Tensions continue to linger in southern Iraq’s Basra governorate, where armed clashes erupted overnight between the killing by Asaib militants of a member of the Saraiya al-Salam (linked to Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr) Ahl al-Haq group during led by Qais al-Khazali.
Clashes resumed today, Tuesday, and broke out in the city center near the Italian bridge, and there was a rumble of bullets. In addition, many video clips document the renewed clashes between Saraiya al-Salam and Asaib today. However, what was notable about this issue was Security Media Cell’s denial that the clashes took place, noting that what happened was a murder.
In a statement on her Twitter account today, she said, “Some social media sites have circulated conflicting reports about security incidents and unrest in Basra governorate, but the problem is that there is an incident of a murder in the center of the governorate and an injury to another.” According to her, the security forces detained a number of suspects and launched an investigation into the incident.
It is noteworthy that a few days ago (August 29, 2022) Iraq witnessed violent clashes in the center of Baghdad, in which clashes broke out last Monday and lasted almost 24 hours in the heavily fortified Green Zone, killing 30 people and about 600 were injured. which includes the headquarters of the government and diplomatic missions, between the supporters of Al-Sadr on the one hand, and elements of the popular mob on the other.
The clashes came after tens of thousands of supporters of the Sadrist leader took to the streets to express their anger after the influential cleric announced his “final retirement” from political life. While many southern provinces sympathized with these demonstrations, especially Basra.
These tensions came months after the 10 October 2021 parliamentary elections were held, in which al-Sadr won the largest stake in parliament, unable to form a government or elect a new president for the country due to lack of a quorum and adherence to a “coordination framework” sworn al-Sadr’s enemy, which includes Nuri al-Maliki, the Fatah Alliance and other parties loyal to Iran, to form a government.
