KRG approves ‘understanding' with Baghdad on budget issues
Top Foxtrot member arrested in Erbil: Swedish media
President Barzani, Estonian defense minister discuss defense ties, regional developments
KRG cabinet to address financial crisis amid new round of meetings with Baghdad
KRG ministry condemns drone strikes on Duhok oil fields as operations halt
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced on Wednesday that it has reached a new "understanding" with Baghdad aimed at resolving the ongoing budget dispute that has left more than 1.2 million public employees in the Kurdistan Region without salaries for over two months.
In an official statement, the KRG said it had "approved a new understanding" with the federal government regarding the disbursement of salaries and financial entitlements.
The night before, a fresh round of high-level meetings kicked off between Kurdish officials from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with top Iraqi leaders in Baghdad.
Rudaw learned that PUK leader Bafel Talabani and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein - a senior KDP figure - met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Tuesday. Supreme Judicial Council head Faiq Zidan also attended the meeting.
A source familiar with the matter said a member of the KDP politburo is also expected to join the talks, and that further meetings are planned for Wednesday with several political leaders, including from Iraq's ruling Shiite-led Coordination Framework.
During the KRG's regular cabinet session on Wednesday, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and his Deputy Qubad Talabani 'presented details of the mutual understanding that emerged yesterday [Tuesday] with Baghdad, regarding the provision of the Kurdistan Region's financial entitlements and its [corresponding] obligations.'
According to the KRG statement, the cabinet 'welcomed' the understanding and 'decided to implement the crux' of it, to prompt the federal government to facilitate 'the transfer of salaries and financial dues from the federal government.'
Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad escalated in late May when Iraq's federal finance ministry suspended budget transfers to the KRG. The ministry accused Erbil of receiving more than its 12.67 percent share of the federal budget and failing to deliver the agreed-upon volume of oil to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO).
The suspension led to a halt in salary payments to public sector employees.
On a different note, Wednesday marked the third consecutive day of drone attacks targeting oil infrastructure in the Region.
The KRG cabinet strongly condemned the "terrorist attacks on the Kurdistan Region, especially the oil fields, which have caused significant material damage to the oil production process and are aimed at striking the Kurdistan Region's economic and energy infrastructure."
The KRG called on Baghdad to take responsibility by "putting an end to these attacks and taking legal action against the saboteurs."
Drone strikes in the Kurdistan Region have increased since the outbreak of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks, the Kurdistan Region's interior ministry in early July accused the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - an allegation Baghdad has dismissed as 'unacceptable.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
34 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraq launches security operation after drone attacks
Also in Iraq UK condemns drone attacks in Kurdistan Region Iraq launches probe into Wasit mall fire that killed 63 Iraq holds nationwide mourning after mall blaze kills 61 At least 50 killed, dozens missing in Iraq shopping mall fire A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi security forces on Friday announced an operation in western Nineveh and Salahaddin provinces to track down those responsible for a spate of drone attacks on oil, military, and civilian sites in the Kurdistan Region. 'The recent attacks on oil installations and fields, along with attempts to target military bases and camps, are considered sinful and dangerous acts that undermine all efforts toward Iraq's stability, reconstruction, and development campaigns,' the military's Security Media Cell said in a post on X. 'Security forces have launched a wide-scale search operation' in response to these attacks, it added. The operation spans the Hatra desert, targeting warehouses, valleys, and caves. 'This operation comes in response to critical intelligence aimed at thwarting intentions and attempts to target security units and vital infrastructure in the country,' it said. In the month of July, there have been at least 18 drone attacks in the Kurdistan Region, including on oil fields, Peshmerga bases, a camp for internally displaced persons, and critical infrastructure like airports. The Iraqi operation is being carried out with the coordination of several forces, including the Joint Operations Command, counter-terrorism, and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on the PMF, a charge Baghdad has denied.
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
Iran frees teen held for reciting Kurdish poetry, father still detained
Also in Iran Iran expands crackdown on alleged spies, collaborators with Israel, US Trump says scheduled new nuclear talks with Iran Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assasination attempt, 'destroying' US-Iran diplomacy Iran arrests 900 since start of Israel war: watchdog A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian intelligence forces have released 14-year-old Kezhal Salehi three days after she was detained for reciting Kurdish poetry, a watchdog said on Thursday. Her father remains in custody. 'Kezhal Salehi, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl from the village of Naveh in Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province, was temporarily released after three days in detention,' stated the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. The girl's father, Araz Salehi, remains in detention. He was arrested on Tuesday. 'Security forces raided her parents' home in an attempt to arrest her. When they failed to locate her, they detained her father instead. A few hours later, Kezhal was arrested at a separate location,' Hengaw said. Kezhal was arrested after reciting Kurdish poems in praise of Kurdistan at several cultural events. Her performances drew widespread support and went viral on social media among the Kurdish population in Iran. According to information received by Hengaw, on the evening of Tuesday, July 15, 2025, forces from the Intelligence Department in Bojnurd, North Khorasan province, raided the home of 14-year-old Kazhal Salehi with the intention of arresting her. Hengaw has learned that Kazhal… — Hengaw Organization for Human Rights (@Hengaw_English) July 15, 2025 Intelligence forces confiscated all mobile phones and electronic devices during a search of the family's home and ordered all family members to report for interrogation, according to Hengaw. Iran's constitution recognizes Persian as the official language but allows for the use of 'regional and tribal languages' in the press and mass media, and for teaching the literature of those languages in schools. Kurdish teachers and activists have long campaigned for the implementation of this right, but many continue to be arrested for their efforts to promote and teach the Kurdish language. Since Israel's attack on Iran last month and their 12-day war, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 318 Kurds, in addition to many others across the country, according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
Rudaw Net
3 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
UK condemns drone attacks in Kurdistan Region
Also in Iraq Iraq launches probe into Wasit mall fire that killed 63 Iraq holds nationwide mourning after mall blaze kills 61 At least 50 killed, dozens missing in Iraq shopping mall fire Iraqi PM inaugurates Mosul airport on anniversary of city's liberation from ISIS A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The British Embassy in Baghdad on Friday condemned a recent wave of drone attacks in the Kurdistan Region, including strikes that targeted key energy infrastructure, as tensions between Erbil and Baghdad appear to ease following a new financial agreement. 'The UK condemns the recent drone attacks across Iraq, including those this week targeting energy infrastructure in the KRI [Kurdistan Region of Iraq],' the British Embassy said in a statement. 'These attacks threaten civilians' safety, damage Iraq's economy and undermine Iraq's stability.' The embassy urged the Iraqi government to prevent further attacks and hold those responsible to account. In the month of July, there have been at least 19 drone attacks on locations in the Kurdistan Region. Most recently, on Thursday, two explosive-laden drones crashed in Erbil's outskirts, according to the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD). On Wednesday, the CTD reported drone strikes on two oil fields in northern Duhok province. One hit Norwegian energy company DNO's Tawke oil field, prompting the company to temporarily suspend operations. Gulf Keystone Petroleum, which operates the Shekhan field in southern Duhok, also halted operations as a precautionary measure. A day earlier, a drone targeted the Sarsang oil field northwest of Duhok city, operated by US-based HKN Energy. The company suspended activity pending a security review and full damage assessment. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said in a statement on Wednesday that the Region has lost nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production due to the 'spate of drone attacks by criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.' The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources all strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on the federal government to hold the perpetrators to account. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
