Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

In Iraq, life-size banners loom over highways, billboards dominate city blocks, and posters cling to power lines — each signaling that a parliamentary election is approaching. Joe Snell reports from Erbil on the upcoming vote.

For years, Iraq has walked a tightrope between appeasing the United States and Iran. The coming vote could tip that balance in one’s favor.

But some Iraqis doubt that real change is possible through elections, as powerful political blocs cycle through positions of power. Still, much of the public’s attention is fixed on whether Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani will remain in his position.

Across the Middle East, transformation is unfolding. Syria faces political uncertainty, regional alliances are being reshaped, and a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes hold. Meanwhile, Iran-backed militias evolve into formidable political parties as the United States scales back its military presence. Iraq’s parliamentary elections on Nov. 11 could redefine Baghdad’s role in a fast changing region.