Iraq's displaced Yazidis and security forces cast ballots in early voting in parliament election

DOHUK, Iraq (AP) — Members of Iraqi security forces and displaced people living in camps, including minority Yazidis, cast their ballots Sunday in early voting ahead of this week's parliamentary election in Iraq.

The election, which will help determine whether Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani gets a second term, comes against the backdrop of fears of another conflict between Israel and Iran, and Iraq’s balancing act with Tehran and Washington.

An estimated 1.3 million army and security personnel and around 26,000 displaced people are eligible to vote. There are 7,744 candidates competing in the election, most of them from largely sectarian-aligned parties. Election day is set for Tuesday.

Yazidis, many who fled their homes over a decade ago after attacks by the Islamic State group voted at a camp near Dohuk, in the semi-autonomous northern Iraqi Kurdish region. Many have still not been able to return home because of political disputes and lack of infrastructure.

A polling station set up in a small Dohuk school stood almost empty until after 9 a.m., when more voters began to appear, some clutching worn ID cards, others guiding elderly relatives toward the entrance.

Inside, the classrooms were crowded with dozens of monitors from rival parties and candidates.

During their terror campaign, IS militants rampaged through Iraq’s Sinjar district in Nineveh province, killing and enslaving thousands of Yazidis, who the extremist group considered heretics.

Since the defeat of IS in Iraq and Syria, members of the Yazidi community have been trickling back to their homes in Sinjar, but many see no future there. There’s no money to rebuild destroyed homes. Infrastructure is still wrecked. Multiple armed groups carve up the area.

The area has also been caught up in political disputes between the central government in Baghdad and authorities in the Kurdish region wrestling over Sinjar, where each backed a rival local government for years.

“Eleven years passed and the situation is the same," said Khedhir Qassim, a displaced Yazidi from Sinjar who voted at the camp in Dohuk, saying he has little faith that new leaders will bring change.

“We want them to support us and rebuild our areas that are ruined due to their political dispute and where everyone works for their own benefit," he added.

Edris Zozani, another displaced Yazidi who voted in the camp, said he voted for the Kurdish Democratic Party, or KDP, one of the two main Kurdish parties in the country, which holds sway in Dohuk.

“If we have independent Yazidi candidates, they wouldn’t be able to represent us effectively,” he said. “But if they go to parliament as part of strong lists, like the KDP, they would be in a better position to support the Yazidi community.”

In the Iraqi capital, Iraqi soldiers and police voted, as well as members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of primarily Shiite, Iran-backed militias that united to fight IS. The coalition was formally placed under the control of Iraq's military in 2016 but in practice, still operates with significant autonomy.

The fate of the PMF will be a difficult issue facing the next parliament amid tensions between Baghdad and Washington over the presence of Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

The parliament has been considering legislation that would solidify the relationship between the military and the PMF, drawing objections from Washington.

"I voted for the list that defends the PMF,” said one militiaman after voting in Baghdad, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to journalists. He did not specify which list he meant.

Several of the armed groups making up the PMF have associated political parties that are participating in the elections.

Abdul-Zahra reported from Baghdad.

A displaced Yazidi woman has her fingerprint verified before voting ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections, set for Nov. 11, at a polling station in the Sharia camp near Dohuk, in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rashid Yahya)

Security forces stand guard outside a polling station during a special voting session ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary election in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

An Iraqi policeman casts his vote during the early voting for security forces ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary election in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq's Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari, center, visits one of the polling centers during a special voting session ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary election in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A displaced Yazidi man has his fingerprint verified before voting ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections, set for Nov. 11, at a polling station in the Sharia camp near Dohuk, in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rashid Yahya)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)