Sadr, Coordination Framework in Iraq May Collapse at Any Moment

Iraqi protesters chant anti-government slogans and carry the Iraqi national flag during a protest near the Supreme Judicial Council building in central Baghdad, Iraq on 02 September 2022. (EPA)
Iraqi protesters chant anti-government slogans and carry the Iraqi national flag during a protest near the Supreme Judicial Council building in central Baghdad, Iraq on 02 September 2022. (EPA)
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Sadr, Coordination Framework in Iraq May Collapse at Any Moment

Iraqi protesters chant anti-government slogans and carry the Iraqi national flag during a protest near the Supreme Judicial Council building in central Baghdad, Iraq on 02 September 2022. (EPA)
Iraqi protesters chant anti-government slogans and carry the Iraqi national flag during a protest near the Supreme Judicial Council building in central Baghdad, Iraq on 02 September 2022. (EPA)

Calm prevailed in Baghdad for a fourth consecutive day following the bloody clashes between the Shiite Sadrist movement and Asaib Ahl al-Haq that swept the Iraqi capital.

A fragile unwritten truce has largely been holding between the movement, of influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the pro-Iran Coordination Framework, of which the Asaib are a part of.

The calm has not prevented the rivals from trading accusations over the unrest and political impasse.

Sadr’s “minister”, Saleh Mohammed al-Iraqi demanded caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to dismiss the leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Faleh al-Fayyad.

The PM did not respond to the request. His role as a caretaker bars him from fulfilling such a demand.

On Thursday, four militants were killed in reprisal attacks between the Sadrists and Asaib in the southern city of Basra. Two militiamen from Sadr's group Saraya al-Salam and two from the Asaib were killed.

Asaib leader, Qais Khazali later instructed his group to close their offices until further notice.

The United Nations Security Council on Friday expressed its alarm at the violence, acknowledging the government’s efforts to restore order.

It called for calm and restraint, welcoming statements from various parties that called against more violence.

It urged the parties to resolve their political disputes peacefully and to respect the rule of law.

Aide to Kadhimi, Dr. Hussein Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat the PM played a “major role” in managing the crisis in order to preserve peace and stability and encourage political leaderships to support the government and prioritize national interests over partisan one.

Moreover, he noted that the orders of the army commander to the troops and commitment of the military and security forces to these orders helped maintain the peace.

He said the security forces’ constant contact with the political leaderships and constant communication with the PM allowed everyone to address the crisis faster than expected, leading to the containment of the clashes within 24 hours.

He urged the need for important initiatives to be proposed, similar to the national dialogue brought forward by Kadhimi.

The first round of the talks was a success, Allawi remarked, urging more talks with political leaderships.



Activist Aid Ship Nears Gaza After Reaching Egypt Coast

 Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
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Activist Aid Ship Nears Gaza After Reaching Egypt Coast

 Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)

An aid ship with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, has reached the Egyptian coast and is nearing the besieged Palestinian territory, organizers said on Saturday.

The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies "to break Israel's blockade on Gaza".

"We are now sailing off the Egyptian coast," German human rights activist Yasemin Acar told AFP. "We are all good," she added.

In a statement from London on Saturday, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza -- a member organization of the flotilla coalition -- said the ship had entered Egyptian waters.

The group said it remains in contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those on board, warning that any interception would constitute "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law".

European parliament member Rima Hassan, who is on board the vessel, urged governments to "guarantee safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla."

The Palestinian territory was under Israeli naval blockade even before the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that sparked the Gaza war and Israel has enforced its blockade with military action in the past.

A 2010 commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar aid flotilla trying to breach the blockade, left 10 civilians dead.

In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported coming under drone attack while en route for Gaza, prompting Cyprus and Malta to send rescue vessels in response to its distress call. There were no reports of any casualties.

Earlier in its voyage, the Madleen changed course near the Greek island of Crete after receiving a distress signal from a sinking migrant boat.

Activists rescued four Sudanese migrants who had jumped into the sea to avoid being returned to Libya. The four were later transferred to an EU Frontex vessel.

Launched in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of groups opposed to the blockade on humanitarian aid for Gaza that Israel imposed on March 2 and has only partially eased since.

Israel has faced mounting international condemnation over the resulting humanitarian crisis in the territory, where the United Nations has warned the entire population of more than two million is at risk of famine.