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Al-Maliki Gears Up for Pivotal Battle in Iraq’s Provincial Council Elections

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani alongside Nouri al-Maliki during a religious occasion in Baghdad last month (Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister).
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani alongside Nouri al-Maliki during a religious occasion in Baghdad last month (Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister).
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Al-Maliki Gears Up for Pivotal Battle in Iraq’s Provincial Council Elections

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani alongside Nouri al-Maliki during a religious occasion in Baghdad last month (Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister).
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani alongside Nouri al-Maliki during a religious occasion in Baghdad last month (Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister).

Indicators from within the coalition led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki suggest that he is poised to engage in a pivotal battle in this year's end-of-year elections for the provincial councils.

His objective is to secure five governors in central and southern Iraq. Additionally, he plans to capture the Shiite voters’ support in Baghdad, which is anticipated to be a fiercely contested electoral battleground, as described by members of the State of Law Coalition.

For months, al-Maliki’s coalition has set two goals concerning provincial council elections.

Firstly, they adamantly oppose any postponement of the scheduled December deadline.

Secondly, they are shutting the door on forming alliances with other Shiite factions in Iraq’s Coordination Framework.

The former premier is inclined to win council seats “without anyone's assistance,” according to a coalition insider.

Al-Maliki has previously affirmed that the local elections will take place as planned without any delays. He has called upon his supporters to be prepared and actively engage in selecting their representatives for the provincial councils.

A leader within al-Maliki’s coalition, who requested anonymity, revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the former prime minister is determined to expand his influence within the provinces.

His strategy encompasses winning around 40% of the Iraqi Parliament’s over 450 seats, in addition to securing the position of governor in five cities without any assistance from allies.

Sources with knowledge of the matter claim that al-Maliki is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the Sadrist movement’s absence from the competition. He views the provincial council elections as a golden opportunity not only to solidify his influence but also to fill the void left by Muqtada al-Sadr.

In the previous local elections of 2013, al-Maliki managed to secure approximately 120 seats and five governor positions. However, he lost them all when the provincial councils were dissolved in 2019 due to the Iraq protests.

It appears that the former Prime Minister is entirely preoccupied with electoral calculations in areas where the Sadrist movement holds sway, especially in the central and southern regions of the country.

He believes that the “central battle” will unfold in the capital city, Baghdad, where the competition among Shiite candidates for securing Shiite voters’ support is fiercest.

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Arab World

US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Attack on American Journalist

An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)
An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Attack on American Journalist

An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)
An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply condemned on Sunday settler violence during an olive harvest in the West Bank that injured several Palestinians and Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine as “a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards.”

In a post late Saturday on X, he called for “a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this.”

Levine was seriously injured in the attack Friday in the West Bank village of Abu Falah. Israeli police are also investigating an attack by Israeli settlers on European diplomats Saturday in another West Bank village.

Settler violence against Palestinians has soared this year and spiked further in recent weeks as Israel plans to hold elections Oct. 27.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ambiguous in addressing Levine’s assault, condemning “violence against anyone” but referring to the attack as “alleged” and saying its circumstances remain unclear.

Huckabee said Levine’s assault was “vicious” and “dishonorable,” and noted that she was clearly identified as a journalist when she was attacked.

Levine, an award-winning photojournalist who has covered conflict zones around the world for more than four decades, remains hospitalized in Tel Aviv as she recovers from hand surgery, broken ribs and other injuries she sustained in the attack.

She said she was forced to the ground and beaten for more than 10 minutes by the settlers, who also stole her camera, passport and phone.

The Washington Post reiterated its call for a full and transparent investigation, though Israel rarely investigates settler violence fully. Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, says around 94% of investigations into settler violence since 2005 have ended without an indictment, with just 3% leading to full or partial convictions.

Arab World

US Wants Israel to ‘Crack Down’ on Settler Violence in West Bank, Rubio Says

Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Wants Israel to ‘Crack Down’ on Settler Violence in West Bank, Rubio Says

Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)

The United States wants Israel to do more to deter attacks committed by settlers in the West Bank, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday.

"We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing," Rubio said. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them ‌to crack ‌down on that stuff."

His ‌comments ⁠to reporters came ⁠after the widespread dissemination of video showing multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday ⁠incident, which took place ‌as Israeli settlers ‌attacked Palestinian civilians.

European diplomats and a French ‌mayor also were attacked in the occupied ‌West Bank, Belgium's foreign minister said.

The US State Department, Rubio said, has inquired about the event that included Levine's ‌attack. Rubio, who spoke to reporters before boarding a flight to ⁠Uzbekistan, ⁠said he expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday.

Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.

Arab World

Egypt's Sisi Says His Rule Will End in 2030, Dismisses Reports He Is Grooming Relative for Presidency

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt's Sisi Says His Rule Will End in 2030, Dismisses Reports He Is Grooming Relative for Presidency

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed that his presidency will end in 2030, calling the date a "settled matter," ruling out constitutional amendments and dismissing speculation that he is grooming a relative to succeed him.

Political and strategic affairs experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sisi's remarks marked a major shift and a historic precedent, potentially putting to rest speculation over constitutional changes that could distract from Egypt's development priorities.

Sisi came to power in 2014 after winning the presidential election and secured re-election in 2018 and 2023. Constitutional amendments passed in 2019 extended presidential terms from four to six years and allowed him to seek a third term, which expires in 2030.

No constitutional changes

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Egyptian Military Academy cadets on Saturday, Sisi insisted that the constitution would remain untouched.

He said his presidency would definitively end in 2030 and that the matter was not open to debate, stressing that Egypt had an abundance of qualified citizens capable of leading the country.

Sisi also rejected speculation that he was preparing a family member or relative to succeed him, saying the Egyptian Military Academy had a role in training future leaders.

He stressed the need to safeguard the state against individuals unable to shoulder the responsibilities of leadership.

With 43 months remaining until 2030, he suggested dedicating 30 months to preparing prospective leaders.

He called for the speaker of parliament, prominent intellectuals and politicians, and the ministers of higher education and justice to develop a comprehensive framework that would pave the way for legislation governing the election of qualified candidates.

The program, he suggested, could train groups of 200, 300 or 500 participants in the workings of the state and the requirements for safeguarding it, broadening the choices available to Egyptian voters.

Sisi urged action on the proposal, emphasizing the responsibility to protect Egypt and its future and keep its flag flying high.

His remarks follow speculation on social media that the constitution could be amended in 2027 to allow him to seek another presidential term.

A historic precedent

Major General Mohamed el-Ghabari, a strategic affairs expert and former director of Egypt's National Defense College, said Sisi's declaration signaled a commitment to the constitutional transfer of power.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said Sisi wanted history to remember him for helping establish that principle, becoming the first Egyptian president in decades to clearly set an end date for his rule.

The remarks conveyed Sisi's belief that he had assumed office with a sense of duty and intended to hand over power with the same responsibility, while pressing ahead with development plans despite economic challenges and regional turmoil threatening stability and growth, he added.

Ghabari said Sisi was also making clear that the choice of Egypt's next leader rests with its people, warning that speculation about constitutional amendments or extending his presidency served no national interest and risked diverting attention from development and strategic planning.

He stressed that building credible political alternatives would require effective parties and institutions capable of nurturing leaders with clear platforms and the ability to present their visions to voters.

Mohamed Ezz al-Arab, head of the Arab and Regional Studies Unit at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Sisi appeared determined to make 2030 the endpoint of his rule.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: "What's striking is not just his announcement that his presidential term will end in 2030, but his call for the speaker of parliament to work with the justice minister and political, party and academic figures on selecting and preparing centers of excellence and future leaders."

"That would represent a major shift if things proceed as intended," he added.

Ezz al-Arab said Sisi's remarks reinforced the principle that Egypt is a state of institutions, where power cannot be inherited by his sons or any other family member.