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Iraq Becomes Drone War Battlefield as Iran-Backed Militias Strike Gulf States. Five Hundred drone attacks from Iraqi territory hit Saudi Arabia and beyond, raising fears of a hidden regional war spiraling out of control By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, SULAIMANI,   Kurdish Policy Analysis , April 21--  Iraqi militia groups close to Iran have fired dozens of drones at Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries during the war; This has created a “silent” war in the midst of the Great War. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, half of the 1,000 drone strikes against Saudi Arabia were from within Iraqi territory. The report cited a Saudi security assessment that said the attacks targeted sensitive positions, including the Yanbu refinery on the Red Sea and oil fields in eastern Saudi Arabia. The report said the drones hit not only Saudi Arabia, but also Kuwait's only civilian airport. Even after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire earlier this...
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Baghdad Limits Wheat Purchases from Kurdistan, Triggering Discrimination Claims

 

KRG says federal quota falls far short of production levels, raising fears of financial losses and renewed tensions over economic rights. Iraq’s decision to limit wheat purchases from the Kurdistan Region has sparked accusations of discrimination, with Kurdish farmers facing losses and rising tensions between Erbil and Baghdad.

Baghdad Accused of Discriminating Against Kurdistan’s Farmers

Kurdish Policy Analysis / ERBIL — A new dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and federal authorities in Baghdad has intensified after negotiations over wheat procurement collapsed, with Kurdish officials accusing the central government of discriminatory policies against farmers in the Kurdistan Region.

On April 15, 2026, the KRG Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that talks with Iraq’s federal Ministry of Agriculture ended without agreement. According to the KRG, Baghdad has agreed to purchase only 292,000 tons of wheat from the region—far below what officials say reflects actual production levels.

The ministry described the quota as “insufficient, unfair, and unacceptable,” arguing that Kurdish farmers are not being treated on par with producers in federal Iraq. Officials say repeated attempts to secure equitable procurement terms and financial guarantees have failed.

The dispute comes despite a strong agricultural season across the Kurdistan Region, driven by favorable rainfall and improved yields. Local authorities warn that without federal purchasing support, farmers may be forced to sell surplus wheat on informal markets at significantly reduced prices.

The standoff highlights broader structural tensions between Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government in Iraq, where disputes over budget allocations, oil revenues, and administrative authority have persisted for years.

Why This Matters

The wheat dispute is not just an agricultural issue—it carries wider economic and political implications:

  • Economic pressure tool: Limiting wheat purchases can restrict liquidity in the Kurdistan Region’s rural economy.
  • Food security risks: Reduced coordination may weaken Iraq’s national grain supply system.
  • Political leverage: The issue reflects ongoing disputes over federal authority versus regional autonomy.

For Kurdish farmers, the immediate concern is more practical: without guaranteed buyers, a strong harvest may translate into financial loss rather than profit. That is why Baghdad is accused of discriminating against Kurdistan’s farmers

According to the KRG, Baghdad has agreed to buy only 292,000 tons of wheat from farmers in the Kurdistan Region, a figure the ministry described as  insufficient, unfair, and unacceptable. The ministry said the amount does not reflect the region’s actual wheat production and accused the Iraqi government of treating Kurdistan’s farmers differently from farmers in the rest of Iraq. On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Agriculture announced that talks with Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture over the purchase of this year’s wheat harvest ended without agreement.

The KRG stated that despite repeated efforts to secure fair procurement terms and financial rights for Kurdistan’s farmers, Baghdad maintained its position, leaving negotiations unresolved.

Officials also noted that wheat production in the Kurdistan Region has increased this year due to favorable weather and heavy rainfall. However, with Baghdad refusing to purchase more, many farmers may face financial losses and could be forced to sell part of their harvest on the black market at lower prices.

#Kurdistan #Iraq #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #KRG #Baghdad #WheatCrisis #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #Farmers


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