Threat of U.S. purge looms over 3,000 Iraqi officials amid cabinet deadlock

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Political factions within the Coordination Framework are bracing for a massive administrative overhaul, described by Shiite circles as an impending American de-baathification or purging of state institutions.

According to leaked information published by Baghdad-based Al-Mada newspaper on Monday, May 25, 2026, the restructuring could oust approximately 3,000 high-ranking Iraqi officials and special-grade civil servants linked to sanctioned armed factions. This sweeping administrative shift hangs in the balance as Baghdad awaits Washington’s response to an urgent three-month probationary proposal.

The crisis follows the recent partial confirmation of Prime Minister Ali Falih Al Zaidi’s cabinet on May 14, where Parliament approved only 14 out of 23 ministries. The remaining nine portfolios remain vacant due to strict U.S. vetos against appointing individuals affiliated with blacklisted groups or organizations aligned with Tehran’s Quds Force.

To break the political deadlock, Prime Minister Al Zaidi leveraged personal ties to coordinate a discreet, five-day visit by retired U.S. General David Petraeus to Baghdad. Operating as an independent expert, Petraeus carried an executive working paper aimed at cooling tensions and restructuring the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

During the meetings, the Iraqi government transmitted an urgent proposal to Washington requesting a 90-day grace period. Under this framework, the Al Zaidi administration pledges to immediately dismantle political understandings and take decisive action if regional factions resume drone or missile strikes against Erbil, diplomatic embassies, or vital state infrastructure.

However, political figures like independent former MP Mithal Al Alusi express deep skepticism, stating that Washington views the eradication of unauthorized weapons and foreign influence as a non-negotiable prerequisite for economic and political partnership.

The diplomatic pressure is no longer confined to cabinet seats; it actively targets deep-tier positions across Iraq’s intelligence, diplomatic corps, and state-owned financial institutions. Regional media reports via Asharq Al-Awsat indicate that the United States has already outlined a phased decommissioning strategy for the PMF, beginning with the removal of heavy weaponry, the isolation of controversial paramilitary leaders, and the integration of professional military officers into the command structure.

Domestically, the looming American response has temporarily frozen internal bickering within the Coordination Framework, particularly between State of Law leader Nouri Al Maliki and former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani. While figures like Humam Hamoudi insist that the Shiite coalition remains unified against outside dictations, Asaib Ahl Al Haq representatives have publicly criticized State of Law’s efforts to claim multiple security ministries, warning that internal overreach threatens the coalition’s stability.

Political analysts predict that if Washington rejects Baghdad’s three-month compromise after the current holiday period, the internal friction will likely rupture, triggering a sudden administrative vacuum across the upper echelons of the Iraqi state.

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المصدر: Iraqi News