Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has removed the head of the country’s National Intelligence Service, while a Baghdad court has issued an arrest warrant for the chairman of a southern provincial council over threats to start civil disobedience in protest against the closure of a border crossing with Iran.
The state news agency INA reported on Monday that al-Zaidi had ordered the termination of Hamid al-Shatri’s appointment as head of the National Intelligence Service. Al-Shatri had held the post since December 2024.
The agency did not provide a reason for the decision or name a successor.
Separately, the Third Karkh Investigative Court issued an arrest warrant for Maysan Provincial Council chairman Mustafa al-Muhammadawi, following a complaint submitted by the prime minister’s office over his threat to declare civil disobedience and block roads unless the government reopened Al-Sheeb border crossing with Iran.
Al-Muhammadawi was later released by the court on Tuesday after complying with the relevant legal procedures, his office said, according to the privately-owned National Iraqi News Agency (NINA).
The legal action followed remarks al-Muhammadawi made during a news conference at the crossing on Sunday, when he gave the federal government until 29 October to reopen it. He threatened to declare civil disobedience and block major roads if the government failed to meet his demand and used language that al-Zaidi’s media office described as inappropriate.
Al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the remarks on Monday. His office said the move was intended to ensure compliance with the law and constitutional and administrative procedures when dealing with public service and administrative matters. It added that the relevant authorities would determine any legal responsibility arising from the statements.
Dozens of protesters also blocked the nearby Bazargan road, a key route used by oil companies in Maysan, in protest against the continued closure of the crossing. Security forces were deployed around the demonstrations.
Members of Maysan Provincial Council have warned that the closure could have serious consequences for the province’s economy and residents’ livelihoods and called on the government to reopen the crossing.
The Iraqi government ordered the closure of Al-Sheeb crossing on 20 October, with the suspension taking effect the following morning and remaining in place until further notice. Baghdad said the move was intended to improve the crossing’s technical and logistical readiness. An Iraqi border official separately told Reuters that security measures at the crossing were weak and inadequate.
The decision prompted criticism from Iran’s Interior Ministry, which said Tehran had not received prior notification from Baghdad.
Iraq also ordered the temporary closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran in September as a precaution following drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to Iraqi security sources. Riyadh said the drones had been launched from Iraqi territory.
On 28 July, joint US-Saudi airstrikes targeted Iran-backed militias in Iraq, which they said were reportedly responsible for attacks on US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Wider government shake-up
Separately, al-Zaidi has ended the contracts of 69 advisers, experts and other staff working in his office, as part of a wider government shake-up that has also included a change at the top of the prime minister’s office.
INA reported on Monday that the decision was set out in an administrative order dated 22 October, which cited the “public interest” but did not provide specific reasons for ending the appointments.
Records reviewed by 964media news site showed that the affected positions covered areas including security, foreign affairs, economic policy, health, education and public administration. Paid posts carried salaries of between one million and five million Iraqi dinars, while several contracts were unpaid.
Some of those dismissed had worked in the office for several years, while others had contracts due to run until 2027.
The list also included political figures, former ministers and judges, The New Arab had learned. The appointments had generated additional costs, including allowances for protection, accommodation and transport.
The prime minister’s office director, Ihsan al-Awadi, was also replaced by Rashad Khalaf Hashim, who took over at a handover ceremony on Monday.
Bloated public sector
The changes come amid expectations of further dismissals and retirements across Iraqi ministries and state institutions.
An unnamed official at the prime minister’s office told The New Arab that the government would begin a campaign to address excessive employment in the public sector, using performance assessments to determine whether officials should remain in their positions or leave public service.
The official said there was broad political agreement on the measures, which would extend beyond Baghdad to include ministries, security institutions and provincial administrations. A recent government review had identified dozens of surplus positions draining the state’s operating budget, some of which had been created under previous governments as political or personal favours rather than to meet administrative needs.
Iraqi political affairs expert Ahmed Ali al-Hamdani told The New Arab that at least 30 other advisers had been retained because they performed actual duties within the government office.
He said some of those whose contracts were terminated had remained in government for as long as 19 years without producing research, policy proposals or ideas, adding that many of the appointments had been made for political reasons.
Al-Hamdani also said the list included the daughter of a former president, the son of a minister, former lawmakers and ministers, and politicians who had lost elections but were subsequently appointed as advisers.