Iraq Crisis Heads Towards Unknown after Sadr Protesters Briefly Paralyze Judiciary

Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist movement carry his picture in front of the Supreme Judicial Council, Baghdad, Iraq, 23 August 2022. (EPA)
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist movement carry his picture in front of the Supreme Judicial Council, Baghdad, Iraq, 23 August 2022. (EPA)
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Iraq Crisis Heads Towards Unknown after Sadr Protesters Briefly Paralyze Judiciary

Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist movement carry his picture in front of the Supreme Judicial Council, Baghdad, Iraq, 23 August 2022. (EPA)
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist movement carry his picture in front of the Supreme Judicial Council, Baghdad, Iraq, 23 August 2022. (EPA)

Supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr staged a sit-in on Tuesday in front of the headquarters of the Supreme Judicial Council in Baghdad, in the latest chapter in the political crisis that has crippled the country for months.

The protesters are demanding the dissolution of parliament, holding corrupt figures to account and amendments to the constitution related to how the majority bloc at parliament can form a new government.

Tuesday’s move will likely pave the way for more paralysis in Iraq and the dismantling of the political system in place after the 2003 US invasion.

Later on Tuesday, Sadr ordered his supporters to withdraw from in front of the Supreme Judicial Council “to preserve the reputation of the beloved revolutionaries and to avoid harming the people,” tweeted the cleric.

The protesters withdrew from the area but kept their tents at Sadr’s orders.

He suggested that they maintain their sit-in at parliament “if they desired as this is a decision that is up to the people.”

Prior to the protesters’ withdrawal, the judiciary had issued three arrest warrants against Sadrist officials and officers who were lax in protecting the judicial council headquarters, allowing the demonstrators to reach it.

One warrant was issued against leading Sadrist, former MP Sheikh Sabah al-Saadi on charges of threatening the judiciary.

On Monday, he had tweeted that the judiciary was not at an equal distance from all, suggesting that it favored the corrupt and was unjust towards the people.

In wake of his warrant, he again tweeted against the judiciary, accusing of it of double standards whereby it was quick to condemn his statements, while it had never taken action against other critics, such as Hadi al-Ameri, “who had threatened the judiciary in broad daylight.”

He also criticized the judiciary for its inaction against former Prime Minister and longtime Sadr rival, Nouri al-Maliki, “whose recent damning voice recordings had threatened civil peace.”

“I do not fear prison or arrest. We have not and will not remain silent over corruption and oppression,” vowed Saadi.

The judiciary will resume its activities on Wednesday after the Sadrists withdrew from the area, the state news agency INA reported.

“In light of the withdrawal of the demonstrators and the lifting of the siege on the headquarters of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Federal Supreme Court, it was decided to resume work normally in all courts as of tomorrow morning,” the council said.

Sadr has helped inflame tensions in Iraq in recent weeks by commanding thousands of followers to storm and occupy parliament, preventing the formation of a government nearly 10 months after elections.

The judiciary condemned the gathering of protesters outside its headquarters as “unconstitutional behavior”, adding that protesters had sent threats by phone.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who cut short a trip to Egypt to deal with the crisis, urged all sides to calm down and renewed calls for a national dialogue.

In a statement, Kadhimi said disrupting the judiciary “exposes the country to serious risks”.

The standoff in Iraq is the longest stretch without a fully functioning government in the nearly two decades since Saddam Hussein was overthrown by the 2003 invasion.

Sadr was the biggest winner of the 2021 election but was unable to form a government with Kurdish and Sunni Arab parties, excluding his Iran-backed Shiite rivals.

The cleric, who has unmatched influence in Iraq, can quickly mobilize hundreds of thousands of followers to stage demonstrations and paralyze the country's byzantine politics.

Sadr has called for early elections and unspecified changes to the constitution after withdrawing his lawmakers from parliament in June.

“The people are demanding the parliament to be dissolved and the immediate formation of an interim government,” said a protester draped in an Iraqi flag.

“Help us. Stand with us. Don't be afraid of anyone,” said another demonstrator.

Sadr's political opponents, mostly fellow Shiites backed by Iran, have refused to accede to his demands, raising fears of fresh unrest and violence in a conflict-weary Iraq.



Israel Committing Increasing Violations in South Lebanon, the Bekaa

President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)
President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)
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Israel Committing Increasing Violations in South Lebanon, the Bekaa

President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)
President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)

The Israeli military has intensified its attacks on Lebanon - despite the ceasefire – expanding its operations beyond the Litani River to the Iqlim al-Tuffah region in the south and reaching the Bekaa Valley and the eastern border with Syria.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with a high-ranking US military delegation to discuss Israel’s repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty and the need to implement UN Resolution 1701.

The US delegation, led by General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, also included Jasper Jeffers, head of the technical ceasefire monitoring committee, other senior officers, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.

Discussions addressed the security situation in South Lebanon and the progress of Israel’s withdrawal according to the agreed-upon timeline. A statement from the presidential palace noted that the talks covered the implementation of Resolution 1701, the coordination between the Lebanese army, international forces, and the ceasefire monitoring committee.

Aoun commended the cooperation between the Lebanese and US militaries, highlighting the US role in supporting Lebanon’s stability and development.

Later, the US delegation was joined by General Aroldo Lazaro, commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), French General Guillaume Ponchin, deputy chair of the ceasefire monitoring committee, and Acting Lebanese Army Commander Major General Hassan Odeh, who attended with a delegation of Lebanese military officers.

In the South, Israeli warplanes targeted areas between the southern towns of Arabsalim, Humin al-Fawqa, and Deir al-Zahrani. More strikes targeted the outskirts of Janta in the Baalbek district near the eastern mountain range, as well as border crossings between Lebanon and Syria in the areas of Qasir and Hermel. Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also flew at low altitudes over Tyre and its surrounding villages.

On the ground, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli force, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, conducted sweeps in the Mufilaha and Ras al-Zuhr areas west of Mais al-Jabal.

The set fire to homes in Mufilaha and detonated 15 explosive devices. The Israeli military also carried out an explosion in Aita al-Shaab and fired heavy machine guns from their position in the Metula settlement toward the Khiyam plains.

In Mais al-Jabal, Israeli forces conducted extensive sweeps with automatic weapons, and a powerful explosion was reported in the town. The Lebanese army, which had planned to enter the town on Monday, consequently postponed its deployment.

The escalating Israeli violations have raised concerns that Israel may delay its withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon beyond the Blue Line within the ceasefire deadline.

Retired Brigadier General Saeed Qazah told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel currently has freedom of movement during the 60-day period without requiring the monitoring committee’s approval.

Referring to recent strikes in Janta and Humin, he explained that Israel had informed the Lebanese army about suspected Hezbollah movements and, upon receiving no response, carried out the attacks. He added that the US had assured Israel during ceasefire negotiations that it could conduct strikes anywhere in Lebanon if Hezbollah’s activities were deemed a threat.

Despite the violations, the Israeli army is expected to withdraw from areas south of the Litani River by January 27.

However, Qazah emphasized that this withdrawal is contingent upon Hezbollah surrendering its weapons and positions to the Lebanese army and relocating its fighters north of the Litani. He warned that if Hezbollah adopts the same approach it did in 2006, Israel may refuse to withdraw, citing concerns over its security.