Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 30

July 16, 2012-July 20, 2012

Rebels Take Over Syrian Border Checkpoints

A day following the suicide attack that killed the Syrian Defense Minister and President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law on Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki created a committee to help evacuate Iraqis in Syria, and tasked Transportation Minister Hadi al-Amiri to head the effort. According to Captain Saad al-Khafaji of Iraqi Airways, his government had run eight flights as of Friday morning and evacuated 750 of its citizens from Syria. Thousands of Iraqis have reportedly already crossed into Iraq from the Syrian border. 

“All the border points between Iraq and Syria are under the control of the Free Syrian Army,” said Iraqi Deputy Interior Minister Adnan al-Asadi on Thursday. Asadi said that border guards had witnessed the Free Syrian Army take control of a border post as the rebel fighters cut off the arms and legs of a Syrian Army lieutenant colonel. “Then they executed 22 Syrian soldiers in front of the eyes of Iraqi soldiers.”

Tony Blinken, the National Security Advisor to Vice President Joseph Biden, traveled to Iraq this week and met with Maliki and Speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi. Blinken reportedly warned his Iraqi hosts about the possible spillover from the Syrian conflict, stressing the need to resolve the ongoing political disputes in Iraq and pushing for the formation of a new electoral commission.  

Obama Responds To Maliki’s Inquiry On Exxon

The White House delivered its response to Maliki’s inquiry on the U.S. position toward the Exxon Mobil contracts in northern Iraq. Last month, President Barack Obama received a letter from Maliki requesting that the U.S. to prevent the oil giant from continuing its operations in the Kurdish Region without Baghdad’s approval. “We would like to confirm that the letter was positive,” read a statement issued by the prime minister’s office, “and stresses its respect for the constitution and Iraqi laws.” The statement continued, saying that Baghdad “will take all necessary measures in applying the law and will not allow the company to implement these contracts.”

Last fall, Exxon Mobil signed an oil exploration agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which the central government in Baghdad argues is illegal. Two of the six blocks contracted are located in territories that are disputed by the KRG in Arbil and the central government in Baghdad. “Maliki views these deals as representing a very dangerous initiative that may lead to the outbreak of wars” and “breaking up the unity of Iraq,” said the prime minister’s media advisor Ali Musawi on the KRG oil contracts last month.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior administration official stated, “We advise American energy companies doing business in Iraq to consider the legal risks involved in signing deals with a region, against Baghdad’s wishes, and are concerned that such deals could be destabilizing.”

Past Updates

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 29- July 6-July 16, 2012: White House Says Daqduq Issue Not Closed

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 28- June 29-July 6, 2012: Sadrists Back Down

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 27- June 16-June 22, 2012: Maliki Requests U.S. To Stop Exxon Operations

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 26- June 9-June 15, 2012: Sadr Returns To Najaf, Speaks With Maliki

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 25- June 1-June 8, 2012: Sadr Goes To Iran, Pressure Likely To Increase

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 24- May 25-June 1, 2012: The Numbers Game

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 23- May 22- May 25, 2012: Efforts To Remove Maliki Intensify

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 22- May 22-May 18, 2012:Hashemi Trial Begins

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 21- May 4-May 11, 2012: Daqduq Case Dismissed

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 20- April 27-May 4, 2012: Ultimatum Issued To Maliki

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 19- April 20-April 27, 2012: Maliki Visits Tehran

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 18- April 14- April 20, 2012: Iraqiyya, Kurds Consider Vote to Unseat Maliki

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 17- April 5- April 13, 2012: Members Appointed To Human Rights Commission

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 16- March 30- April 5, 2012: KRG President Massoud Barzani Visits Washington

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 15- March 23- March 30, 2012: Baghdad Hosts Arab League Summit

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 14- March 15-March 23, 2012: Barzani Disparages Maliki

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 13- March 8- Marrch 23, 2012:  Maliki Visits Kuwait, Emir to Attend Arab Summit

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis,  Update 12- March 6- March 8, 2012: Diyala Appoints New Governor

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 11- February 24-March 6, 2012: Diyala Governor Reportedly Resigns

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 10- February 17- February 24, 2012: Judiciary Sets Hashemi’s Court Date

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 9- February 10- February 17, 2012: Investigation Escalates Hashemi Case

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 8- February 3- February 10, 2012: Iraqiyya Ends Boycott of Council of Ministers

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 7- January 27- February 3, 2012: Iraqiyya Returns to Parliament

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 6- January 20- January 27, 2012: Iraqiyya Contemplates Next Move

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 5- January 13- January 20, 2012: Iraqiyya Continues Boycott

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 4- December 30- January 13, 2012: Kurds Walk Out of Parliament Session in Protest

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 3- December 23- December 30, 2011: Tensions Increase between Maliki and Sadrists

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 2- December 19- December 23, 2011: Crisis escalates in Iraqi Media

Iraq's Post-Withdrawal Crisis, Update 1- December 19, 2011: Timeline of political crisis