New contracts for contractors… US forces redeploy at Ain al-Asad base

Security expert Qatari Al-Samarmad revealed on Tuesday that US forces have signed a new contract with Iraqi contractors to equip their forces at Ain Al-Assad Air Base, located in the Al-Baghdadi district, west of Anbar, days after the previous contract was terminated following the redeployment of their forces in the region.

Al-Samarmad told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the American forces at Ain al-Assad base have signed a new contract with Iraqi contractors to supply them with large quantities of construction materials, building materials and other supplies, in addition to renewing the contract to provide food supplies such as meat and fish.”

He added that “these measures come as part of the preparations of the American forces to fully restore their position at the base after the recent evacuations,” noting that “the American forces terminated the services of about a thousand daily wage workers inside the base a few days ago, without providing further details about the reasons for these measures.”

He added that “the new contract includes extensive equipment, including construction and logistical materials, and comes after the return of hundreds of American soldiers to the base.”

He noted that “US forces had terminated contracts with a number of Iraqi contractors after reducing their troop presence at Ain al-Asad Air Base, but the new contracts with contractors came after the return of a large number of American soldiers,” stressing that “the contractors who will provide these services are subject to rigorous security vetting to ensure the integrity of the procedures.”

Almaalomah.me

The coordinating framework signs off on its status as the largest parliamentary bloc.

The Coordination Framework announced Monday (November 17, 2025), that it held its regular meeting, with all its leaders present, at the office of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, stressing that the success of the electoral process represents a fundamental step towards consolidating political stability in the country.

The framework said in a statement that “the meeting opened with congratulations to the Iraqi people and political forces on the success of the elections,” stressing that “national cooperation is the main pillar for getting through the next stage.”

The framework stressed the importance of resolving electoral entitlements within the constitutional deadlines, considering that “adherence to these timelines represents a guarantee for an organized constitutional transition and respect for the will of the voters.”

He added that his political forces had agreed to consider him the largest parliamentary bloc composed of all his entities, and based on that, the framework began the procedures for nominating the prime minister for the next stage in accordance with the constitutional frameworks.

The framework indicated that it decided to form two leadership committees; the first concerned with discussing the upcoming national entitlements and developing a unified vision for managing the state, while the second committee will interview candidates for the premiership according to professional and national standards.

According to the statement, the meeting discussed extensively the criteria required for selecting the Prime Minister, in addition to the features of the expected government program, in line with the political, economic and service challenges, and in a way that meets the aspirations of citizens for reform, stability and development.

Burathanews.com

The Federal Court ends the term of the Iraqi parliament and transforms the government into a caretaker administration.

On Monday, the Federal Court decided to end the work of the House of Representatives and transform the government into a “caretaker government”.

The court stated in a document, which was received by Shafaq News Agency, that “the day of the general election to elect the new House of Representatives means the end of the term of the House of Representatives and the end of its authority to enact laws and oversee the performance of the executive authority in practice, and the transformation of the powers of the Council of Ministers from full authority to limited authority in managing daily affairs, represented by taking decisions and actions that cannot be postponed.”

On the ninth and eleventh of November, Iraq held special and general voting in the parliamentary elections for the sixth parliamentary session, as part of a democratic practice in the political process that emerged after 2003 through the overthrow of the former Baath regime by the forces of the United States of America and its allies.

Shafaq.com

Parliamentary Finance Committee: The 2026 budget may be delayed, and spending will be based on the 1/12 rule.

Jamal Kojar, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, confirmed on Monday that preparing the 2026 budget is possible, but its approval may be delayed until the middle of next year.

Kujer explained in his interview with Al-Furat News Agency that “the disbursement mechanism at the beginning of 2026 will be based on the Financial Management Law according to the 1/12 rule of 2023, as the budget of that year is the basis, while the 2024 budget tables and oil prices therein were built on the 2023 budget.”

He added that “the 2023 budget was the actual financial basis, while the disbursement mechanism in 2024 was merely a set of schedules subordinate to it.”

These statements come amid ongoing discussions of the financial framework for the coming years, and the government’s reliance on the 2023 budget as a primary reference for spending operations, while the public awaits the start date for preparing the 2026 budget and its financing mechanisms.

Alforatnews.iq

The popular movement announces its rejection of renewing al-Sudani’s term as Prime Minister

The popular movement for the Belt and Road Initiative criticized on Monday the actions of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani during his time as Prime Minister, stressing the need to remove him from office and not renew his term again.

The head of the movement’s organizing body, Hussein Al-Karawi, told Al-Maalouma that “Al-Sudani took steps that harmed the Iraqi economy by handing over the Faw port to an Emirati company that is considered the main enemy of this port, in addition to his insistence on establishing the Aqaba oil pipeline, as well as trying to obstruct the Khor Abdullah file and stand against the decision of the Federal Court.”

He added that “the popular movement will not allow any party, even if it is America, to grant a second term to Al-Sudani, as the movement will not stand idly by in the face of such trends at all.”

He indicated that “Sudani will not be prime minister for the next phase, especially after his stances and attempts to get closer to al-Julani and his participation in the normalization conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Sayhoud: The coordinating framework is preparing to announce the largest bloc and choose the next prime minister.

Member of the Coordination Framework, MP Mohammed Al-Sayhoud, confirmed on Monday that the decision to choose the next Prime Minister rests exclusively with the leaders of the Coordination Framework and will be respected by everyone.

Al-Sayhoud told Al-Maalouma that “the Coordination Framework will hold a meeting this evening that includes all its components to announce the largest bloc that won the elections,” noting that “this announcement will give the President of the Republic the constitutional basis to task the largest bloc with nominating the Prime Minister-designate to form the next government.”

He added that “the decision regarding the name of the Prime Minister will be made within the framework according to a mechanism agreed upon by its leaders.”

Sources within the framework indicated that the leaders would hold a meeting today to discuss the criteria for selecting a candidate for prime minister.

Almaalomah.me

Al-Bajari: Iraq is taking steps towards joining the World Maritime Trade Organization

The head of the parliamentary transport committee, Zahra al-Bajari, confirmed on Monday that Iraq is seeking to join the World Maritime Trade Organization, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s position in the maritime transport and international trade sector.

Al-Bajari told Al-Maalouma News Agency that “joining the World Maritime Trade Organization is a strategic goal for Iraq because of its importance in developing the maritime transport sector and increasing investment opportunities, as Iraq possesses the capabilities that qualify it to engage in this international organization.”

She added that “this step will contribute to improving the infrastructure of Iraqi ports, expanding the prospects for cooperation with member states, as well as enhancing Iraq’s position in global trade.”

Al-Bajari indicated that “the next parliament will support all measures aimed at achieving this goal.”

Almaalomah.me

Karkoush: No alliances to overturn the table; the largest bloc is the path to forming the new government.

Imran Karkoush, a member of the State of Law Coalition, ruled out the possibility of alliances that could overturn the political process, noting that political parties from other components should deal with the current realities and move towards the largest bloc to ensure the formation of the new government.

Karkoush told Al-Maalomah, “The issue of having political alliances that turn the tables is no longer a viable option for political blocs, especially since this matter has been tried in the past and failed in the plan.”

He added that “the Sunnis have tried in the past to go in a different direction in the political process, but they failed in that, and therefore they have no choice but to proceed with the political process according to the current data.”

He explained that “progressing the political process requires engaging with the largest bloc to ensure the formation of a new government without any complications that might arise within the political arena.”

Almaalomah.me

Exclusive: Date for announcing the final election results and their ratification by the Federal Court

The Iraqi Electoral Commission revealed on Monday the date for announcing the final results of the sixth parliamentary elections.

The head of the commission’s media team, Imad Jamil, told Shafaq News Agency that “the commission will officially announce the final results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections today, Monday, between 5 and 6 pm.”

Jamil explained that “the results will be announced via a press conference broadcast on the official (Iraqi) channel, and the results are identical and there will be no change to the initial results that were announced 24 hours after the end of the electoral process.”

For her part, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Commission, Nibras Abu Souda, explained that “one day after the announcement of the final results, the Commission will announce the opening of the appeals process in accordance with Commission Law No. 31 of 2019, for a period of three days.”

According to Abu Souda, who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, “After considering the appeals and the judicial body has reviewed all the appeals submitted, the commission is notified by an official letter that the response has been completed and all appeals submitted regarding the election results have been considered.”

She continued: “After receiving a letter from the judicial authority and considering all appeals, the commission will send the election results to the Federal Court for the purpose of ratifying the results.”

Shafaq.com

Maliki begins holding meetings with political blocs and calls for the formation of a “strong government”.

On Monday, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, called for continued efforts to form a “strong government” during his meeting with delegations from the National Approach Alliance and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party.

The State of Law Coalition’s media office said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, received in his office today delegations from the National Approach Alliance and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, in two separate meetings dedicated to exchanging congratulations on the success of the elections and the completion of the constitutional entitlement.”

He pointed out that “the two meetings discussed the latest developments in the political process and the results of the ongoing dialogues between the national forces.”

According to the statement, Maliki stressed “the importance of continuing joint efforts to expedite the formation of a strong government capable of meeting the aspirations of the people, enhancing stability, and protecting the democratic process.”

Al-Maliki praised the “positive atmosphere prevailing in the dialogues between the political forces,” stressing the need to “adopt genuine partnership and realistic programs as the basis for government work in the next phase.”

In addition, the National Approach and National Union delegations, according to the statement, affirmed their commitment to “continuing communication and understanding in order to reach a common vision that serves the supreme national interest.”

Shafaq.com