militias, the Popular Mobilization Forces.

12/26/2017

Hundreds arrested in protests against Kurdish government that began last week, spurred by failed separation effort.

12/08/2017

Iraq declares victory over the Islamic State

Iraq takes last Iraqi town held by Islamic State, and subsequently declares the country “fully liberated” from Islamic State.