Iraq’s Sadr Demands 4 Arab Countries to Allow His Supporters to Head to Palestine

 A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
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Iraq’s Sadr Demands 4 Arab Countries to Allow His Supporters to Head to Palestine

 A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Head of the Sadrist movement in Iraq cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged the countries neighboring Palestine to allow his supporters to head to its border so that they could provide donations to those in need.

In a statement to the governments of “brotherly” Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, he hoped they would “allow their Sadrist brothers in Iraq peaceful passage to the borders of beloved Palestine where they can offer donations, such as water, food, medicine and fuel.”

The delivery of the aid to Gaza would be organized with these governments, he added.

Moreover, he hoped the governments would allow their “Sadrist brothers” to hold a million-strong sit-in at the Palestinian borders in these four countries in the “coming days”.

“Your position will go down honorably in history,” Sadr added, pledging that the demonstrators would respect the law and rally in complete peace.

Meanwhile, former Iraqi President Barham Salih urged the international community to exert serious efforts to stop the “barbaric war” against children, women and the elderly in Gaza.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said this “blind violence and barbaric inhumane war must stop.”

“The targeting of civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable,” he stressed, describing them as “flagrant” violations of international law.

He underlined the need to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged people in Gaza and end the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, he said the situation was “extremely dangerous” and continues to escalate. “The international community must, therefore, work seriously to end the war and prevent further escalation that could be destructive on the entire Middle East and even the world.”

“We must always remember that there can be no peace or stability in the region without a just solution to the cause of the Palestinian people,” Salih added. The solution must secure their legitimate rights in determining their fate and establishment of an independent state.

“This cycle of violence and humanitarian catastrophe must end,” he demanded.



Russia is in Touch with New Syrian Authorities at Military, Diplomatic Level, Kremlin Aide Says

A man holds the Syrian opposition flag as they celebrate after Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended - Aleppo, Syria - AFP
A man holds the Syrian opposition flag as they celebrate after Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended - Aleppo, Syria - AFP
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Russia is in Touch with New Syrian Authorities at Military, Diplomatic Level, Kremlin Aide Says

A man holds the Syrian opposition flag as they celebrate after Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended - Aleppo, Syria - AFP
A man holds the Syrian opposition flag as they celebrate after Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended - Aleppo, Syria - AFP

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Monday that Russia was in contact with Syria's new administration at both a diplomatic and military level, Reuters reported.

Russia granted former president Bashar al-Assad and his family asylum this month after opposition factions took control of Damascus following a lightning and largely unopposed advance.

Moscow has said previously it is in talks about the fate of a naval facility it operates at the port of Tartous and about the Hmeimim air base it operates in Latakia province.