Iraq parliament completes al-Zaidi cabinet five months on

Iraq's parliament on Thursday approved 11 remaining cabinet portfolios and three deputy prime ministers, completing Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government five months after it took office.

Why it matters: One new deputy prime minister, Laith al-Khazali of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, is under US sanctions, a choice that complicates Baghdad's ties with Washington as the government faces a severe liquidity shortage.

Data as of Al Jazeera report published October 16, 2026, opened and read in full. Single source for this developing item, so it is grade C.

Iraq’s parliament voted on Thursday to approve 11 previously vacant cabinet portfolios, including Nayef al-Shammari as defence minister and Yasir al-Maliki as interior minister, and confirmed three deputy prime ministers. A vote on the migration and displacement nominee was postponed after parties failed to agree.

One deputy prime minister is Laith al-Khazali, a senior leader of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, which the US designated a foreign terrorist organisation in 2020; Washington sanctioned al-Khazali in 2019. Al-Zaidi, whose government took office in May, said it inherited public debt above 208 trillion dinars and needs about 10 trillion dinars a month for salaries and essential spending.

Iraq parliament completes al-Zaidi cabinet five months on

Sources