Iraq appoints Basim al-Badri as national security adviser

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq has appointed Basim al-Badri as national security adviser, succeeding Ahmed al-Sallak, according to local reports. The decision removes al-Sallak from the post and places al-Badri in charge of the country's top security coordination role. Al-Badri previously held senior positions in Iraq's security institutions and is described as an experienced figure in the country's security bureaucracy. He is expected to oversee counterterrorism coordination, intelligence cooperation and regional security files. The appointment is seen as shaping policy on domestic security threats and cross-border operations. A formal statement from the Baghdad government on the leadership change had not been released at the time of the reports.