Assailants Burn Down Headquarters of Communist Party in Iraq’s Najaf

Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party hold the communist symbol during a march in Baghdad (File photo: AFP)
Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party hold the communist symbol during a march in Baghdad (File photo: AFP)
TT
20

Assailants Burn Down Headquarters of Communist Party in Iraq’s Najaf

Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party hold the communist symbol during a march in Baghdad (File photo: AFP)
Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party hold the communist symbol during a march in Baghdad (File photo: AFP)

Unidentified assailants attacked the headquarters of the Iraqi Communist Party in Najaf with Molotov cocktails, burning the offices despite causing no causalities.

The attack came amid speculation of escalating violence and political assassinations ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for next October.

A new wave of protests is also expected to erupt in the country over deteriorating economic conditions and services, and lack of job opportunities.

The party’s local administration issued a statement saying that its headquarters was attacked by Molotov cocktails at dawn Friday. It condemned the cowardly act while affirming that the party will continue to call for a change that rids the country of corrupt persons.

The statement called on the government to control illegitimate weapons and establish security as a necessary step to holding the elections, praising "the rapid response of the security forces in the governorate.”

It did not accuse a specific party of the attack, but activists close to the party linked between the attack and the upcoming commemoration of the first anniversary of the deadly clampdown on protesters in Najaf's Sadr Square.

A source believes the attack may have occurred after the Communist party announced an alliance with the civil society.

The source confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the party will form alliances with civil society groups from the October movement in various governorates.

Despite its well-known secular orientations, the Communist party joined Saeroon alliance with the Sadrist movement during the 2018 parliamentary elections.

Only two candidates of the Communist party won in the polls. However, they resigned in October 2019, ending the party’s alliance with the movement.

Despite the lack of representation in Najaf, the Communist Party maintained a permanent presence there for years, especially that a large number of its leaders and founding members originate from the governorate.



UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
TT
20

UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appalled by an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza "where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," his spokesperson said on Monday.

"He deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations."

Israeli ground troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors.

Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages’ families said it was “shocked and alarmed” by the incursion, which was confirmed by an Israeli military official, and demanded answers from Israeli leaders.

Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks.

The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gaza's Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine.