2023 in Iraq

* 2022
* 2021
* 2020
*   *

|  | 2023

Iraq |

* 2024
* 2025
* 2026
*   *

|
|
|

Decades:|

* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s
*   *

See also:| Other events of 2023
List of years in Iraq

Events of the year 2023 in Iraq.

## Incumbents

[edit]

* President: Abdul Latif Rashid
* Prime Minister: Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani

## Events

[edit]

### January

[edit]

* 19 January –
* 25th Arabian Gulf Cup logoArabian Gulf Cup stampede, kills four and injures up to 80+ after the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra.[1]
* Iraq wins the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup for the 4th time in history and the first time since 1988.[2]
* 27 January – Iraq and France sign a bilateral cooperation agreement during a visit of Iraqi prime minister to Paris.[3]

* 31 January – Killing of Tiba al-Ali, a 23-year-old woman strangled by her father in Al Diwaniyah while sleeping.[4]

### February

[edit]

* 6 February – Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, visits Iraq to discuss economic and strategic relations between the two countries. [5]
* February – During excavations in Lagash, archologists find an ancient tavern with food remains that is estimated to be over 5,000 years old, providing a unique look at the dietary habits of ancient people.[6]

### March

[edit]

* 1 March – United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres visits Iraq for the first time in six years.[7]
* 23 March – Iraq wins a landmark arbitration case against Türkiye over the exportation of oil through the Kurdistan region.[8]

* 27 March – The Iraqi Parliament passes 206–12 a series of amendments reducing the electoral districts in each governorate to one, ahead of local elections in November. Voting blocs and independent members who boycotted the vote claim the amendments make it more difficult for the opposition to get elected.[9]

### April

[edit]

* 7 April – Turkish military targets Sulaimaniyah airport, drawing condemnations from the Iraqi government.[10]
* 12 April – Iraq signs a Memorandum of Understanding with UNDP to combat corruption.[11]

### May

[edit]

* 23-24 May – Duchess of Edinburgh, princess Sophie Rhys-Jones, visits Baghdad in support of victims of sexual violence, becoming the first royal to visit Iraq.[12]
* 27 May – Iraq launches a $17 billion project that aims to connect the Grand Faw Port with Türkiye by road and rail.[13]

### June

[edit]

* 3 June – Syria repatriates 50 Islamic State fighters and 168 relatives of fighters to Iraq.[14]
* 15 June – The emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, visits Baghdad and meets officials in both Baghdad and Kurdistan.[15]
* 26 June – During clashes near Kirkuk, 3 Islamic State militants and one Iraqi soldier are killed.[16]
* 29 June – Iraqi protesters storm the Swedish embassy in Baghdad after videos of Quran burning in Sweden spread on social media.[17]

### July

[edit]

* Cardinal Louis Sako3 July – Iraqi president issues a decree revoking a 2013 decree that recognized Louis Raphaël I Sako as Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad.[18]
* 13 July – Hundreds of Christian Iraqis protest in Ankawa demanding the Iraqi government reinstate cardinal Sako as patriarch.[19]
* 15 July – Amid rising tension between cardinal Sako and the government, the cardinal left Baghdad and headed to Kurdistan.[20]

* 20 July – Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in reaction to a planned Quran desecration demonstration in Stockholm. The Swedish foreign ministry confirms the safety of its embassy staff and the Iraqi foreign ministry condemns the incident, initiating an investigation to identify those responsible.[21]
* 21 July – Swedish embassy in Baghdad temporarily suspends operations.[22]
* 22 July – The murder and torture of a 7 year old child, Mousa Walaa, at the hand of his stepmother sparks anger in Iraq and demands of justice.[23]
* 31 July – World Health Organization recognizes Iraq as the 50th country to eliminate Trachoma as a public health threat.[24]

### August

[edit]

* 10 August – Five Turkish soldiers are killed during clashes with PKK militants.[25]

* 27 August – The stepmother of murder victim Mousa Walaa is convicted of his killing and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[26]
* 28 August – A French soldier is killed during a joint anti-terrorism operation with Iraqi forces in Kirkuk.[27]

### September

[edit]

* 2 September – Rival protests in Kirkuk, between Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab residents of the city devolved into violent clashes resulting in 4 dead and 15 injured.[28]
* 13 September – Germany extends the mandate for German army operations in Iraq, up to 500 soldiers set to be deployed up to October, 2024.[29]
* 21 September – The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court overturns the Khor Abdullah agreement with Kuwait which had been voted on by Parliament in 2013. The court declared the agreement unconstitutional for not passing the 2 thirds majority required.[30]

* 26 September – Qaraqosh wedding fire: More than 100 people are killed and more than 150 others are injured in a fire at a wedding in Qaraqosh, Nineveh Governorate[31]

### October

[edit]

* 13 October – Thousands of protesters march in Baghdad in solidarity with Palestinians after the beginning of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.[32]
* 17 October – Iraqi government declares state of mourning for three days for victims of al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist Hospital massacre in Gaza.[33]
* Lamassu sculpture19 October – Drones and rockets strike the Al-Asad Airbase in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq, which houses U.S. troops.[34]
* 24 October – 2,700 year old, mostly intact, winged Lamassu sculpture is unearthed near Mosul.[35]
* 31 October – Ain al-Asad airbase that hosts U.S and coalition forces is targeted by 2 armed drones, with no reported casualties.[36]

### November

[edit]

* 10 November – U.S. forces are attacked three times in the past 24 hours in Iraq, including drone strikes on Al-Asad Airbase and Al-Harir Air Base, and an IED attack on a U.S. patrol near the Mosul Dam. No casualties are reported.[37]
* 14 November – The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq dismisses Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi and Representative Laith al-Duleimi, following a complaint alleging that Halbousi falsified a resignation letter that would have removed Duleimi from parliament.[38]
* 30 November – A gun attack by the Islamic State in Diyala results in 11 civilians dead and several wounded.[39]

### December

[edit]

* 8 December – The US embassy got attacked, again. And there were dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases by Iran-backed factions in Iraq in the preceding months, raising fears of repeated traumatic brain injuries to Americans & renewing the state of undeclared de facto war.[40]
* 18 December – Provincial council elections take place for the first time since 2013.[41]
* 23 December – Seventeen PKK militants and 12 Turkish soldiers are killed during two days of shootouts in northern Iraq.[42]
* 26 December – Two men from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on an hunting trip in Iraq are killed when their vehicle hits a roadside bomb planted by Islamic State insurgents in Al Anbar Governorate.[43]

## Deaths

[edit]

* 31 January: Tiba al-Ali, 22, Iraqi-born Turkish social media personality.[44]
* 5 February: Mordechai Bibi, 100, Iraqi-born Israeli politician, MK (1959–1974).
* 9 February: Ali al-Bahadili, 80, politician, minister of agriculture (2005–2010).[45]
* 7 March: Ibtisam Abdallah, 80, writer and translator.[46]
* 20 March: Abdul Rahman Majeed al-Rubaie, 83, novelist (The Tattoo Mark).[47]
* 2 April: Aram Karam, 93, footballer (national team).[48]
* 3 June: Khalid Kishtainy, 93, writer and satirist.[49]
* Karim Al Iraqi22 June: Jacques Ishaq, 85, Chaldean Catholic hierarch, archbishop of Arbil (1997–1999) and curial bishop of the Chaldean Patriarchate (2005–2014).[50]
* 4 July: Amer Alwan, 66, Iraqi-French film director and actor (The Girl on the Train).[51]
* 22 July: Karim Allawi Homaidi, 95, football player (Al-Minaa, national team) and manager (Al-Minaa).[52]
* 28 August: Rabban al-Qas, 74, Chaldean Catholic prelate, bishop of Amadiya (2001–2021).[53]
* 1 September: Karim Al Iraqi, 68, poet.[54]
* 6 September: Adnan Al-Kaissie, 84, professional wrestler (AWA, WWWF, WWF).[55]
* 16 September: Qasem Taei, 63, grand ayatollah.[56]
* 17 September:
* Muhammad Mahdi al-Khorasani, 94, grand ayatollah.[57]
* Sami Azara al-Majun, 91, politician.[58]
* 22 September: Sharar Haidar, 52, football player (national team) and executive, chairman of Al-Karkh (since 2003), heart attack.[59]
* 5 December: Aatqall Taúaa, 74, sculptor, film critic and novelist.[60]

## See also

[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

* Iraq

* 2020s portal
* Current events portal
* Iraq portal

### Country overviews

[edit]

* History of Iraq
* History of modern Iraq
* Outline of Iraq
* Government of Iraq
* Politics of Iraq
* Timeline of Iraq history
* Years in Iraq

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Four dead, dozens injured in stampede at Gulf Cup in Iraq". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
2. ^ "Deadly stampede mars Iraq's fourth Gulf Cup title". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
3. ^ "France and Iraq sign comprehensive strategic partnership agreement". 27 January 2023.
4. ^ "'Honour killing' of YouTube star causes outrage in Iraq | Women News". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
5. ^ بابان, صلاح حسن. "العزف على الوتر الاقتصادي والسياسي.. ما أهداف ومآلات زيارة الوفد الروسي لبغداد؟". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-13.
6. ^ Ronald, Issy (2023-02-01). "5,000-year-old tavern discovered in Iraq". CNN. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
7. ^ "Guterres stresses UN commitment to Iraq during first visit in 6 years | UN News". news.un.org. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
8. ^ Samson, Adam; Jalabi, Raya (2023-03-25). "Iraq wins landmark case against Turkey over Kurdish oil exports". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
9. ^ "Iraqi parliament passes controversial vote law amendments". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
10. ^ "Iraqi president condemns Turkish bombardment of autonomous Kurdish region". France 24. 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
11. ^ "Government of Iraq and UNDP sign Memorandum of Understanding to boost the fight against corruption". UNDP. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
12. ^ "Duchess of Edinburgh becomes first royal to visit Baghdad in Iraq". 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
13. ^ Azhari, Timour (27 May 2023). "Iraq launches $17 billion road and rail project to link Asia and Europe".
14. ^ "50 Islamic State Fighters, 168 Family Members Repatriated to Iraq". Voice of America. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
15. ^ "Emir of Qatar meets with Kurdish, Iraqi leaders in Baghdad". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
16. ^ "Iraqi soldier, three ISIS militants killed in Kirkuk". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
17. ^ "Sweden Quran burning: Protesters storm embassy in Baghdad". 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
18. ^ "رئيس الجمهورية يصدر توضيحا حول سحب المرسوم الجمهوري الخاص بالكاردينال ساكو". وكالة الأنباء العراقية. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
19. ^ "مسيحيو العراق يطالبون رئيس الجمهورية بإلغاء مرسوم البطريرك ساكو". aawsat.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
20. ^ "بعد خلاف مع الرئيس العراقي.. بطريرك الكلدان الكاثوليك يغادر بغداد نحو إقليم كردستان". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
21. ^ "Iraq expels Sweden ambassador, embassy stormed over Quran burning". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
22. ^ "Swedish embassy in Iraq relocates after attack over Quran burning". AL JAZEERA.
23. ^ "بالسكين والملح والكهرباء.. تفاصيل جريمة بشعة تهز العراق لمقتل طفل على يد زوجة أبيه". العربية (in Arabic). 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
24. ^ "Iraq eliminates trachoma as a public health problem". www.who.int. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
25. ^ "مقتل 5 جنود أتراك في اشتباك مع مسلحين أكراد بشمال العراق". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-16.
26. ^ الوطن (2023-08-27). "العراق.. السجن 15 سنة لقاتلة الطفل موسى ولاء". الوطن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-16.
27. ^ "French special forces soldier killed in anti-terror operation in Iraq". France 24. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
28. ^ "Kirkuk curfew lifted after deadly unrest at rival protests by Arabs, Kurds". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
29. ^ Kurdistan24 (2023-09-13). "German government decides to extend troop presence in Iraq". German government decides to extend troop presence in Iraq. Retrieved 2025-03-18.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
30. ^ "محكمة عراقية تقضي بعدم دستورية اتفاقية خور عبد الله مع الكويت". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-05-11.
31. ^ "At Least 100 Are Killed in Fire at Wedding Hall in Iraq". The New York Times. 2023-09-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
32. ^ "Thousands rally in Iraq, Iran and Jordan in support of Palestinians". Al Arabiya English. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
33. ^ "Iraq declares three days of mourn over the hospital martyrs in Gaza". Iraqi News Agency. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
34. ^ "Rockets, drones hit Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces". Reuters. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
35. ^ "Iraq dig unearths 2,700-year-old winged sculpture largely intact". France 24. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
36. ^ Ismail, Amina; Ayash, Kamal (October 31, 2023). "Drones target Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, no casualties, damage - sources".
37. ^ "Drone, explosive attacks target US forces across Iraq". Reuters. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
38. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Iraq Supreme Court Says Dismissed Powerful Parliament Speaker". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
39. ^ "Gunmen kill 11 in roadside attack in eastern Iraq". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
40. ^ Chehayeb, Kareem; Abdul-Zahra, Qasim (11 December 2023). "Iraq scrambles to contain fighting between US troops and Iran-backed groups, fearing Gaza spillover". apnews.com. Baghdad. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
41. ^ "Iraq holds first provincial elections in a decade – DW – 12/18/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
42. ^ "12 Turkish soldiers have been killed over 2 days in clashes with Kurdish militants, authorities say". AP News. 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
43. ^ "Kuwaiti and Saudi hunters killed by a leftover Islamic State group explosive in Iraq, officials say". AP News. 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
44. ^ "Killing of YouTube star by her father causes outrage in Iraq". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
45. ^ "وفاة وزير أسبق في العراق". کوردستان تیڤی (kurdistantv.net) (in Arabic). 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
46. ^ "سبب وفاة ابتسام عبد الله في العراق – ابتسام عبدالله ويكيبيديا". وكالة سوا الإخبارية (in Arabic). 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
47. ^ النهار (2023-03-20). "وفاة الكاتب العراقي عبد الرحمن مجيد الربيعى عن عمر ناهز الـ83 | ثقافة | النهار". www.alnaharegypt.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
48. ^ "Aram Karam - View Obituary & Service Information". Aram Karam Obituary. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
49. ^ "رائد الكتابة الساخرة.. وفاة الكاتب العراقي خالد القشطيني عن 94 عاما | الحرة". www.alhurra.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
50. ^ "Archbishop Jacques Ishaq [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
51. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (2023-07-14). "Amer Alwan, Iraqi Director of 'Zaman, the Man From the Reeds,' Dies at 66". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
52. ^ "الاوساط الرياضية في البصرة تنعى اللاعب الدولي كريم علاوي". ninanews.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
53. ^ "Bishop Rabban Al-Qas [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
54. ^ "كريم العراقي يرحل بعد صراع مع مرض السرطان". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
55. ^ Powell, Jason (2023-09-06). ""The Sheik" Adnan Al-Kaissie dead at age 84". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
56. ^ "وفاة المرجع الديني قاسم الطائي بعد صراع مع المرض". شفق نيوز (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
57. ^ "الحوزة العلمية تنعى وفاة السيد محمد مهدي الموسوي الخرسان". baghdad-times.net (in Arabic). 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
58. ^ "وفاة السياسي الشيخ سامي آل معجون بعد صراع مع المرض". ninanews.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
59. ^ "وفاة اللاعب الدولي السابق شرار حيدر". Tech 4 Peace - التقنية من اجل السلام (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
60. ^ "مُقدِّمة برنامج " السينما والناس تطوي رحلتها .. رحيل الفنانة و الروائية العراقية اعتقال الطائي". iraqpalm. Retrieved 2023-12-24.

* v
* t
* e

2023 in Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Burma (Myanmar)
*   * Cambodia
*   * China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
*   * North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
*   * Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
*   * Nepal
* Oman
*   * Pakistan
*   *   *   * Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
*   *   * Singapore
*   * Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
*   * Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
*   *   * Yemen
*   *

States with limited
recognition

* Abkhazia
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan
*   *   *   *

Dependencies, colonies
and other territories

*   *   * British Indian Ocean Territory
*   *   * Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
*   *   *   *   *   * Hong Kong
*   * Macau
*   *   *   *

* v
* t
* e

Years in Iraq (1958–present)

20th century|

* ... 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000

21st century|

* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* Category:Years of the 20th century in Iraq
* Category:Years of the 21st century in Iraq

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template