The National Interest:

Iraq’s new leadership, dominated by the “Sadrist Movement” electoral alliance, faced its first major security challenge as a wave of sectarian violence swept through Baghdad this past week. This surge in violence will pose a challenge to the Sadrist Movement as it attempts to form a majority government following its victory in Iraq’s October 2021 elections.

See also: In Democratic Iraq, Fears Of A Civil War

The Arab Weekly:

At least four rockets targeted the US embassy compound in Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone on Thursday, Iraqi security officials said. The area is home to diplomatic missions and the seat of the Iraqi government.

Three of the missiles struck within the perimetre of the American embassy, the officials said. Another hit a school located in a nearby residential complex.

Al Jazeera:

The chaotic meeting ushers in what is likely to be a lengthy period of political wrangling among rival groups to choose a new president and a prime minister. As the leader of the biggest bloc, Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr has the upper hand in forming a new government. But he will have to manage tensions with rival Shia groups that continue to reject the election results and are demanding to have a say in the government formation process.

According to Iraq’s constitution, the largest bloc in parliament has the right to choose the new prime minister.

But as the meeting got under way on Sunday, a coalition known as the Shia Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shia factions which object to the vote results, submitted a list of lawmakers’ names it claimed now hold the biggest parliamentary bloc with 88 seats, rather than al-Sadr.

PressTV:

Multiple roadside bombs have separately gone off near convoys of trucks carrying equipment belonging to US occupation forces in Iraq’s central province of Babil as well as the southern provinces of Basra and Muthanna in the last 24 hours, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. 

Al Jazeera:

Two armed drones were shot down as they approached an Iraqi military base hosting US forces near Baghdad’s international airport, Iraqi security sources said, adding that nobody was hurt in the incident.

An official of the US-led international military coalition stationed there said the base’s defence system engaged “two fixed-wing suicide drones… they were shot down without incident”.

The National:

Fifteen years after the execution of Iraq’s former dictator Saddam Hussein, Iraqis are still divided about his rule and legacy.

“Saddam’s era saw big achievements and setbacks in all fields,” Baghdad resident Riyadh Ahmed Salih told The National.

“But after him Iraq is literally collapsed and we have been seeing one setback after another,” said Mr Salih, 68, a retired teacher.

The North State Journal:

The top U.S. commander for the Middle East said that the United States will keep the current 2,500 troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future, and he warned that he expects increasing attacks on U.S. and Iraqi personnel by Iranian-backed militias determined to get American forces out. 

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Pentagon that despite the shift by U.S. forces to a non-combat role in Iraq, they will still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State. 

Noting that Iranian-backed militias want all Western forces out of Iraq, he said an ongoing uptick in violence may continue through December. 

“They actually want all U.S. forces to leave, and all U.S. forces are not going to leave,” he said, adding that as a result, “that may provoke a response as we get later into the end of the month.” 

Operation Iraqi Freedom continues pointlessly into the foreseeable future.

Rudaw:

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi announced Wednesday the official ending of the global coalition against the Islamic State’s (ISIS) combat mission in the country, adding that their new role is to advise and assist local security forces. 

“The Coalition have fully completed their combat role after transfer of personnel and material outside Iraq. Going forward, their role will be to advise and assist our security forces per the outcome of the Strategic Dialogue,” Kadhimi said in a tweet , referring to a string of meetings between Iraqi and US in the last two years. 

“We thank the leadership of the Coalition, it’s members, our partners and neighbors in combating Daish and reaffirm that our security forces stand ready to defend our people,” he added. 

The Coalition was formally established in October 2014, after ISIS took control of vast swathes of territories in Iraq and Syria. Consisting of 84 nations, the US-led Coalition’s mission has been “degrading and ensuring Daesh’s enduring defeat,” it says on its website, using Arabic acronym for the extremist group. 

NJ PBS:

The Iraqi Supreme Court on Monday ratified the parliamentary election results, clearing the path for the forming of a government. Kataib Hezbollah, one of the groups that disputed the election results, wants all U.S. military forces out of Iraq by the end of 2021. It is believed to be responsible for previous attacks on American forces.

Al Jazeera:

“The Federal Supreme Court has ratified the results of the legislative elections,” its media officer announced in a brief statement.

Iran-backed factions, including powerful armed groups, had alleged irregularities in the October 10 vote, in which they performed poorly.

“The Federal Court has decided to reject the complaint aimed at not having the (election) results ratified, and to make the plaintiff bear the costs,” Judge Jassim Mohammed earlier said as he read out the ruling at the court headquarters in the capital, Baghdad, on Monday.