Iraq Issues Correction After Gazette Error in Terror Freeze List
Baghdad clarifies commitment to UNSC Resolution 1373 while reaffirming its unwavering support for Palestine and Lebanon
Iraq, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Iraq announced that it will formally amend its recently published terrorist asset freeze list after discovering that several entities not linked to ISIS or Al-Qaeda were mistakenly included.
The clarification came following a Malaysian request made under UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), which obligates UN member states to target individuals and networks supporting designated terrorist groups.
The original order—Decision No. 61 of 2025—was issued by the Committee for Freezing Terrorists’ Assets and appeared in Issue No. 4848 of the Iraqi Official Gazette on November 17, 2025.
Iraqi officials explained that the list was published before final verification, resulting in the erroneous inclusion of groups with no connection to ISIS, Al-Qaeda, or any terrorist activity. Authorities stressed that Iraq’s approval covered only those entities explicitly linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda, as outlined in the Malaysian request.
A corrected version will be issued, and all unrelated names will be removed.
Clarification Following Controversy Over Inclusion of Hezbollah and Ansar Allah
Public attention intensified after the Gazette’s initial publication appeared to include Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Ansar Allah—two movements widely recognized in the region as legitimate resistance forces defending their nations against Israeli and Western-backed aggression.
Iraqi authorities emphasized that these groups were never intended to be part of the asset freeze and that their names were mistakenly included due to the premature release of the list.
The government underscored that Iraq’s stance remains rooted in “principled positions” supporting the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples in the face of ongoing Israeli aggression.
Prime Minister Al-Sudani Orders Urgent Investigation
The office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani issued a parallel statement, confirming that the published text “reflected inaccurate positions” and did not represent Iraq’s official view.
Al-Sudani ordered an urgent investigation to determine how the error occurred and who within the committee was responsible for the premature and incorrect publication.
He reaffirmed Iraq’s firm regional stance, declaring:
“The Iraqi government’s positions on the aggression against our people in Lebanon and Palestine are principled positions that are not subject to bidding and reflect the will of our people.”
He added that opportunistic voices would not be allowed to exploit the administrative error to undermine Iraq’s long-standing commitment to the rightful struggles of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. (PW)