Iraq's water reserves at safe levels, Mosul Dam secured, minister says

MOSUL, Iraq — Iraq's water reserves are at safe levels and the Mosul Dam is in a secure condition, Water Resources Minister Muthenna al-Tamimi said during a visit to Mosul on June 10, 2026. The minister said water resources are being continuously monitored under existing plans. Tamimi described the Mosul Dam as one of Iraq's most strategic water structures, adding that maintenance and upkeep at the site are being closely tracked and that security indicators are at a very good level. He said the findings of the visit would be presented to the Council of Ministers to support decisions on future plans for the dam. The minister said a contract with an international consulting firm is close to being signed to evaluate ongoing maintenance work, and that the long-stalled Badush Dam, on which work has been halted since 1991, will be addressed under the same framework. He added that water inflow has raised storage levels at Iraqi dams, including the Himreen Dam, to comfortable ranges and that the Mosul Dam has reached safe levels, with spillway operations resuming after more than seven years, allowing optimal water management. Tamimi nonetheless called for the careful use of water resources.