Sunday, 11 October 2026

The Iraqi government condemned Saturday’s Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and called for an immediate end to military operations on Sunday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported 12 killed and 309 wounded. Commander-in-chief spokesperson Sabah al-Numan rejected attacks on civilian infrastructure and called for dialogue and protection of navigation, air travel and movement across the region. The Kurdistan Presidency also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Baghdad’s condemnation comes ahead of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s expected visits to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait beginning Wednesday, 14 October, according to a government source.

Separately, Iraq temporarily halted civilian air traffic in its airspace, although a full airspace closure was not in effect, a security source told Shafaq News on Sunday. Two planes bound for Iran returned to Najaf International Airport after Iranian authorities denied them entry into Iranian airspace. The Transport Ministry meanwhile reported that civilian traffic crossing Iraq had increased by approximately 31% since restricted airspace reopened on September 18. Ehab Saad, director general of the General Company for Airports and Air Navigation Management, attributed the increase partly to expanded route options and greater flexibility in managing airspace.

On public finances, parliamentary estimates put the draft 2027 federal budget deficit at approaching 50 trillion dinars. Parliamentary Finance Committee member Abbas Ahyal said the draft’s expenditure ceiling was approximately 217 trillion dinars. Its revenue assumptions include oil at $58 per barrel and exports of four million barrels per day. The draft also uses the official exchange rate of 1,500 dinars per dollar established following Cabinet Resolution No. 544. A measure intended to ease import costs faced renewed opposition on Sunday, when the Kurdistan Regional Government opposed Baghdad’s tax suspension on imported poultry. That objection concerns Baghdad’s 8 October suspension of taxes and customs duties on imported eggs, chicken and meat.

Hoquq MP Muhammad al-Hassnawi (KH — parliamentary bloc) set Sunday for a Federal Supreme Court challenge against the cabinet’s Tuesday increase in the public dollar-selling rate to 1,520 dinars. Miqdad al-Khafaji (KH — Hoquq MP) said the bloc’s wider initiative had been discussed with Finance Committee members. Saud al-Saadi (KH — Hoquq MP) denied that Hoquq belonged to any governing coalition or the government, or had participated in the exchange-rate decision. Nujaba also announced support for popular demands over the dollar’s burden on Iraqis. Hoquq’s planned lawsuit adds a legal challenge to its parliamentary effort, for which al-Saadi had said lawmakers’ signatures were being gathered for a special session.

Separately, KDP parliamentary bloc member Sherwan Dubardani identified Bangin Rekani as the party’s deputy-prime-minister nominee and Rebaz Hamlan as its Construction and Housing nominee. An MP said parliament would vote on vacant cabinet posts on Monday. Hussein al-Shihani (AAH — Sadiqoun political-bureau member) said al-Zaidi had worked during his New York visit to soften U.S. objections to Laith al-Khazali, AAH’s deputy-prime-minister candidate. The account came from al-Shihani, rather than an announcement by the prime minister, and 964media identified al-Khazali as U.S.-designated.

Hoquq MP Muhammad al-Hassnawi (KH — parliamentary bloc) set Sunday for a Federal Supreme Court challenge against the cabinet’s Tuesday increase in the public dollar-selling rate to 1,520 dinars. Miqdad al-Khafaji (KH — Hoquq MP) said the bloc’s wider initiative had been discussed with Finance Committee members. MP Haider Muhammad al-Mutairi proposed 16 revenue-recovery avenues before increasing the dollar price. He named lower officials’ salaries, abolition of duplicate salaries, recovery of telecom debts and state funds, and control of border crossings. Saud al-Saadi (KH — Hoquq MP) denied that the movement belonged to any governing coalition or the government, or had participated in the rate decision. First Deputy Speaker Adnan Fayhan instead called the decision final and demanded government protection for citizens. Nujaba also announced support for popular demands over the dollar’s burden on Iraqis.

Separately, Hussein al-Shihani (AAH — Sadiqoun political-bureau member) said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had worked during his New York visit to soften U.S. objections to Laith al-Khazali, AAH’s deputy-prime-minister candidate. 964media reported his account on Sunday and identified al-Khazali as U.S.-designated. KDP parliamentary bloc member Sherwan Dubardani identified Bangin Rekani as the party’s deputy-premiership nominee and Rebaz Hamlan as its Construction and Housing nominee. Al-Janoub TV (Harakat al-Jihad wal-Bina — official) reported those nominations directly, while Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) described them as circulating. Reconstruction and Development Coalition member Muhammad al-Chalabi said consultations with al-Zaidi continued and dismissed reports of additional ministries as rumours. Political analyst Hussein al-Ibrahimi discussed additional ministries conditionally, saying their creation would satisfy some political figures and forces.

In Baghdad, Al-Ittijah TV (KH — official), Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official) and Al-Ghadeer TV (Badr Organization — official) reported a Sunday protest by dismissed PMF personnel demanding reinstatement and financial allocations. Al-Ittijah and Al-Nujaba used virtually identical wording for demands to approve the funds faster and return personnel to military service. Al-Ghadeer carried both demands in slightly different wording. iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) reported the Baghdad protest and the same funding and reinstatement demands.

Separately, former MP Amir al-Mamouri challenged the proposed artificial-intelligence ministry and urged spending on completing schools instead. He alleged that Iraq still had more than 1,000 mud-built or prefabricated schools in 2026. Al-Janoub carried a Karbala student’s appeal to al-Zaidi and the governor, claiming the school would collapse and most pupils sat on the floor. Educator Abu Fatima also alleged that education authorities collected 50,000 from every student and could therefore provide curricula.

Elsewhere, Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) attributed Saturday’s Riyadh airport disruption to Yemeni armed forces’ strikes and described Saudi Arabia as an enemy. iNEWS presented Yemeni operations against Saudi targets as reciprocal retaliation. Adviser Hamid al-Rafiq said the airport attack answered the closure of Yemen’s airports. He also accused the United States of planning and arming Saudi military operations against Yemen. On Sunday, the Iraqi government condemned the airport attack and called for military operations to stop. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation put the toll at 12 killed and 309 wounded.