Al-Zaidi threatens to resign in protest over arms and corruption
Baghdad – Agencies: A source within Iraq’s ruling Coordination Framework revealed that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi threatened to resign during a meeting of the framework, protesting several issues, including corruption, the financial crisis, and the failure of some factions to hand over weapons, as well as the international and regional pressures facing the government. The source added that the Coordination Framework meeting witnessed fierce disagreements stemming from divergent positions on these issues.
Meanwhile, Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Abudi confirmed the existence of a financial crisis affecting the regular payment of employees’ salaries in the country. In a media statement, he said that salaries might not be paid on time due to a significant gap between declining state revenues and monthly financial requirements and expenditures. He explained that the decline in revenues is due to economic repercussions and the shock caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, noting that the Ministry of Finance is working on adopting internal solutions to address the crisis and secure the required funds, including issuing financial bonds and resorting to domestic borrowing.
This is the first time the government has acknowledged a financial liquidity crisis, after previously stating that salaries were secured and that delays in payment were related to schedules within the Ministry of Finance.
For his part, Iraqi Parliament Vice President Farhad Atroshi issued stern warnings about the danger of continued control by factions and armed groups over the country’s war and peace decisions. He emphasized that the decision to engage in military confrontations is no longer in the hands of the federal government, a situation that threatens to draw Iraq into the vortex of regional and international conflicts.
In statements to Kurdistan 24 network, Atroshi clarified that Iraq’s official stance is characterized by “ambiguity” amid escalating tensions in the region, noting that Iraq has borne the brunt of these crises. He said, “If Iraqis do not unite to address the situation, conditions will deteriorate further.” The Kurdistan Democratic Party leader pointed out that uncontrolled weapons and corruption represent the greatest threat to the state’s existence, noting that armed groups misuse their weapons to protect their interests and gains. He affirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s position calling for weapons to be held exclusively by official institutions and for the decision on peace and war to be reserved solely for the Iraqi Parliament.
The parliamentary vice president also revealed the extent of the pressures facing the executive branch, noting that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi faces continuous threats and obstacles from these parties due to his opening of corruption files and his attempts to enforce the rule of law.
On another front, US forces began a gradual withdrawal from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as part of a plan to redeploy their troops and end their military presence in the country. Reports indicated that US military convoys left Erbil in recent days heading to neighboring countries. According to information, the withdrawal includes successive stages implemented according to a timeline, while equipment and troop transfers continue from US bases in the region. No official comment was issued by the US Department of Defense regarding the details of the recent movements.
In this context, the United States began withdrawing its remaining forces from Iraq ahead of the September 30 deadline, while the US Army had already removed Patriot air defense systems from the city of Erbil.
