On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, chaired the 13th session of the Army Chief of Staff Council for the year 2026.

The session was attended by the Senior Secretary of the Army Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chiefs of Staff, the Inspector General, the Commanders of the various Branches of the Armed Forces, the Heads of Departments, the Directors of the relevant Directorates and Units, and a number of Directors General.

The session began with a review of the main agenda items, which included several important issues such as personnel adjustments, a study on transforming the military into a productive institution and maximizing the Ministry's revenues, and combating corruption.

These items were discussed at length by the Council members before voting on them and making the appropriate recommendations and decisions, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Iraqi Army Chief directed all concerned parties with a number of recommendations and instructions regarding the July promotion schedule for officers and emphasized their promotion in accordance with the applicable regulations and standards.

He further stressed the need to consider and be fair to the wounded and sick segment of (officers and ranks), in order to include them in the promotions and transfers and to consider their retirement rights.

Earlier, under the patronage and in the presence of the Iraqi Chief of Staff, the Army Aviation Command held a ceremony on Monday, June 29, 2026, on the occasion of the graduation of the exceptional Army Aviation Instructors Preparation Course No. 1 (Knights of Knowledge), at Camp Taji.

The Assistant Chief of Staff of the Army for Training, the Commander of the Army Aviation, the Commanders of the two Divisions (the Ninth and Sixth Armored Divisions), along with a number of staff officers attended the ceremony.

The Commander of the training wing delivered a speech on this occasion, in which he stressed the importance of this course in preparing qualified training personnel who contribute to developing the capabilities of the army aviation, and enhancing the efficiency of pilots according to the latest professional standards, in line with the requirements of the military institution and enhancing its readiness.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Chief of Staff of the Army praised the level shown by the graduates, stressing that investing in preparing trainers is a fundamental pillar for building the capabilities of the Armed Forces.

In the same context, the Chief of Staff attended the briefing on movements of the Army Aviation Base, where he listened to a detailed explanation presented by those concerned regarding the tasks, functions, and future plans to develop and enhance the level of combat readiness and preparedness of the command units. (Source & Photo © Iraqi Ministry of Defense)