The outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday appointed interior minister Qassim al-Araji as the head of the national security agency, while Defense Minister Irfan al-Hayali was appointed adviser to the agency.

A special source said in an interview with Alsumaria News that "the outgoing Prime Minister Haider Abadi cost Interior Minister Qassim Araji to manage the National Security Agency, and assigned Minister of Defense Irfan Al-Hayali as an adviser to the device."




On August 30, 2018, Abbadi issued a decree ordering the removal of Faleh al-Fayadh from his duties as national security adviser, chairman of the Popular Popular Assembly and the National Security Apparatus.