Iraq's parliament fills remaining cabinet slots, appoints three deputy prime ministers

On Thursday, Iraq's parliament voted to fill the remaining eleven ministerial vacancies in Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's cabinet, appointing Nayef al-Shammari as defence minister and Yasir al-Maliki as interior minister among others. A pending nomination for migration and displacement minister was postponed because of disagreements among parties. In addition, legislators approved three deputy prime ministers, with Laith al-Khazali, a senior leader of the Iran-aligned militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, securing one of the posts.

The United States designated Asaib Ahl al-Haq as a foreign terrorist organization in 2020 and has accused it of attacks on U.S. and coalition forces. The completed cabinet inherits a reform agenda focused on reviving the economy, curbing endemic corruption and enhancing state authority, while facing challenges from regional instability and the need to bring Iran-aligned armed groups under tighter state control.