For over two decades, rival Kurdish powers have sworn to avoid civil war — but deadly fighting has strained an informal truce to its breaking point.
After two years of talks, federal and KRG security forces have opened joint coordination centers that could help close security gaps exploited by insurgents.
Kirkuk's oil fields lack adequate protection because so many security forces were removed in a government crackdown on corrupt units involved in smuggling.
In Nassiriya, the arrest of an oil official highlights a kind of corruption that usually stays in the shadows of political protection networks.
Political upheaval and unabated protests have once again boiled over, shutting down the Nassiriya refinery and causing fuel shortages.
Harbiya, who was moved to the Joint Operations Command in Baghdad last week, discusses the fight against insurgents, improving coordination among rival security services, and winning the trust of locals.
The military commander-turned-governor says Mosul has largely succeeded in re-establishing security — but lagging support from Baghdad is hurting the local economy, including energy investment.
The co-leader of Kurdistan's second-largest party discusses politicized oil policies, factionalized leadership, security risks, and Iraq's national budget.
With shake-ups at Iraqi border ports, the Kadhimi administration is trying to combat corruption, increase revenues, and reinforce federal government authority.
Security leaders in Baghdad and Erbil have failed to implement plans to set up joint coordination centers.
