Iraq’s Political Forces Discuss Plan to Present to Sadr

Iraqi protesters demand the dissolution of Parliament in the Green Zone in Baghdad. (AFP)
Iraqi protesters demand the dissolution of Parliament in the Green Zone in Baghdad. (AFP)
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Iraq’s Political Forces Discuss Plan to Present to Sadr

Iraqi protesters demand the dissolution of Parliament in the Green Zone in Baghdad. (AFP)
Iraqi protesters demand the dissolution of Parliament in the Green Zone in Baghdad. (AFP)

Iraqi political forces are scrambling to formulate a plan to present it to leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr, after the Arbaeen holiday early next week.

This came following statements issued by the Sovereignty Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Sadr, for his part, did not comment on the statement that highlighted the two blocs’ commitment to form a government with full powers, in preparation for early elections. The announcement contradicted the Sadrist movement’s call on its political allies to withdraw from Parliament.

While the Sovereignty Alliance refrained from responding to Sadr’s request, the KDP warned that such crucial decisions could not be made through tweets, but following a constructive dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Coordination Framework political bloc welcomed on Monday the announcement of the Sovereignty Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party to adhere to the constitutional option, by “holding early elections under the supervision of a government with full powers.”

The bloc said that it would maintain dialogue with all parties to revive the work of state institutions and form a government with full powers, in line with the constitution.

Information leaked by the country’s political circles showed that the situation began to change, with the separate visits conducted by US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, and the head of Turkish intelligence, Hakan Fidan, who have both influenced the Iraqi decision-makers - especially the Sunni and Kurdish players, while the Iraqi political forces have missed the repetitive trips of the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Esmail Ghaani, to Iraq, in the wake of the intra-Shiite crisis.

Identical sources reported that while Washington - through its assistant secretary of state - called for “listening to the voice of Sadr,” which means accepting, albeit implicitly, his call to allow President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to supervise the upcoming early elections, Fidan asked the Sunni alliance to form a new Iraqi government, given Türkiye’s need for Iraq’s stability, and to ensure the smooth operation of Turkish companies in the country.



Israeli Missiles Strike Gaza Hospital, Patients Evacuated

Palestinians inspect a site where medics said two Israeli missiles hit a building inside the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, April 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Palestinians inspect a site where medics said two Israeli missiles hit a building inside the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, April 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
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Israeli Missiles Strike Gaza Hospital, Patients Evacuated

Palestinians inspect a site where medics said two Israeli missiles hit a building inside the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, April 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Palestinians inspect a site where medics said two Israeli missiles hit a building inside the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, April 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Two Israeli missiles hit a building inside a main Gaza hospital on Sunday, destroying the emergency and reception department and damaging other structures, medics said.
Health officials at the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital evacuated the patients from the building after one person said he received a call from someone who identified himself with the Israeli security shortly before the attack took place.
No casualties were reported, according to the civil emergency service.
The Israeli military was looking into the report, a spokesperson said.
Images circulating on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed dozens of people leaving the premises, with some appearing to be dragging sick relatives on hospital beds.
The Hamas-run government media office condemned the attack and said in a statement that Israel was deliberately destroying Gaza's healthcare system.