Why Are Shiite Groups Fighting Each Other In Iraq Iraq

What is happening in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities?

After months of confrontation, Shia Muslim groups are fighting each other across the country. The fighting is mainly centered in Baghdad’s Green Belt – which once housed US forces – but has spread to towns and cities in the south. The spark for the unrest was the resignation, due to disillusionment with political life, of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

What was the political background to the unrest?

Sadr’s political bloc performed highly in elections 10 months ago, while rival Shiite blocs backed by Iran fared poorly. But a standoff has since failed to produce a coalition that could form a government in the 329-seat parliament. Forming a government is usually fraught in Iraq, but this time there is little will to compromise.

Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?

Sadr has been one of the most prominent figures in Iraq since the US invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Now 48, the cleric has won a huge following among the Shiite working poor and some of the middle classes, and has had a warm-cold relationship with Tehran. Once a hard-line protagonist in Iraq’s civil war, he now claims nationalist credentials, challenging Iranian influence in Iraq and calling for a retrial for the country’s Sunnis and for all foreign powers, including Iran, to leave the country. Widely known to be volatile and unpredictable, he has proven difficult to measure or counter.

Why did he say he was quitting politics?

Sadr said he was quitting politics and closing all Sadrist institutions after failed attempts to form a government. He is no stranger to quitting, having done so seven times in the past in various political positions. However, this time he put everything on the line, pledging to break a system he says has failed the country.

Why did he quit now?

Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran. The highly unusual statement was damaging to Sadr and widely believed to have been directed from Iran.

What is Iran’s role in Iraqi politics?

Iran and Iraq are majority Shia countries and since 2003, Iran has had a growing presence in the country. It largely supported Shiite groups, including the Sadrists, during the civil war, while creating its own proxies, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq and Keta’ib Hezbollah, as powerful militias operating outside state structures. At the same time, he established himself in the Iraqi parliament and in various branches of the government. Iran sees Iraq as a vital arena for projecting its regional power.

What might happen next?

By confronting Sadr in this way, Iran has potentially opened a battle it cannot win. Sadr may command the allegiance of nearly 7 million Shiites across the country and has access to large caches of weapons. How far this confrontation goes will be determined by how steadfast Sadr is in his efforts to break the system. He has earned a reputation as a capricious figure whose convictions can easily fade.

title: “Why Are Shiite Groups Fighting Each Other In Iraq Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-23” author: “Neva Watson”

What is happening in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities?

After months of confrontation, Shia Muslim groups are fighting each other across the country. The fighting is mainly centered in Baghdad’s Green Belt – which once housed US forces – but has spread to towns and cities in the south. The spark for the unrest was the resignation, due to disillusionment with political life, of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

What was the political background to the unrest?

Sadr’s political bloc performed highly in elections 10 months ago, while rival Shiite blocs backed by Iran fared poorly. But a standoff has since failed to produce a coalition that could form a government in the 329-seat parliament. Forming a government is usually fraught in Iraq, but this time there is little will to compromise.

Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?

Sadr has been one of the most prominent figures in Iraq since the US invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Now 48, the cleric has won a huge following among the Shiite working poor and some of the middle classes, and has had a warm-cold relationship with Tehran. Once a hard-line protagonist in Iraq’s civil war, he now claims nationalist credentials, challenging Iranian influence in Iraq and calling for a retrial for the country’s Sunnis and for all foreign powers, including Iran, to leave the country. Widely known to be volatile and unpredictable, he has proven difficult to measure or counter.

Why did he say he was quitting politics?

Sadr said he was quitting politics and closing all Sadrist institutions after failed attempts to form a government. He is no stranger to quitting, having done so seven times in the past in various political positions. However, this time he put everything on the line, pledging to break a system he says has failed the country.

Why did he quit now?

Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran. The highly unusual statement was damaging to Sadr and widely believed to have been directed from Iran.

What is Iran’s role in Iraqi politics?

Iran and Iraq are majority Shia countries and since 2003, Iran has had a growing presence in the country. It largely supported Shiite groups, including the Sadrists, during the civil war, while creating its own proxies, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq and Keta’ib Hezbollah, as powerful militias operating outside state structures. At the same time, he established himself in the Iraqi parliament and in various branches of the government. Iran sees Iraq as a vital arena for projecting its regional power.

What might happen next?

By confronting Sadr in this way, Iran has potentially opened a battle it cannot win. Sadr may command the allegiance of nearly 7 million Shiites across the country and has access to large caches of weapons. How far this confrontation goes will be determined by how steadfast Sadr is in his efforts to break the system. He has earned a reputation as a capricious figure whose convictions can easily fade.

title: “Why Are Shiite Groups Fighting Each Other In Iraq Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Joan Rickley”

What is happening in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities?

After months of confrontation, Shia Muslim groups are fighting each other across the country. The fighting is mainly centered in Baghdad’s Green Belt – which once housed US forces – but has spread to towns and cities in the south. The spark for the unrest was the resignation, due to disillusionment with political life, of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

What was the political background to the unrest?

Sadr’s political bloc performed highly in elections 10 months ago, while rival Shiite blocs backed by Iran fared poorly. But a standoff has since failed to produce a coalition that could form a government in the 329-seat parliament. Forming a government is usually fraught in Iraq, but this time there is little will to compromise.

Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?

Sadr has been one of the most prominent figures in Iraq since the US invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Now 48, the cleric has won a huge following among the Shiite working poor and some of the middle classes, and has had a warm-cold relationship with Tehran. Once a hard-line protagonist in Iraq’s civil war, he now claims nationalist credentials, challenging Iranian influence in Iraq and calling for a retrial for the country’s Sunnis and for all foreign powers, including Iran, to leave the country. Widely known to be volatile and unpredictable, he has proven difficult to measure or counter.

Why did he say he was quitting politics?

Sadr said he was quitting politics and closing all Sadrist institutions after failed attempts to form a government. He is no stranger to quitting, having done so seven times in the past in various political positions. However, this time he put everything on the line, pledging to break a system he says has failed the country.

Why did he quit now?

Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran. The highly unusual statement was damaging to Sadr and widely believed to have been directed from Iran.

What is Iran’s role in Iraqi politics?

Iran and Iraq are majority Shia countries and since 2003, Iran has had a growing presence in the country. It largely supported Shiite groups, including the Sadrists, during the civil war, while creating its own proxies, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq and Keta’ib Hezbollah, as powerful militias operating outside state structures. At the same time, he established himself in the Iraqi parliament and in various branches of the government. Iran sees Iraq as a vital arena for projecting its regional power.

What might happen next?

By confronting Sadr in this way, Iran has potentially opened a battle it cannot win. Sadr may command the allegiance of nearly 7 million Shiites across the country and has access to large caches of weapons. How far this confrontation goes will be determined by how steadfast Sadr is in his efforts to break the system. He has earned a reputation as a capricious figure whose convictions can easily fade.

title: “Why Are Shiite Groups Fighting Each Other In Iraq Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “Rachael Toulouse”

What is happening in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities?

After months of confrontation, Shia Muslim groups are fighting each other across the country. The fighting is mainly centered in Baghdad’s Green Belt – which once housed US forces – but has spread to towns and cities in the south. The spark for the unrest was the resignation, due to disillusionment with political life, of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

What was the political background to the unrest?

Sadr’s political bloc performed highly in elections 10 months ago, while rival Shiite blocs backed by Iran fared poorly. But a standoff has since failed to produce a coalition that could form a government in the 329-seat parliament. Forming a government is usually fraught in Iraq, but this time there is little will to compromise.

Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?

Sadr has been one of the most prominent figures in Iraq since the US invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Now 48, the cleric has won a huge following among the Shiite working poor and some of the middle classes, and has had a warm-cold relationship with Tehran. Once a hard-line protagonist in Iraq’s civil war, he now claims nationalist credentials, challenging Iranian influence in Iraq and calling for a retrial for the country’s Sunnis and for all foreign powers, including Iran, to leave the country. Widely known to be volatile and unpredictable, he has proven difficult to measure or counter.

Why did he say he was quitting politics?

Sadr said he was quitting politics and closing all Sadrist institutions after failed attempts to form a government. He is no stranger to quitting, having done so seven times in the past in various political positions. However, this time he put everything on the line, pledging to break a system he says has failed the country.

Why did he quit now?

Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran. The highly unusual statement was damaging to Sadr and widely believed to have been directed from Iran.

What is Iran’s role in Iraqi politics?

Iran and Iraq are majority Shia countries and since 2003, Iran has had a growing presence in the country. It largely supported Shiite groups, including the Sadrists, during the civil war, while creating its own proxies, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq and Keta’ib Hezbollah, as powerful militias operating outside state structures. At the same time, he established himself in the Iraqi parliament and in various branches of the government. Iran sees Iraq as a vital arena for projecting its regional power.

What might happen next?

By confronting Sadr in this way, Iran has potentially opened a battle it cannot win. Sadr may command the allegiance of nearly 7 million Shiites across the country and has access to large caches of weapons. How far this confrontation goes will be determined by how steadfast Sadr is in his efforts to break the system. He has earned a reputation as a capricious figure whose convictions can easily fade.

title: “Why Are Shiite Groups Fighting Each Other In Iraq Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-25” author: “Nelda Ryan”

What is happening in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities?

After months of confrontation, Shia Muslim groups are fighting each other across the country. The fighting is mainly centered in Baghdad’s Green Belt – which once housed US forces – but has spread to towns and cities in the south. The spark for the unrest was the resignation, due to disillusionment with political life, of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

What was the political background to the unrest?

Sadr’s political bloc performed highly in elections 10 months ago, while rival Shiite blocs backed by Iran fared poorly. But a standoff has since failed to produce a coalition that could form a government in the 329-seat parliament. Forming a government is usually fraught in Iraq, but this time there is little will to compromise.

Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?

Sadr has been one of the most prominent figures in Iraq since the US invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Now 48, the cleric has won a huge following among the Shiite working poor and some of the middle classes, and has had a warm-cold relationship with Tehran. Once a hard-line protagonist in Iraq’s civil war, he now claims nationalist credentials, challenging Iranian influence in Iraq and calling for a retrial for the country’s Sunnis and for all foreign powers, including Iran, to leave the country. Widely known to be volatile and unpredictable, he has proven difficult to measure or counter.

Why did he say he was quitting politics?

Sadr said he was quitting politics and closing all Sadrist institutions after failed attempts to form a government. He is no stranger to quitting, having done so seven times in the past in various political positions. However, this time he put everything on the line, pledging to break a system he says has failed the country.

Why did he quit now?

Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran. The highly unusual statement was damaging to Sadr and widely believed to have been directed from Iran.

What is Iran’s role in Iraqi politics?

Iran and Iraq are majority Shia countries and since 2003, Iran has had a growing presence in the country. It largely supported Shiite groups, including the Sadrists, during the civil war, while creating its own proxies, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq and Keta’ib Hezbollah, as powerful militias operating outside state structures. At the same time, he established himself in the Iraqi parliament and in various branches of the government. Iran sees Iraq as a vital arena for projecting its regional power.

What might happen next?

By confronting Sadr in this way, Iran has potentially opened a battle it cannot win. Sadr may command the allegiance of nearly 7 million Shiites across the country and has access to large caches of weapons. How far this confrontation goes will be determined by how steadfast Sadr is in his efforts to break the system. He has earned a reputation as a capricious figure whose convictions can easily fade.