Iraq in May 2026: the most important developments in politics
In May 2026 Iraqi politics centred on the change of government. Ali al-Zaidi, the prime minister-designate, was reported to have US backing, and President Trump said on 1 May that he had spoken with him and voiced strong support; reports also described militia violence against him. Al-Zaidi formally took over as prime minister on 17 May and said Iraq's regional and international ties would be expanded on the basis of mutual respect. He inherited growing paralysis in public services after 18 months without a budget.
On 18 May Iraq said it was concerned by reports that its territory had been used to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia, and it reiterated that it would not be a launchpad for aggression against its neighbours. On 27 May the prime minister declared that weapons belong only to the state, following a decision by Muqtada al-Sadr. On 31 May he ordered the creation of a body to oversee government contracts and recover public funds.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.