Two air-strikes on an Iraqi military base killed seven and wounded 13 on March 24-5, ramping up diplomatic tension between Baghdad and Washington. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—a network of militias that are officially part of Iraq’s military structure but including groups with strong links to Iran—said the US was responsible for the first strike on Habbaniyah airbase in Anbar province. Iraq’s Defense Ministry said the second strike hit a medical clinic on the base, which is shared with PMF units. (TNH)
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US signals approval of new Iraqi prime minister
On April 27, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi named Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman who has not held political office, as prime minister-designate. Zaidi now has 30 days to form a government by selecting a cabinet which must be approved by Iraq’s Council of Representatives, its national parliament. The nomination does not guarantee that Zaidi will assume the top office. In 2020, two consecutive prime minister-designates failed to take office after proving unable to assemble a cabinet with parliamentary support.
The Coordination Framework (CF), a political coalition of Tehran-aligned Shi’ite parties that constitute the largest bloc in parliament, struggled to agree on a nominee for prime minister following the November 2025 election. The CF nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in late January, despite internal opposition. President Donald Trump’s rejection of Maliki, a close partner of Tehran, doomed his candidacy. Zaidi received America’s blessing on April 29.
Zaidi’s lack of political experience helped ensure consensus within the CF, in part because it suggests he will take direction willingly. The coalition, which contains US-designated terrorist Qais Khazali in its leadership, likely intends to maintain decision-making authority, and ensure the prime minister does no more than execute its priorities. (FDD)