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Iraq Situation Report: January 4 - 6, 2020
Jan 10, 2020 - Brandon Wallace, Jason Zhou, Katherine Lawlor
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is assessing the ongoing unrest in Iraq and its effects on political-security dynamics. The Iraq Situation Report (SITREP) series summarizes key events and likely developments to come. This Iraq SITREP map covers the period January 4 - 6, 2020.
Key Takeaway: Iraq’s parliament passed a non-binding resolution to revoke U.S. and coalition basing privileges in retaliation for the U.S. strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and Popular Mobilization Commission Deputy Chairman Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis. It is unclear whether Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mehdi can legally rescind the executive agreement that underpins the U.S. military presence in Iraq, given his resignation on November 29, 2019. Meanwhile, Iraq’s highest Shi’a religious authority offered Iran’s Supreme Leader condolences for Soleimani’s death in a letter, marking the first public contact between the rival Shi’a religious leaders.
