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US Backing for Al-Zaidi Rattles Baghdad's Calculations

Iraq’s prime minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi attends a Coordination Framework meeting in Baghdad on April 27 (AP)
Iraq’s prime minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi attends a Coordination Framework meeting in Baghdad on April 27 (AP)
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US Backing for Al-Zaidi Rattles Baghdad's Calculations

Iraq’s prime minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi attends a Coordination Framework meeting in Baghdad on April 27 (AP)
Iraq’s prime minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi attends a Coordination Framework meeting in Baghdad on April 27 (AP)

The US administration went beyond its embassy’s congratulatory post in Baghdad for Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali Al-Zaidi, and a phone call by its envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. It stepped up its engagement with a call from US President Donald Trump to Al-Zaidi.

 

Trump did not stop at the call, he then posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, congratulating Ali al-Zaidi and wishing him “success as he works to form a new Government free from terrorism that could deliver a brighter future for Iraq.”

 

The US president expanded on that vision, saying, “We look forward to a strong, vibrant, and highly productive new relationship between Iraq and the United States,” and calling it “the beginning of a tremendous new chapter between our Nations — Prosperity, Stability, and Success like never seen before.”

 

He also invited Al-Zaidi to visit Washington after his government wins a confidence vote.

 

The US stance appeared decisive and influential across several political forces, particularly within the Shi’ite camp.

 

Some leaders had been waiting for a signal from Trump rejecting Al-Zaidi’s nomination, which would have returned the process to the Coordination Framework, after it seemed to have temporarily slipped from its grasp with the nomination of an economic figure facing questions tied to previous US restrictions on his bank’s dollar transactions.

 

The US move unsettled armed factions, especially after three of their leaders were designated on terrorism lists, with financial rewards offered for information about them. Among those was a senior figure in the Coordination Framework who disappeared from view during recent meetings, along with leaders of other factions.

 

At the same time, additional complications emerged over the positions of political forces and figures previously considered for the premiership, amid talk of an undeclared US veto on some names, alongside clear support for Al-Zaidi.

 

This reshuffled dynamics within the Shi’ite political landscape.

 

'The last supper'

 

Alongside what appeared to be strong US backing, albeit conditional on forming a government “free of terrorism,” Al-Zaidi secured broad regional and international support, placing Iraqi political forces before a new equation.

 

Within the Shi’ite camp, this backing removed any suggestion that Al-Zaidi’s nomination was merely a political maneuver and weakened the chances of returning to the Coordination Framework's alternative names.

 

Some factions, despite recognizing his experience in economic files, had hoped to politically contain him, a prospect that has become more complicated under international backing.

 

Kurdish and Sunni forces had been counting on imposing their terms in forming the government, particularly regarding cabinet portfolios. However, US support for Al-Zaidi reshaped the negotiating balance and weakened his rivals’ ability to deal with him under traditional rules of engagement.

 

Concerns also surfaced within some political circles that Al-Zaidi could emerge as a strong, internationally backed prime minister, potentially reshaping internal balances and reducing the influence of regional actors, foremost among them Iran, which has yet to announce a clear position on his nomination. This silence has raised questions within Shi’ite circles about its implications.

 

Domestic moves

 

In a related development, Al-Zaidi received a phone call from Asif Ali Zardari, who congratulated him on being tasked with forming a government.

 

During the call on Friday, Al-Zaidi extended a formal invitation to Zardari to visit Iraq. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in both countries’ interests. Al-Zaidi praised Pakistan’s role in easing regional tensions, while the Pakistani president expressed readiness to accept the invitation after the government is formed.

 

The Coordination Framework nominated Al-Zaidi on April 26 to form the new government, and he is preparing to present his cabinet to parliament within the constitutional deadline.

 

In parallel, the Coordination Framework plans to establish specialized advisory bodies to support the incoming government.

 

Aqil al-Rudaini, spokesman for the Victory Alliance, said these bodies would cover vital sectors such as energy, investment and anti-corruption, and aim to provide advice to the prime minister.

 

Al-Rudaini said the success or failure of the prime minister would be the responsibility of the alliance.

 

He added that the number of these bodies has yet to be finalized and will be determined after the government is formed, and that they will include experts and advisers across various fields to support government performance.

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Arab World

Macron Seeks New Int’l Force for South Lebanon After UNIFIL Mandate Ends

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon shows a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armored vehicle driving past destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon shows a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armored vehicle driving past destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
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Macron Seeks New Int’l Force for South Lebanon After UNIFIL Mandate Ends

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon shows a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armored vehicle driving past destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon shows a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armored vehicle driving past destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon on June 22, 2026. (AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron pressed ahead with efforts to shape a new international force for southern Lebanon after the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires at the end of this year.

Macron spoke by phone on Tuesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, discussing developments in Lebanon and the region in light of the US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland. They also tackled the situation in southern Lebanon amid the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the future of international forces operating in the south, and international efforts to support Lebanon.

In his call with Aoun, talks focused on “the situation in the south and the next steps after the announcement of the ceasefire.”

They reviewed the outcome of last week’s G7 summit in the French city of Evian, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. Aoun thanked Macron for the position issued by the summit on Lebanon.

UNIFIL’s future took up a central part of the discussion. The two leaders examined the period after its mission ends, especially given the willingness of several European countries, with Lebanon’s backing, to keep forces inside the international area of operations.

Macron told Aoun he would contact several countries to clarify their positions, particularly as UNIFIL’s withdrawal from Lebanon is set to begin at the start of 2027.

The call also covered Lebanese-Syrian relations and coordination between the two countries. Aoun welcomed remarks by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in his latest television interview, in which he stressed Syria’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Sharaa said Syria did not intend to intervene militarily in Lebanon, despite comments by US President Donald Trump.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visit the Vivatech fair in Paris, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP)

Sharaa stressed that any Syrian role would go exclusively through the Lebanese state and not through other parties, and that Damascus wanted to bolster Lebanon’s stability and strengthen its official institutions.

During Macron’s call with Salam, the two leaders “continued discussions on the results of Salam’s recent visit to Paris, as well as an assessment of the negotiations that began in Switzerland and their repercussions for the region and Lebanon.”

They discussed efforts to secure the necessary conditions for two planned conferences, one to support the army and security forces and another to support reconstruction in wake of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The calls come as the future of the international forces in southern Lebanon emerges as one of the most prominent issues under global discussion. At the G7 summit, leaders devoted a significant part of their talks to Lebanon, focusing on the need to find an alternative to UNIFIL once its mandate ends.

According to diplomatic information, discussions are moving toward the creation of a multinational force in which France and other European countries, including Germany, Spain and Italy, have shown readiness to participate.

Its core mission would be to support and train the Lebanese army, equipping it with the capabilities needed to expand its deployment and extend state authority, thereby reinforcing stability and implementing security arrangements in southern Lebanon.

Arab World

Egypt-Syria Meetings Give Rapprochement New Momentum

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani meet in Jordan on Monday evening. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani meet in Jordan on Monday evening. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt-Syria Meetings Give Rapprochement New Momentum

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani meet in Jordan on Monday evening. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani meet in Jordan on Monday evening. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

A series of recent meetings between Egyptian and Syrian officials has given momentum to rapprochement between the two countries, observers said, particularly after a dispute over Syria’s diplomatic mission in Cairo was resolved.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani on Monday on the sidelines of an Arab League meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

In a statement on Tuesday, Egypt’s foreign ministry said the two ministers had affirmed “the depth of the historic ties between Egypt and Syria ... and the importance of building on the visit made by the Syrian foreign minister to Cairo in early May.”

They welcomed plans to hold the second Egyptian-Syrian government meeting at the senior official level, with ministries and agencies responsible for trade and investment in both countries participating, to discuss practical steps to boost economic cooperation.

“Relations with Egypt are moving along their natural path, and Syria is keen to develop them,” Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, Director of the Arab and Regional Affairs Department at Syria’s foreign ministry, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The two countries had held talks in recent weeks after Egypt raised reservations over names proposed by Syria to represent its diplomatic mission in Cairo, delaying arrangements for the mission’s arrival.

The issue was resolved after Syria put forward another nominee, Yahya Diab, to lead its mission in Egypt.

Amr al-Shobaki, an Egyptian political analyst at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said regional challenges made it necessary to develop Egyptian-Syrian ties.

He said cultural, social and political links between the two peoples were strong, adding that Egyptian authorities “had concerns more than disagreements with the new governing system in Syria, given Egypt’s well-known experience with political Islam.”

“Those concerns are being gradually overcome according to two basic principles: respect for each country’s experience and political model, and non-interference in the affairs of the other,” he added. He said Egypt had already established those principles in its relationship with Türkiye.

“The successive Egyptian-Syrian meetings point to an improvement in relations according to the same two principles,” he said.

In late April, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab-European Consultative Summit held in Cyprus.

Media outlets in Cairo and Damascus said at the time that the two had held “friendly” discussions on regional developments and ways to strengthen cooperation.

Damascus hosted the first Egyptian-Syrian economic and investment forum in January, with the participation of leaders and business figures from the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce. The forum aimed to build active partnerships between the two countries and explore cooperation in trade, industry, services, infrastructure and reconstruction.

Arab World

Seven European Countries Urge ‘Immediate Halt’ to Sudan Violence

People fill water containers at a free distribution point amid water outages in Khartoum, Sudan, May 18, 2026. (AP)
People fill water containers at a free distribution point amid water outages in Khartoum, Sudan, May 18, 2026. (AP)
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Seven European Countries Urge ‘Immediate Halt’ to Sudan Violence

People fill water containers at a free distribution point amid water outages in Khartoum, Sudan, May 18, 2026. (AP)
People fill water containers at a free distribution point amid water outages in Khartoum, Sudan, May 18, 2026. (AP)

Britain and six European allies Tuesday called for an immediate halt to violence targeting the Sudanese city of El-Obeid encircled by paramilitary forces, a statement issued by the UK Foreign Office said.

"There are now credible signs of an imminent offensive. This is a critical moment, and the international community must act," a joint statement signed by Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway said.

"We call on the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) to halt its attack immediately," it added.

The joint statement said repeated drone strikes over recent weeks had "killed civilians and driven acute shortages of fuel, food and water" with aid workers providing life-saving assistance also being "deliberately targeted".

"Civilians must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access," the statement said.

Those attacking the city and their allies should "de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian law", it added.

UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said there must not be a repeat of atrocities seen in the city of al-Fashir in 2025.

"Last year, the world watched in horror as the Rapid Support Forces raped, pillaged, and murdered their way through al-Fashir - leaving nothing but devastation and death in their wake. This cannot be repeated.

"El-Obeid is on the precipice of an atrocity that will deepen the wounds already inflicted on Sudan in El Fasher," she said in a statement.

The United States on Monday warned of the danger of "mass atrocities" in El-Obeid.

The city, in the Kordofan region of Sudan has been under siege for several months by RSF, which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023.

The UN Security Council on Saturday expressed the same concerns and called on paramilitary forces encircling El-Obeid to back down.

The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million from their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.