# Iraq Mandates Direct Defense Procurement to Bypass Armed Faction Intermediaries Prime Minister Al-Zaidi orders direct manufacturing contracts to curb illicit funding and corruption. - **Source:** [Arab News](https://www.arabnews.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5e780e47-283c-45d7-9ac7-b75de38b2f3f ## Direct Procurement Mandate Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has officially ordered the Defense Industries Commission to cease all dealings with intermediary firms. The directive mandates that the government must contract directly with parent manufacturing companies for all military equipment. This policy shift aims to enhance transparency and reduce vulnerabilities to corruption within state procurement. ## Targeting Economic Pipelines The primary objective of this directive is to dismantle financial networks linked to various armed factions. Informed sources indicate that these intermediary companies serve as vital economic pipelines for such groups. By eliminating these middlemen, the government intends to cut off funding channels that have historically exploited state contracts for illicit gain. ## Institutional Oversight Challenges These intermediary networks have long operated across multiple state institutions, leveraging political and administrative influence to secure lucrative government contracts. Sources report that some of these entities are linked to the Al-Muhandis Company, a formation associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, which uses these operations to generate significant financial resources. ## Mechanism of Illicit Finance Beyond simple procurement, these firms reportedly facilitate money laundering to legitimize income derived from illicit activities, including oil and drug smuggling. By securing government contracts, these entities provide an official cover for their commercial transactions. This dual-track system allows armed factions to maintain economic influence while operating under the state's umbrella. ## Sovereignty and National Industry Al-Zaidi emphasized that Iraq possesses the necessary national expertise to manufacture its own weapons and equipment. He views the development of an advanced defense industry as a fundamental pillar of national sovereignty. The Prime Minister stressed that prioritizing research and development is essential to keep pace with global technological advancements in military. ## Political Tensions Escalating The policy shift arrives amid mounting tension between the government and certain factions within the Coordination Framework. These groups accuse political forces of cooperating with Al-Zaidi to diminish their economic and security influence. Public debate is intensifying regarding the evolution of these factions from resistance forces into entities managing vast commercial interests. ## Expert Perspective on Governance Political expert Hussein Allawi stated that the visit to the Defense Industries Commission signals a commitment to protecting public funds. He noted that direct engagement with international corporations will curb additional costs borne by the state. This approach is intended to ensure the quality of weapons and equipment through proper commercial governance. ## Long-term Strategic Implications Security researcher Mukhlad Hazem described the decision as a major step in confronting corporate networks that have monopolized state contracts for years. These networks often fail to deliver quality products or adhere to execution terms. Moving forward, the success of this policy will depend on the government's ability to enforce strict procurement standards. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/al-zaidi-targets-intermediary-companies-in-defense-industry-contracts-3010281 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._