By: Katherine Lawlor and Brandon Wallace
ISW is assessing the ongoing unrest and its effects on political-security dynamics in Iraq. The Iraq Situation Report (SITREP) map series summarizes key events and likely developments to come. The following SITREP map covers the period April 1 - 7, 2020.
Key Takeaway: Iran’s Iraqi proxy groups continue to press forward with their campaign to pressure the U.S. to leave Iraq. The proxies organized a coalition to replace Adnan al-Zurfi as Prime Minister (PM)-designate and are coordinating an aggressive messaging campaign threatening U.S. forces in Iraq. Iraq’s political elite reached agreement on an alternative PM, Iraqi National Intelligence Service Director Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who again may face opposition from Iran-backed groups as he navigates a difficult government formation process within a 30-day constitutional deadline. Meanwhile, the U.S. is engaging in a high-level response to Iranian progress on multiple lines of effort inside of Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a dialogue with Iraq on a Strategic Framework Agreement, scheduled to start in June, amid ongoing U.S. force consolidations.
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