Iraq in April 2026: the most important developments in security
In April 2026, Iraq's security situation was shaped by attacks by Iran-backed militias during the wider war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The most widely reported event was the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had been kidnapped in Baghdad at the start of the month. The Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah released her on 7 April, according to an Iraqi official and US Senator Marco Rubio. Earlier, on 2 April, the group had contacted the Iraqi government about her, according to a New York Times report.
Attacks continued in the first week. Drone strikes hit oil storage sites at the Buzurgan and North Rumaila fields in Basra province on 4 April, wounding three workers; the fires were contained and major production disruptions were avoided. Iraq closed the Shalamcheh crossing with Iran after an attack killed one Iraqi, and operations later returned to normal. Iraqi factions claimed dozens of operations against US bases in the region. Protesters broke into the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra after a rocket attack killed three people, and Iraq opened an investigation. A drone attack killed a militia member near Erbil, and drone strikes killed civilians in Iraqi Kurdistan. Explosions were heard near the US embassy in Baghdad, and drone attacks targeted a diplomatic facility and Baghdad Airport.
On 8 April, after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced, Iraq, Syria and Bahrain reopened their airspace, and Iraq's Islamic Resistance said it would suspend operations for two weeks. Tensions with neighbours continued. The United States summoned the Iraqi ambassador over the drone strike on the diplomatic facility in Baghdad, and drone strikes on Kuwait were reported to have originated from Iraq. On 12 April Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Iraq, summoned Iraq's ambassador and demanded that Baghdad act to prevent further drone attacks from its soil. On 21 April the Associated Press reported that Iran had given its field commanders more authority over militias in Iraq. On 28 April Iraqi security forces opened fire at a drone flying over Baghdad's Green Zone.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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