Who Will Protect Us Baghdad Residents Expect Fight To Stop City Districts Iraq

“The air conditioner was going away, but we still couldn’t sleep. It was like we were on a battlefield,” said Dina al-Saadi, a university professor who lives in a neighborhood near the heaviest fighting. Iraq has been on a collision course for months. After deepening political tensions between rival Shiite parties paralyzed the formation of a new government, the power struggle spilled into the streets as fierce fighting broke out between supporters of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran-aligned groups in the heart of the Green zone, a highly secure area where embassies and government institutions are located. Militants fire rockets into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone as clashes erupt – video The clashes have evoked memories of the deadly chaos that engulfed the streets of Baghdad in the wake of the 2003 invasion, sparking fears of renewed violence. “Think back to 2004,” Saadi said. “There is no security, there is no protection, there is no state. Who will protect us?’ Nearly 20 years after the US invasion, Iraq is still struggling to find peace. The latest crisis revealed once again the weakness of its institutions and the fragility of the post-2003 political order. At the heart of the conflict is the power struggle between the country’s elites. Since 2003, Iraq has been governed by consensus, with ministerial posts shared between Shia, Sunni and Kurdish parties through a sectarian power-sharing formula that ensured fair access to resources. However, the practice has institutionalized corruption and dismantled a once functioning bureaucracy that is no longer able to provide the most basic services. Mass protests broke out in 2019, calling for an overhaul of the political system. In response, the government held snap elections last October. But instead of paving the way for change, the vote brought a new crisis. Sadr emerged victorious and, claiming to want reforms, sought to form a majority government without his Shiite rivals aligned with Iran. His opponents saw the move as a power grab, while many Iraqis accuse both sides of vying for government positions at the expense of ordinary citizens. “Everyone is only looking out for their own interests. None of them are thinking about Iraq,” Saadi said, rattling off a list of grievances, including the dilapidated state of Iraq’s infrastructure and the declining quality of higher education. The clashes began moments after Sadr announced his retirement from politics on Monday, effectively giving his supporters free rein to vent their anger. Sadr’s pious base consists of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis drawn from the poorest strata of society, but he also commands a militia called Saraya al-Salam. On the opposing side are powerful armed wings of parties aligned with Iran, notably Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. Staccato machine gun fire, interspersed with deep bursts of rocket-propelled grenades, continued to ring through central Baghdad on Tuesday. Security forces were stationed on major roads but did not appear to intervene in clashes between rival Shiite forces, which had set up positions on opposing sides of the green belt. “We are fighting corrupt militias while government security forces watch,” Sadr supporter Abbas Ali said as smoke filled the sky in the distance. There was an eerie routine to the chaos. Neighborhoods were sealed off with concrete barriers to enforce the curfew, with bored soldiers checking ID cards to make sure only residents were allowed in. The streets that are usually blocked with traffic were almost empty except for vehicles carrying young men to the front lines. “People are used to it,” passerby Rashwan Fouad said as he lit a cigarette. “Iraq has been through so much. This is but a snapshot in our history.” Meanwhile, commercial life had come to a standstill, with only a few shops open for business in a country where most people live on daily wages. “We just want to live. Everyone has a family, everyone has rent to pay,” said Abdallah, a shopkeeper and father of three who had defied the curfew in the hope of earning a living. His usual 20-minute journey had taken him two hours on foot. As he spoke, the television in the corner began broadcasting a live press conference in which Sadr condemned the violence. The cleric’s conciliatory tone appeared to signal a path towards de-escalation. “Thank God,” Abdullah said, breathing a sigh of relief. “We just want a peaceful solution.”

title: " Who Will Protect Us Baghdad Residents Expect Fight To Stop City Districts Iraq Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-14” author: “Joshua Rayford”

“The air conditioner was going away, but we still couldn’t sleep. It was like we were on a battlefield,” said Dina al-Saadi, a university professor who lives in a neighborhood near the heaviest fighting. Iraq has been on a collision course for months. After deepening political tensions between rival Shiite parties paralyzed the formation of a new government, the power struggle spilled into the streets as fierce fighting broke out between supporters of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran-aligned groups in the heart of the Green zone, a highly secure area where embassies and government institutions are located. Militants fire rockets into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone as clashes erupt – video The clashes have evoked memories of the deadly chaos that engulfed the streets of Baghdad in the wake of the 2003 invasion, sparking fears of renewed violence. “Think back to 2004,” Saadi said. “There is no security, there is no protection, there is no state. Who will protect us?’ Nearly 20 years after the US invasion, Iraq is still struggling to find peace. The latest crisis revealed once again the weakness of its institutions and the fragility of the post-2003 political order. At the heart of the conflict is the power struggle between the country’s elites. Since 2003, Iraq has been governed by consensus, with ministerial posts shared between Shia, Sunni and Kurdish parties through a sectarian power-sharing formula that ensured fair access to resources. However, the practice has institutionalized corruption and dismantled a once functioning bureaucracy that is no longer able to provide the most basic services. Mass protests broke out in 2019, calling for an overhaul of the political system. In response, the government held snap elections last October. But instead of paving the way for change, the vote brought a new crisis. Sadr emerged victorious and, claiming to want reforms, sought to form a majority government without his Shiite rivals aligned with Iran. His opponents saw the move as a power grab, while many Iraqis accuse both sides of vying for government positions at the expense of ordinary citizens. “Everyone is only looking out for their own interests. None of them are thinking about Iraq,” Saadi said, rattling off a list of grievances, including the dilapidated state of Iraq’s infrastructure and the declining quality of higher education. The clashes began moments after Sadr announced his retirement from politics on Monday, effectively giving his supporters free rein to vent their anger. Sadr’s pious base consists of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis drawn from the poorest strata of society, but he also commands a militia called Saraya al-Salam. On the opposing side are powerful armed wings of parties aligned with Iran, notably Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. Staccato machine gun fire, interspersed with deep bursts of rocket-propelled grenades, continued to ring through central Baghdad on Tuesday. Security forces were stationed on major roads but did not appear to intervene in clashes between rival Shiite forces, which had set up positions on opposing sides of the green belt. “We are fighting corrupt militias while government security forces watch,” Sadr supporter Abbas Ali said as smoke filled the sky in the distance. There was an eerie routine to the chaos. Neighborhoods were sealed off with concrete barriers to enforce the curfew, with bored soldiers checking ID cards to make sure only residents were allowed in. The streets that are usually blocked with traffic were almost empty except for vehicles carrying young men to the front lines. “People are used to it,” passerby Rashwan Fouad said as he lit a cigarette. “Iraq has been through so much. This is but a snapshot in our history.” Meanwhile, commercial life had come to a standstill, with only a few shops open for business in a country where most people live on daily wages. “We just want to live. Everyone has a family, everyone has rent to pay,” said Abdallah, a shopkeeper and father of three who had defied the curfew in the hope of earning a living. His usual 20-minute journey had taken him two hours on foot. As he spoke, the television in the corner began broadcasting a live press conference in which Sadr condemned the violence. The cleric’s conciliatory tone appeared to signal a path towards de-escalation. “Thank God,” Abdullah said, breathing a sigh of relief. “We just want a peaceful solution.”

title: " Who Will Protect Us Baghdad Residents Expect Fight To Stop City Districts Iraq Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-22” author: “Brandon Adams”

“The air conditioner was going away, but we still couldn’t sleep. It was like we were on a battlefield,” said Dina al-Saadi, a university professor who lives in a neighborhood near the heaviest fighting. Iraq has been on a collision course for months. After deepening political tensions between rival Shiite parties paralyzed the formation of a new government, the power struggle spilled into the streets as fierce fighting broke out between supporters of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran-aligned groups in the heart of the Green zone, a highly secure area where embassies and government institutions are located. Militants fire rockets into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone as clashes erupt – video The clashes have evoked memories of the deadly chaos that engulfed the streets of Baghdad in the wake of the 2003 invasion, sparking fears of renewed violence. “Think back to 2004,” Saadi said. “There is no security, there is no protection, there is no state. Who will protect us?’ Nearly 20 years after the US invasion, Iraq is still struggling to find peace. The latest crisis revealed once again the weakness of its institutions and the fragility of the post-2003 political order. At the heart of the conflict is the power struggle between the country’s elites. Since 2003, Iraq has been governed by consensus, with ministerial posts shared between Shia, Sunni and Kurdish parties through a sectarian power-sharing formula that ensured fair access to resources. However, the practice has institutionalized corruption and dismantled a once functioning bureaucracy that is no longer able to provide the most basic services. Mass protests broke out in 2019, calling for an overhaul of the political system. In response, the government held snap elections last October. But instead of paving the way for change, the vote brought a new crisis. Sadr emerged victorious and, claiming to want reforms, sought to form a majority government without his Shiite rivals aligned with Iran. His opponents saw the move as a power grab, while many Iraqis accuse both sides of vying for government positions at the expense of ordinary citizens. “Everyone is only looking out for their own interests. None of them are thinking about Iraq,” Saadi said, rattling off a list of grievances, including the dilapidated state of Iraq’s infrastructure and the declining quality of higher education. The clashes began moments after Sadr announced his retirement from politics on Monday, effectively giving his supporters free rein to vent their anger. Sadr’s pious base consists of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis drawn from the poorest strata of society, but he also commands a militia called Saraya al-Salam. On the opposing side are powerful armed wings of parties aligned with Iran, notably Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. Staccato machine gun fire, interspersed with deep bursts of rocket-propelled grenades, continued to ring through central Baghdad on Tuesday. Security forces were stationed on major roads but did not appear to intervene in clashes between rival Shiite forces, which had set up positions on opposing sides of the green belt. “We are fighting corrupt militias while government security forces watch,” Sadr supporter Abbas Ali said as smoke filled the sky in the distance. There was an eerie routine to the chaos. Neighborhoods were sealed off with concrete barriers to enforce the curfew, with bored soldiers checking ID cards to make sure only residents were allowed in. The streets that are usually blocked with traffic were almost empty except for vehicles carrying young men to the front lines. “People are used to it,” passerby Rashwan Fouad said as he lit a cigarette. “Iraq has been through so much. This is but a snapshot in our history.” Meanwhile, commercial life had come to a standstill, with only a few shops open for business in a country where most people live on daily wages. “We just want to live. Everyone has a family, everyone has rent to pay,” said Abdallah, a shopkeeper and father of three who had defied the curfew in the hope of earning a living. His usual 20-minute journey had taken him two hours on foot. As he spoke, the television in the corner began broadcasting a live press conference in which Sadr condemned the violence. The cleric’s conciliatory tone appeared to signal a path towards de-escalation. “Thank God,” Abdullah said, breathing a sigh of relief. “We just want a peaceful solution.”

title: " Who Will Protect Us Baghdad Residents Expect Fight To Stop City Districts Iraq Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Margie Cook”

“The air conditioner was going away, but we still couldn’t sleep. It was like we were on a battlefield,” said Dina al-Saadi, a university professor who lives in a neighborhood near the heaviest fighting. Iraq has been on a collision course for months. After deepening political tensions between rival Shiite parties paralyzed the formation of a new government, the power struggle spilled into the streets as fierce fighting broke out between supporters of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran-aligned groups in the heart of the Green zone, a highly secure area where embassies and government institutions are located. Militants fire rockets into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone as clashes erupt – video The clashes have evoked memories of the deadly chaos that engulfed the streets of Baghdad in the wake of the 2003 invasion, sparking fears of renewed violence. “Think back to 2004,” Saadi said. “There is no security, there is no protection, there is no state. Who will protect us?’ Nearly 20 years after the US invasion, Iraq is still struggling to find peace. The latest crisis revealed once again the weakness of its institutions and the fragility of the post-2003 political order. At the heart of the conflict is the power struggle between the country’s elites. Since 2003, Iraq has been governed by consensus, with ministerial posts shared between Shia, Sunni and Kurdish parties through a sectarian power-sharing formula that ensured fair access to resources. However, the practice has institutionalized corruption and dismantled a once functioning bureaucracy that is no longer able to provide the most basic services. Mass protests broke out in 2019, calling for an overhaul of the political system. In response, the government held snap elections last October. But instead of paving the way for change, the vote brought a new crisis. Sadr emerged victorious and, claiming to want reforms, sought to form a majority government without his Shiite rivals aligned with Iran. His opponents saw the move as a power grab, while many Iraqis accuse both sides of vying for government positions at the expense of ordinary citizens. “Everyone is only looking out for their own interests. None of them are thinking about Iraq,” Saadi said, rattling off a list of grievances, including the dilapidated state of Iraq’s infrastructure and the declining quality of higher education. The clashes began moments after Sadr announced his retirement from politics on Monday, effectively giving his supporters free rein to vent their anger. Sadr’s pious base consists of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis drawn from the poorest strata of society, but he also commands a militia called Saraya al-Salam. On the opposing side are powerful armed wings of parties aligned with Iran, notably Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. Staccato machine gun fire, interspersed with deep bursts of rocket-propelled grenades, continued to ring through central Baghdad on Tuesday. Security forces were stationed on major roads but did not appear to intervene in clashes between rival Shiite forces, which had set up positions on opposing sides of the green belt. “We are fighting corrupt militias while government security forces watch,” Sadr supporter Abbas Ali said as smoke filled the sky in the distance. There was an eerie routine to the chaos. Neighborhoods were sealed off with concrete barriers to enforce the curfew, with bored soldiers checking ID cards to make sure only residents were allowed in. The streets that are usually blocked with traffic were almost empty except for vehicles carrying young men to the front lines. “People are used to it,” passerby Rashwan Fouad said as he lit a cigarette. “Iraq has been through so much. This is but a snapshot in our history.” Meanwhile, commercial life had come to a standstill, with only a few shops open for business in a country where most people live on daily wages. “We just want to live. Everyone has a family, everyone has rent to pay,” said Abdallah, a shopkeeper and father of three who had defied the curfew in the hope of earning a living. His usual 20-minute journey had taken him two hours on foot. As he spoke, the television in the corner began broadcasting a live press conference in which Sadr condemned the violence. The cleric’s conciliatory tone appeared to signal a path towards de-escalation. “Thank God,” Abdullah said, breathing a sigh of relief. “We just want a peaceful solution.”