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Iraq: Maliki’s Coalition Denies Striking ‘Secret Alliance’ with Abadi

An Iraqi woman casts her vote during the 2014 elections. (Reuters)
An Iraqi woman casts her vote during the 2014 elections. (Reuters)
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Iraq: Maliki’s Coalition Denies Striking ‘Secret Alliance’ with Abadi

An Iraqi woman casts her vote during the 2014 elections. (Reuters)
An Iraqi woman casts her vote during the 2014 elections. (Reuters)

The State of Law Coalition, headed by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, denied on Thursday that he had signed a secret agreement with current Premier Haidar al-Abadi over the formation of a new government after the May parliamentary elections.

Coalition spokesman Abbas al-Moussawi said in a statement: “Talk of post-elections alliances between the State of Law Coalition and any other bloc is premature.”

“Any claims about this issue are inaccurate,” he added.

“The Coalition is concerned with the constitutional political majority and it is open to alliances and cooperation with political blocs that share its political vision and agree with its agenda,” he remarked.

Earlier, MP Ali al-Allaq, of the Al-Nasr Coalition, had spoken of a handwritten deal between Maliki and Abadi to strike an alliance after the parliamentary elections in order to establish the largest political bloc that can form a government.

Allaq is also affiliated with Abadi’s Dawa party.

Political Iraqi circles were alarmed with his revelation, saying that despite the two leaders’ apparent disagreement, they are in fact seeking to monopolize the formation of a new government.

Disputes between Maliki and Abadi had first erupted after the latter accepted the post of premier in 2014 at the former’s expense.

MP Jabbar al-Abadi, who is close to the PM, condemned Allaq’s statements, saying that “they do not favor” either Abadi or Maliki.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that should even such a deal between the two officials exist, it will remain secret and it cannot be revealed to the public.

“Everyone knows of the rift between Maliki and Abadi. Anyone who favors the former will be opposed to the latter,” he added.

He therefore ruled Allaq’s claim as an attempt to deceive the public.

State of Law MP Rihab al-Abbouda meanwhile also denied the existence of such a deal between the rival Iraqi officials, saying that such a claim was aimed at making electoral gains.

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Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
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Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)

Relations between Hamas and the Lebanese state have entered a critical phase not seen since the country’s civil war era. In a rare and direct move, Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council on Friday named Hamas in an official warning, cautioning the group against using Lebanese territories to conduct activities that threaten national security.

The warning follows rocket attacks in March, allegedly launched by Hamas operatives toward Israel from southern Lebanon, and signals a turning point in Beirut’s handling of the longstanding issue of Palestinian arms.

The issue is expected to dominate discussions during the upcoming visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Beirut on May 21. Lebanese authorities are reportedly preparing to demand that Hamas hand over individuals implicated in the rocket attacks.

Hamas officials in Lebanon declined to comment immediately, but sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that an official statement from the group is forthcoming.

Last month, the Lebanese army said it had identified those responsible for the March 22 and 28 rocket launches, revealing a cell composed of Lebanese and Palestinian nationals. Subsequent raids led to several arrests and the seizure of equipment used in the attacks. Security sources later confirmed the detention of three Hamas members - two Palestinians and one Lebanese.

Analysts and insiders believe Hamas now finds itself increasingly isolated in Lebanon. According to Palestinian political analyst Hisham Debassy, the group has little choice but to comply with Lebanese demands, including potentially disarming.

“The Defense Council’s position marks a serious and strategic shift,” said Debassy. “It sends a strong political message not just to Hamas but to any non-state actor operating militarily on Lebanese soil.”

Debassy described Hamas as being at a crossroads. “Either it cooperates with Lebanese authorities by handing over wanted individuals and signaling respect for state sovereignty, or it continues down a path of confrontation, an option that carries significant political and security costs.”

He noted that Hamas currently lacks the internal cohesion and public support to take a defiant stance. Internal divisions have grown between factions aligned with Iran and others favoring political reintegration within the broader Muslim Brotherhood framework.

Political analyst Dr. Qassem Qassir said Hamas’ leadership, based largely in Qatar, remains mindful of Lebanon’s fragile security. “Hamas doesn’t want to endanger Lebanon,” he said, adding that the group is likely to act cautiously given the broader regional context.

Meanwhile, Abbas’ visit is seen as an opportunity to reshape Palestinian-Lebanese relations and advance state authority in Palestinian camps. Lebanese officials are seeking a roadmap, backed by the Palestinian Authority, that could lead to the phased dismantling of weapons in refugee camps, following similar efforts targeting pro-Syrian Palestinian factions in the Bekaa and Naameh regions.

Hamas’ presence in Lebanon had traditionally been limited to social and political activities. But its military footprint began to emerge after a 2022 explosion in the Burj al-Shemali camp. Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, Hamas’s armed wing has become more active in southern Lebanon, coordinating with Hezbollah in launching attacks on Israel, further complicating its position with Lebanese authorities.