Nouri Al-Maliki’s office says he is recovering after hospital visit, downplays health scare

BAGHDAD — Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, is in good condition following a hospital visit earlier this week, his adviser said, amid conflicting media reports about a possible heart-related incident.

On Monday, several Iraqi media outlets reported that Maliki had suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Ibn al-Bitar Hospital in Baghdad. The reports were not confirmed by official sources.

Later that day, Maliki’s media office issued a statement denying the heart attack claim, saying he had undergone a routine medical check-up as part of regular monitoring and had not experienced a serious health event.

However, his adviser Abbas al-Moussawi stopped short of explicitly ruling out a heart-related episode. “Thank God for the safety of the protector of the state, Nouri al-Maliki,” he said, adding, “We would like to reassure our loyal supporters of the leader’s recovery.”

Moussawi said that since returning home, Maliki has received visits from President Abdul Latif Rashid, Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan, ministers, and members of parliament.

A photograph released by Maliki’s office showed him at home beside Agriculture Minister Abbas Alalaywi, with an intravenous cannula visible on his hand. Maliki appeared alert and stable in the image.