Iraqi cleric's push to sideline Iran-backed factions risks clash

[nannab]

Sadr hates Maliki and I can't help but think Sadr is just waiting

to send his army up against spud head's militia. That will be quite

the show.  Love the goat the bad and the ugly 

 

[Blitz]

Iraqi cleric's push to sideline Iran-backed factions risks clash

1 / 3

Iraqi cleric's push to sideline Iran-backed factions risks clash

FILE PHOTO: Iranian people attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Tehran, Iran January

 

Ahmed Rasheed and John Davison

Fri, January 14, 2022, 6:20 AM·5 min read

 

 

By Ahmed Rasheed and John Davison

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq might for the first time in years get a government that excludes Iran-backed parties if a powerful populist cleric who dominated a recent election keeps his word, Iraqi politicians, government officials and independent analysts say.

But moves by the Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, to sideline rivals long backed by Tehran risks the ire of their heavily armed militia that make up some of the most powerful and most anti-American military forces in Iraq, they say.

 

The surest sign of Sadr's new parliamentary power and his willingness to ignore groups loyal to Iran came on Sunday when his Sadrist Movement, together with a Sunni parliament alliance and Western-leaning Kurds, re-elected a parliamentary speaker opposed by the Iran-aligned camp with a solid majority.

Parliament must in the coming weeks choose the country's president, who will call on the largest parliamentary alliance to form a government, a process that will be dominated by the Sadrist Movement whoever it chooses to work with.

"We are on track to form a national majority government," Sadr said in a statement this week, using a term that officials say is a euphemism for a government made up of Sadrists, Sunnis and Kurds but no Iran-backed parties.

Sadr's politicians, buoyed by their easy victory in parliament last week, echoed their leader's confidence.

The Iran camp "should face reality: election losers can't make the government," said Riyadh al-Masoudi, a senior member of the Sadrist Movement.

"We have a real majority, a strong front that includes us, the Sunnis, most of the Kurds and many independents and can form a government very soon."

Iraqi politicians and analysts say the rise of Sadr and political decline of the Iranian camp, long hostile to the United States, suits Washington https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/iraq-cleric and its allies in the region, despite Sadr's unpredictability.

But excluding the Iran camp from government risks a violent backlash.

"If the Sadrists get their national majority government ... those who oppose them will view this as splitting the Shi'ites and threatening their power," Ahmed Younis, an Iraqi political and legal analyst, said.

"They will do all they can to avoid losing that grip."

Shi'ite groups have dominated Iraqi politics since the U.S.-led overthrow of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. They span an array of parties, most with armed wings, but fall broadly now into two camps: those that are pro-Iran and those that oppose Tehran's influence in Iraq.

The Shi'ite elite have shared control over many ministries, with Iran-aligned groups holding the upper hand until the recent rise of Sadr, the biggest winner in the Oct. 10 election which dealt a crushing blow to the Iran camp https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraq-counts-votes-after-lowest-ever-election-turnout-2021-10-11.

For the first time post-Saddam, the Iran-aligned groups could see themselves in opposition in parliament.

'SCARY MOMENT'

Events since the election have showed how dangerous the sharpening divide between Sadr and his Iran-backed opponents has become.

In November, protests opposing the election result by supporters of those parties turned violent and an armed drone attack blamed on Iran-linked factions struck a residence of outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, widely viewed as a close Sadr ally https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-seeks-cool-tensions-iraq-2021-12-22.

On Friday an explosion hit the Baghdad party headquarters https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/explosion-hits-building-iraq-parliament-speakers-party-2-wounded-police-2022-01-14 of newly re-elected parliament speaker Mohammed Halbousi.

It was not immediately clear if this was linked to Halbousi's election by parliament on Sunday or who was responsible. There was no claim of responsibility. One Iran-aligned group issued a warning this week after the parliament's decision that Iraq could see a spiral of violence.

An Iraqi government official, who declined to be named, said he expected those in the Iran camp to use the threat of violence to get a place in government, but not to escalate into a full-scale conflict with Sadr.

Other observers, however, say Sadr's insistence on sidelining Iran-aligned parties and militias could be a dangerous gamble.

"The question is, does he (Sadr) realise how potentially destabilising this is and is he ready for the violent push back?" said Professor Toby Dodge of the London School of Economics.

"The (Iran-backed) militias are increasingly overtly threatening violence, and Sadr is saying they cannot do this. It's a scary moment."

Halbousi's election was viewed as an easy victory for the Sadrists. But the stakes will be higher in selecting a president and a prime minister.

Politicians on both sides of the Shi'ite divide show little sign they might soften their positions.

"The Sadrists ... marginalizing parts of the Shi'ite political class could lead to boycotts of the government, protests in the street and armed violence," said Ibrahim Mohammed, a senior member of the Iran-aligned Fatah political alliance.

A second Sadrist politician, who declined to be named on orders from his party, said: "We're powerful, we have a strong leader and millions of followers who are ready to take to the streets and sacrifice themselves."

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed, John Davison and Aref Mohammed in Basra, writing by John Davison, Editing by William Maclean)

 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/iraqi-clerics-push-sideline-iran-112002045.html

[yota691]

The headquarters of the Iraqi parliament speaker's party was targeted with explosive devices

Mohammed Al-Halbousi
January 14, 2022
07:16 AM
371   

The headquarters of the Progress Party, led by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi, was targeted with explosive devices, according to Al Arabiya.net website, at dawn on Friday.

The website stated that the attack on the headquarters of the "Progress" party in Adhamiya in Baghdad was carried out by two attackers with explosive devices, pointing out that the security forces cordoned off the party's headquarters and an urgent investigation was opened.

The Progress Party denounced the targeting of its headquarters in Adhamiya by a group it described as "outlaws", saying that "this terrorist act coincides with the achievements we are achieving in cooperation with the nation's partners."

The party stressed that "this sinful aggression will only increase our adherence to our position calling for the unity and stability of Iraq."

Prior to that, a missile attack targeted, Thursday evening, the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, according to what was announced by the Iraqi Security Media Cell.

 

[yota691]

 

KDP: Targeting headquarters in Baghdad carries political messages

 

 2022-01-15 00:44

 

 

Shafaq News/ The Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc in the Iraqi parliament condemned on Saturday the targeting of party headquarters in Baghdad, stressing that it carries subversive dimensions and political messages.

The bloc's spokeswoman, Vian Dakhil, said in a statement received by Shafak News Agency, "These unjustified attacks threaten civil and societal peace and the entire democratic process."

Dakhil added, "Those behind these actions should review themselves and be sure that these reckless behavior offend him before they offend others," calling on the relevant security services to "prosecute and punish those behind these irresponsible behaviors that will lead to an unfortunate deterioration of the security situation."

Yesterday, a grenade thrown by unknown persons exploded in the garden of the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the Karrada district of Baghdad, causing material damage.

Yesterday, a security source reported that two explosions occurred that targeted the headquarters of the "Progress" movement led by Muhammad al-Halbousi and the other of the "Azm" movement led by Khamis al-Khanjar in the capital, Baghdad.

However, the Baghdad Operations Command denied yesterday, Friday, that a party headquarters in the Yarmouk district of Baghdad had been targeted by an armed man.

[yota691]

Targeting the office of a deputy in the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad for Al-Halbousi's party

Baghdad

fair deputies

January 16 2022

 

The new targeting operation came a day after the attempted assassination of a Kurdish leader (Anatolia)

Unidentified gunmen targeted, late last night, Saturday, the office of Iraqi parliament member Abdul Karim Abtan of the "Takaddam" party, which is led by Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi , with a homemade grenade, in the Sidiya area, south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

The new targeting came a day after Mahdi Abdul Karim, a leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by former Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, survived an assassination attempt in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. (led by Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi), and "Azm" (led by Khamis al-Khanjar).

Iraqi security sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that "unidentified gunmen riding a four-wheel drive vehicle, without irrigated plates, threw a homemade grenade at the office of the representative of "Advance" Abdul Karim Abtan, which caused material losses in the office, without any losses. mankind".

 

The sources indicated that "the force charged with protecting the office of the Iraqi representative opened fire on the gunmen, but they fled to an unknown destination, while the security forces are conducting an investigation into the incident to find out who was behind the attack, and the wheel is being tracked through surveillance cameras in the street."

In turn, the "Takaddam" party said in a statement after the targeting: "We are moving forward with our project, and are steadfast with our audience, towards building and reconstruction, and establishing security and the welfare of our people. No childish whirlwinds will and will not shake us," according to the statement.

In turn, Member of the Progress Party, Abdel Karim Abtan, said in a press statement, "My office was attacked by a grenade that caused only material damage, without causing any human losses, and the talk about receiving (an circumstance) is a threat a day before the incident. Not true at all."

Abtan stated that "the repetition of such attacks is nothing but an attempt to destabilize security and confuse political papers," adding: "For this reason, the competent security authorities are required to quickly and urgently reveal the parties involved in these terrorist acts, especially since such acts terrorize citizens on a daily basis."

shuffle the cards
On the other hand, the leader in the coordination framework, Saad Al-Saadi, said, in a telephone conversation with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that "the operations to target the political headquarters of some parties and personalities are part of an external project aimed at destabilizing security and provoking strife between some political parties."

Al-Saadi indicated that "such criminal and terrorist acts are rejected by all Iraqi political forces. It is also not possible to resort to such a method, which is legally and legally rejected, to resolve political differences, and these acts aim to mix papers and deepen political differences."

He added that "this malicious project is clear, especially since the targeting of some political partners is for a specific axis, and its goal is to accuse another political axis, and for this the security forces are required to reveal all the parties involved in these actions, and to hold these parties accountable, whatever they are."

A few days ago, the leader of the "Sadr movement" Muqtada al-Sadr warned against the threat of his partners, saying: "We will not allow anyone, whoever he is, to threaten our partners or threaten civil peace, and that the next government is a government of law, and there is no room for violation, whoever and whoever it is. There is no return to sectarian fighting or violence."

 

 

 

[yota691]

Ignite it and run away.. the moment the house of Representative Abdel Karim Abtan was targeted
25 views Jan 16, 2022

 

Channel 4 - Al Rabiaa TV

Ignite it and run away.. the moment the house of Representative Abdel Karim Abtan was targeted

[yota691]

The headquarters of the Iraqi parliament speaker's party was targeted with explosive devices

Mohammed Al-Halbousi
January 14, 2022
07:16 AM
371   

The headquarters of the Progress Party, led by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi, was targeted with explosive devices, according to Al Arabiya.net website, at dawn on Friday.

The website stated that the attack on the headquarters of the "Progress" party in Adhamiya in Baghdad was carried out by two attackers with explosive devices, pointing out that the security forces cordoned off the party's headquarters and an urgent investigation was opened.

The Progress Party denounced the targeting of its headquarters in Adhamiya by a group it described as "outlaws", saying that "this terrorist act coincides with the achievements we are achieving in cooperation with the nation's partners."

The party stressed that "this sinful aggression will only increase our adherence to our position calling for the unity and stability of Iraq."

Prior to that, a missile attack targeted, Thursday evening, the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, according to what was announced by the Iraqi Security Media Cell.
 

[yota691]

Al-Abadi tweeted: Do not waste Iraqi blood in futile struggles

political| 06:39 - 16/01/2022

 

 

 

 

 

Baghdad - Mawazine News

On Sunday, the leader of the Victory Coalition, Haider al-Abadi, called on politicians, calling on them to say: "Do not waste Iraqis' blood in futile struggles."

Al-Abadi said in a tweet via Twitter, which was followed by "Mawazine News", that the people are waiting for the political forces to unite their efforts in the reconstruction program, improving the standard of living, providing what is good for the citizens, and stopping threats because they will lead to demolition and fighting.

He continued, "The Iraqis sacrificed precious blood to liberate their cities from ISIS terrorism, so do not waste their blood in futile struggles, and do not empower our enemies against us." Ended 29/R77

 

 

[horsesoldier]

Sore losers trying to regain the initiative by terror.