Iraq appoints leader from Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq as deputy PM

Iraq’s parliament has recently appointed a prominent member of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement as a deputy prime minister. The decision was made after Laith al-Khazali, the brother of the group’s leader, was approved by lawmakers. The United States had previously labeled this movement as a foreign terrorist organization in 2020, citing numerous attacks, including a 2007 assault that resulted in the death of five US soldiers.

Both Laith and his brother, Qais al-Khazali, were subsequently designated as specially designated global terrorists by the US Treasury, with charges including the killing of protesters in Iraq.

To complete Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government, three deputy prime ministers and 11 ministers were approved by lawmakers on Thursday. Among the newly appointed ministers are Nayef al-Shammari as defense minister and Yasir al-Maliki as interior minister. The new government has expressed its commitment to economic reforms, anti-corruption measures, and efforts to strengthen state institutions.

However, it faces significant challenges, such as rebuilding an economy that has suffered due to regional instability, tackling widespread corruption, and curbing the influence of Iran-allied armed groups, according to Reuters.