Kurdish Policy Analysis

Iraq’s Iran-Backed Militias Split Apart: Five Groups Ready to Disarm as Kataib Hezbollah Defies Baghdad and Washington By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 27 May 2026 As Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi forms a new government under intense US pressure, major Shiite armed factions appear willing to surrender weapons to the Iraqi state — but hardline groups aligned closest to Iran are refusing, exposing deep fractures inside Iraq’s powerful militia network. In Iraq, with the arrival of a new government led by Ali al-Zaidi, there is talk of five Iraqi factions intending to disarm and hand over their weapons to the state, while two factions, al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah, refuse. Iraq... Five Factions Move to Disarm, Two Refuse: In Response to US Conditions Sources close to the "Coordination Framework" forces and the factions operating under its umbrella report that five armed factions do not object to disarming and handing over their weapons to the Iraqi governm...

 Behind closed doors, Kurdish leadership weighs regional instability as a strategic advantage—triggering frustration in Baghdad’s Shiite power circles. SULAYMANIYAH / Kurdish Policy Analysis — Political maneuvering over Iraq’s long-delayed presidential selection is increasingly shaped by regional uncertainty, with Kurdish leadership reportedly adopting a calculated wait-and-see strategy tied to developments in Iran and Iraq. A Baghdad-based source, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is deliberately slowing the presidential process, anticipating that shifting geopolitical conditions could enhance its bargaining power in Baghdad. According to the source , the KDP believes its position may strengthen if Iran’s regional influence declines further or if internal instability in Iraq intensifies—two factors that could reshape alliances within the federal political system. At present, the party’s preferred presidential candidate is seen...

Is Iraq Becoming “Another Iran”? Why Washington May Be Misreading Baghdad. A growing gap between U.S. assumptions and Iraqi reality is raising alarm among analysts.   The U.S. calls Iraq a partner — but critics warn that assumption may be dangerously outdated By Kurdish Policy Analysis | Analysis Sulaimanyah, Iraq 31 March For more than two decades, U.S. policy in Iraq has been built on a foundational belief: that Baghdad is a sovereign partner, capable of acting independently and aligning—at least broadly—with Western strategic goals. But what if that belief is no longer true? A growing body of analysis suggests that Washington is not just misreading Iraq—it may be clinging to an illusion. Beneath the surface of formal diplomacy lies a far more complex reality: a fragmented state where power is divided, authority is contested, and Iranian influence runs deep through political and security institutions. The Core Miscalculation At the heart of the argument is a stark claim:...

       Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani faces mounting pressure as U.S. questions his ability to rein in Iran‑aligned militias—could Baghdad be on the brink of a new crisis? Op‑Ed ( Kurdish Policy Analysis ): The relationship between Iraq and the United States is entering uncharted territory. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani , once seen as a bridge between Baghdad and Washington, now finds himself under intense scrutiny. U.S. officials are signaling, quietly but unmistakably, that he may no longer be a reliable partner. For years, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani was Iraq’s supposed “safe bet” for Washington. Today, he’s teetering on the edge of U.S. rejection. Analysts say his inability to control Iran‑aligned militias and navigate Iraq’s fractured politics has made him politically toxic in Washington’s eyes. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Pressure from the U.S. risks domestic backlash , potentially destabilizing Baghdad’s fragile coalition. Tolerance of milit...

  Here’s what happened today Here are some of the day’s top developments: Trump said he would pause his threat to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities until April 6, claiming Tehran requested the move. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned attacks near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant could cause a “major radiological accident”. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on the UN to act on Israeli ministers threatening “ to occupy  the area south of the Litani River”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is expanding what he calls a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon grew to 1,116, while US-Israeli attacks have now killed more than 1,900 people in Iran. Iran continued attacks on its Gulf neighbours, as well as Israel, where one person was reported killed. Fox News poll suggests majority disapproval for war on Iran A poll by the right-leaning network, seen as largely friendly to US President Trump, suggested that 64 perce...