Iraqi committee on Jurf al-Nasr file to begin field work in Babil on Sunday

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A committee established by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi to examine the Jurf al-Nasr file will conduct a field visit to the district in Babil province on Sunday. Abd al-Rahman al-Jazairi, head of the National Section within the State of Law Coalition, said the committee is composed of representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Justice and Interior, alongside Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) figures, and operates under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office. Al-Jazairi said the committee's first step will be to review contracts governing agricultural land in the area. He noted that the land is state-owned and is leased to farmers for terms of five to 30 years in exchange for annual rent, with expired contracts to be reassessed for renewal. He added that the Babil governor has submitted a review to the Ministry of Agriculture regarding expired contracts that fall under the ministry's jurisdiction. According to al-Jazairi, the committee's current work does not include changes to the security map of the area, and there are no planned adjustments to existing security arrangements, including those involving the Hezbollah Brigades. The Ministry of Justice has also signaled its readiness to intervene in legal cases linked to the land contracts. The district officially took the name Jurf al-Nasr after being retaken from ISIS in 2014. Thousands of civilians have yet to return, and disputes over land and security in the area have resurfaced. The committee's formation coincides with broader government efforts to extend the control of official security forces in the district, with the stated goal of bringing weapons under state authority.