Security personnel killed during demolition operation in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Security personnel died during clashes that broke out in Baghdad's Dawra district while authorities were carrying out a demolition order against structures built on what officials described as occupied land, with an area family caught up in the operation. The incident has revived a long-running debate over informal settlements in the capital, where construction has long rested on agricultural land titles, including the so-called 25-deed documents, and has become a primary housing option for lower-income families. The state has at times extended limited water, sewage and electricity services to such settlements while also issuing sudden demolition orders. The government has publicly stated it intends to convert these areas into residential land titles, but no concrete regulation has been put into practice so far. In a separate announcement, the Prime Minister unveiled a project to allocate one million residential plots, with applications to open on September 1, 2026. Observers say the plan's success depends on transparency and infrastructure preparation, and that without them the new plots risk turning into uncontrolled settlement.