Who was Abu Taqwa, killed in US Strike in Baghdad?

Supporters of Harakat al Nujaba group in Iraq carry a picture of Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi during his funeral procession in Baghdad on Thursday (AFP)
Supporters of Harakat al Nujaba group in Iraq carry a picture of Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi during his funeral procession in Baghdad on Thursday (AFP)
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Who was Abu Taqwa, killed in US Strike in Baghdad?

Supporters of Harakat al Nujaba group in Iraq carry a picture of Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi during his funeral procession in Baghdad on Thursday (AFP)
Supporters of Harakat al Nujaba group in Iraq carry a picture of Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi during his funeral procession in Baghdad on Thursday (AFP)

In Iraq, Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi, leader of the “Rocket Battalion” within the Harakat al Nujaba group, was killed in a US attack on their Baghdad headquarters.

Al-Saedi’s battalion has been unusually active since the beginning of war in Gaza, operating between Iraqi cities and Syria.

According to a statement issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which Harakat al Nujaba group is a part of, Al-Saedi also served as the “Deputy Commander of the Operations for the Baghdad Belt,” referring to the agricultural areas surrounding the capital.

The Harakat al Nujaba, close to Tehran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, lacks parliamentary representation in Iraq but wields significant influence over the government’s coordinating framework.

Al-Saedi, also the commander of the PMF’s 12th Brigade, was targeted by four US drone strikes as his convoy moved in eastern Baghdad’s Palestine Street area on Thursday morning.

The US drone tracked Al-Saedi’s convoy from the Syrian border until it reached Baghdad, executing the operation finally within the security headquarters near the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.

The US military confirmed staging an attack on an armed faction’s headquarters in Baghdad, targeting an individual responsible for attacks against military bases in the country.

Al-Saedi’s full name is Mushtaq Talib Al-Saedi, known by his alias “Abu Taqwa.”

He hails from a modest family residing in “Al-Kamaliya” neighborhood, one of the populous districts to the east of Baghdad.

However, his family roots trace back to Diyala Province in the east of Iraq.

Sources close to Al-Saedi, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat under the conditions of anonymity, reveal that he was an active member of the Sadr movement led by Muqtada Al-Sadr before being arrested by US forces between 2007 and 2012.

Al-Saedi later broke away from the Sadr movement to join the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement led by Qais Al-Khazali, only to defect again and align himself with Harakat al Nujaba.

Al-Saedi, as per the sources, agreed to a deal proposed by a high-ranking Iraqi official, which included the condition of “defecting from the Sadr movement in exchange for assistance from the Americans in securing his release.”

Since joining the Harakat al Nujaba, Al-Saedi has held pivotal positions directly related to the management and planning of military operations, particularly targeting the military bases occupied by the US-led International Coalition in Iraq and Syria.



The Election of a Trump Ally in Poland Could Alter EU and Ukraine Policies 

Karol Nawrocki, candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election supported by Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, flashes the victory sign in front of supporters as exit polls were announced on tv during their election night event at the Mala Warszawa Theater in Warsaw, Poland, during the second round of the presidential elections on June 1, 2025. (AFP)
Karol Nawrocki, candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election supported by Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, flashes the victory sign in front of supporters as exit polls were announced on tv during their election night event at the Mala Warszawa Theater in Warsaw, Poland, during the second round of the presidential elections on June 1, 2025. (AFP)
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The Election of a Trump Ally in Poland Could Alter EU and Ukraine Policies 

Karol Nawrocki, candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election supported by Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, flashes the victory sign in front of supporters as exit polls were announced on tv during their election night event at the Mala Warszawa Theater in Warsaw, Poland, during the second round of the presidential elections on June 1, 2025. (AFP)
Karol Nawrocki, candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election supported by Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, flashes the victory sign in front of supporters as exit polls were announced on tv during their election night event at the Mala Warszawa Theater in Warsaw, Poland, during the second round of the presidential elections on June 1, 2025. (AFP)

Poland has elected Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian and staunch nationalist, as its next president in a closely watched vote that signals a resurgence of right-wing populism in the heart of Europe.

Nawrocki, who is set to take office on Aug. 6, is expected to shape the country’s domestic and foreign policy in ways that could strain ties with Brussels while aligning the Central European nation of nearly 38 million people more closely with the administration of President Donald Trump in the United States.

Here are some key takeaways:

Conservative populism on the rise Nawrocki’s victory underscores the enduring appeal of nationalist rhetoric among about half of the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union, and its deep social divisions.

The 42-year-old historian, who had no previous political experience, built his campaign on patriotic themes, traditional Catholic values, and a vow to defend Poland's sovereignty against the EU and larger European nations like Germany.

His win also reflects the appeal of right-wing nationalism across Europe, where concerns about migration, national sovereignty, and cultural identity have led to surging support for parties on the right — even the far right in recent times.

Far-right candidates did very well in Poland's first round of voting two weeks earlier, underlining the appeal of the nationalist and conservative views. Nawrocki picked up many of those votes.

As his supporters celebrate his win, those who voted for the defeated liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, worry that it will hasten the erosion of liberal democratic norms.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk's troubles Nawrocki’s presidency presents a direct challenge to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who returned to power in late 2023 pledging to mend relations with the EU and restore judicial independence which Brussels said was eroded by Law and Justice, the party that backed Nawrocki.

But Tusk's coalition, a fragile alliance of centrists, leftists, and agrarian conservatives, has struggled to push through key promises.

Nawrocki will have the power to veto legislation, complicating Tusk’s agenda and potentially triggering political gridlock.

Ties with the Trump administration Nawrocki's election could signal a stronger relationship between Poland and the Trump administration.

Poland and the US are close allies, and there are 10,000 US troops stationed in Poland, but Tusk and his partners in the past have been critical of Trump. Nawrocki, however, has a worldview closely aligned with Trump and his Make America Great Again ethos.

Trump welcomed Nawrocki to the White House a month ago and his administration made clear in other ways that he was its preferred candidate.

A shifting focus on Ukraine While Nawrocki has voiced support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, he does not back Ukrainian membership in NATO and has questioned the long-term costs of aid, particularly support for refugees.

His rhetoric has at times echoed that of Trump, for instance by accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of what he said was insufficient gratitude for Poland’s assistance. With growing public fatigue over helping Ukrainian refugees, Nawrocki’s approach could shift Poland’s posture from strong ally to conditional partner if the war drags on much longer.

Ties with the EU The election result is a setback for the EU, which had welcomed Tusk’s return in 2023 as a signal of renewed pro-European engagement.

Nawrocki and the Law and Justice party have criticized what nationalists view as EU overreach into Poland's national affairs, especially regarding judicial reforms and migration policy.

While the president does not control day-to-day diplomacy, Nawrocki’s symbolic and veto powers could frustrate Brussels’ efforts to bring Poland back into alignment with bloc standards, particularly on rule-of-law issues.

Market jitters Though an EU member, Poland has its own currency, the zloty, which weakened slightly on Monday morning, reflecting investor concerns over potential policy instability and renewed tensions with EU institutions.

Billions of euros in EU funding has been linked to judicial reforms which Tusk's government will now be unlikely to enact without presidential cooperation.