At least 23 supporters of the Shiite Moqtada Al-Sadr Populist leader were killed in confrontations in Baghdad, Monday August 29.
by
Iraq has changed in violence. The announcement, Monday, August 29, of the withdrawal of the political life of the Shiite Populist Moqtada al-Sadr chiite precipitated the confrontation with its rivals of the militia parties affiliated with Iran. Sadrist supporters have invaded government buildings in the green area in Baghdad. The scuffles have given way, at nightfall, to exchanges fed automatic weapons, RPG rockets and mortar shells in this district which houses institutions and embassies, while the Iraqi capital was placed under cover- fire. At least twenty-three sadist supporters were killed and 380 people injured, according to a provisional assessment broadcast Tuesday morning.
The fights still opposed Tuesday in the morning of members of the powerful Sadrist militia of the Peace Brigades (“Saraya al-Salam”) to government forces responsible for protecting the green zone, among which members of the units of the Popular mobilization (MP – composed of pro -Iranian militias). Scuffles have also taken place in Bassora and other cities in the south, bastion of Shiite armed factions, ranging a widespread conflagration as well as the paralysis of the main petroleum sites in the country.
In view of the quantity of heavy weapons raised by the Shiite factions since the war against the Islamic State organization from 2014 to 2017, this eruption of violence had been feared for several weeks. It constitutes the epilogue of the showdown engaged by Moqtada al-Sadr against his opponents of the coordination framework-which brings together former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and the Pro-Iranian milices-for the domination of the Shiite camp and State control.
Reinforced political dead end
frustrated not to have been able to form a government without its rivals after his victory in the legislative elections of October 2021, the populist leader had withdrawn all his deputies from the assembly in June, then intmed at the end of July to his supporters of his supporters ‘Occupy Parliament on the pretext of wanting to “reform” the system and end the “corruption”. This pro-reform argument, mixed with nationalism directed against both the United States and Iran, finds an echo among its millions of supporters, from the disadvantaged districts of Baghdad and the Shiite South, who suffer from the absence of jobs and the decline of public services.
The Sadrist coup de force has strengthened the political deadlock in which Iraq is, without president or full -service government for ten months. If the leaders of the executive say they are ready to access Mr. Sadr’s request to organize new elections, they however demand to appoint a new government before dissolving the Parliament, which the Shiite leader refuses.
You have 61.12% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.