Iraq parliament approves remaining cabinet posts, PM deputies

October 15, 2026 4:03 PM EDT

Speaker of Iraq's Parliament Haibat al-Halbousi welcomes Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the parliament building ahead of a session to approve the remaining members of his cabinet, in Baghdad, Iraq, October 15, 2026. Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office/Han

Oct 15 (Reuters) - Iraq's ‌parliament on ​Thursday ​approved the remainder of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's cabinet, completing the formation of ‌a government that took office five months ⁠ago with several key positions, lawmakers said.

• Lawmakers approved ‌11 portfolios, including Nayef al-Shammari ‌as defence minister and Yasir al-Maliki as interior minister

• Positions had been vacant since ​Zaidi's government took office in May

• Parliament postponed votes on the nominee for migration ⁠and displacement minister due to disagreement among parties, lawmakers said

• ​Lawmakers also approved three deputy prime ministers, including Laith al-Khazali, a senior leader of ​the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq ‌movement

• The US in 2020 designated Asaib Ahl al-Haq as a foreign ⁠terrorist organisation and its leaders, brothers Qais al-Khazali and Laith al-Khazali, as specially designated global terrorists

• ⁠The US has accused the group of carrying out ​attacks against US and coalition forces in Iraq

• Zaidi's government programme pledged economic reforms, anti-corruption measures and efforts ‌to strengthen state institutions

• But it faces significant challenges, including rebuilding an ‌economy hit by regional instability, tackling endemic ⁠corruption, and bringing ‌Iran-allied armed groups ​under greater state control

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed and Muayad Hameed, Editing by Rosalba ‌O'Brien)



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