Loud bangs heard on Saturday in the center of Baghdad were artillery being fired to celebrate the formation of the new government, a security source told AFP. The three blasts, heard by an AFP reporter, marked the establishment of a government under newly selected Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.
Celebratory Fire and Security Measures
Following the first bangs, a security spokesperson warned that there would be more artillery fire to celebrate Zaidi’s assumption of office. The celebration came after Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government on Thursday led by Zaidi, who took office after months of deadlock and mounting US pressure.
Government Composition and Challenges
Zaidi’s government should include 23 ministers, but its line-up remains incomplete as key political parties continue to negotiate several portfolios. This reflects the ongoing political complexities in Iraq.
Iraq has long walked a tightrope between the competing influences of its allies, neighboring Iran and the United States. From the outset, Iraq was drawn into the Middle East war, ignited by a joint Israeli-US attack on Iran on February 28. During the war, explosions were frequently heard in Baghdad, largely caused by drone and rocket attacks launched by Tehran-backed groups on the US embassy in the fortified Green Zone.
