Iraqi Integrity Commission Inspects Baghdad Fuel Stations Amid Shortage

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Federal Integrity Commission has launched field inspections at fuel stations across Baghdad as the capital grapples with a gasoline shortage that began during the first night of Eid al-Adha. The commission deployed teams from its Protection and Investigation departments to conduct sudden inspections at stations in the Karkh and Rusafa districts, examining operations at facilities in Dhari and Sadiyah. Inspectors found that fuel supply and distribution processes were continuing, with relatively high traffic reported at refined gasoline sales points. The shortage prompted long queues at pumps in Baghdad and several other cities following the holiday's start. The Ministry of Petroleum initially denied reports of a crisis before acknowledging a shortfall in gasoline supply. The ministry attributed the situation to regional developments and the withdrawal of a foreign company from a southern refinery project for security reasons.