عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Leaders of Iraqi Pro-Iran Factions Head to Syria, Lebanon in Wake of Escalation in Gaza

Iraqis stage a rally in Baghdad in support of Palestinians. (Reuters)
Iraqis stage a rally in Baghdad in support of Palestinians. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Leaders of Iraqi Pro-Iran Factions Head to Syria, Lebanon in Wake of Escalation in Gaza

Iraqis stage a rally in Baghdad in support of Palestinians. (Reuters)
Iraqis stage a rally in Baghdad in support of Palestinians. (Reuters)

The leaders of several Iraqi factions loyal to Iran have headed to Syria and Lebanon in wake of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, informed Iraqi sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources said the leaders were accompanied by groups of fighters, whose task, at the moment, seems aimed at assessing the situation on the ground and following up with groups in Syria and Lebanon along border regions.

The Iraqi factions have received messages from Iran that the situation in Gaza does not demand direct intervention. This may change if the war expands and more parties become involved, they explained.

Moreover, leaders of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework in Iraq received a recommendation to wait and see how the situation unfolds in Gaza before any action can be taken.

Meanwhile, the faction leaders relayed the details of the situation along the border in Syria and Lebanon back to Iraq, said the sources.

They were briefed on maps and potential scenarios should a confrontation erupt, they added.

“The Iraqi factions are awaiting orders that haven’t arrived yet. They have no intention of moving without any clear Iranian orders,” they stressed.

In Iraq, Coordination Framework media have continued to promote the “Iraqi resistance’s readiness to head to the field and carry out attacks against American and Israeli interests.”

Deputy commander of Iran’s Quds Force Mohammad Reza Fallahzadeh and Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Mohammad Kazem Al Sadeq recently held a meeting with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and leaders of pro-Iran factions to request that the media intensify its campaign against Israel and support the Palestinian Hamas movement. They also called for signing up recruits to join the fight against Israel, informed sourced told Radio Farda.

The Quds Force called on the militias to be on alert and wait for orders from Iran, they added.

Head of the pro-Iran Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Qais al-Khazali said on a post on the X platform that his movement was “closely monitoring the developments and was ready” for any action.

It appears unlikely that all political party leaders in the Iraqi government are eager to join a greater conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis, but an escalation in Gaza could pressure Iran and its allies in the region to join the fight.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Preliminary Report Due from Syria Coastal Violence Probe Panel

Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)
Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)
TT
20
TT

Preliminary Report Due from Syria Coastal Violence Probe Panel

Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)
Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)

The spokesman for Syria’s fact-finding committee investigating the recent coastal violence said on Monday the panel may request an extension of its presidential mandate, set to expire on Wednesday, due to the widening scope of its work.

Yasser al-Farhan told Asharq Al-Awsat the committee will submit a “preliminary report,” but stressed that it will not release any conclusions or recommendations until the investigation is complete.

The committee was appointed under a presidential decree and began its work on March 9 with a one-month deadline.

“That period ends on Wednesday, but the committee has not yet concluded its investigations,” Farhan said.

He noted that the panel is currently operating in the coastal city of Tartus and is moving to other locations where violations were reported.

“The committee will not publish any findings unless they are based on solid reasoning and evidence that supports the facts, characterizes the violations, and identifies suspects,” Farhan said.

“This requires analyzing and cross-checking all testimonies, assessing the legal context of the acts, and drawing clear conclusions and recommendations,” he added.

A wave of deadly violence swept through Syria’s coastal region early last month, claiming the lives of civilians from the Alawite community as well as members of the general security forces, prompting the formation of an independent investigative committee.

The attacks took place in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus and Baniyas. The government blamed pro-Assad armed groups for targeting security forces, while military and paramilitary personnel were themselves accused of killing civilians in retaliatory assaults.

In response, the Syrian presidency formed the Independent National Committee for Investigation and Fact-Finding into the Coastal Incidents, comprised of legal experts. The panel announced on March 25 that it had collected dozens of testimonies but said it was still too early to release any findings.

Asked whether the committee includes representatives of victims or their families, Farhan told Asharq Al-Awsat that the panel's members are not government employees but independent legal professionals.

“Some of them live outside Syria and have worked in Europe or other regions. Others are active in documenting human rights violations and have memorandums of understanding and cooperation with the United Nations,” he said.

“Two of the members are Syrian judges, and judges are generally regarded as an independent.”

Farhan stressed that the committee acts on behalf of the victims and their families. “Its members are neutral and do not represent any single party.”

“Their work is to be close to the people,” he said, noting that the panel has met with community leaders from across the coastal region to listen to their concerns and better understand the context surrounding the unrest.