Baghdad is bracing itself for possible escalation between the Sadrists, of influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the pro-Iran Coordination Framework.
Sources from the behind the political scenes have spoken of intense efforts between the Sadrists and forces of the October 2019 protests to pave the way for a new wave of demonstrations to mark the third anniversary of the rallies next month.
The security authorities have only compounded fears in the capital after setting up a giant gate on the Joumhouria bridge that connects the Tahrir square to the Green Zone.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi soon called for its removal.
Security forces were on alert on Tuesday night. They deployed forces across the capital and blocked roads, which forced many people out of their homes until the morning hours.
Politically, the Framework is insisting on its positions that they know are opposed by Sadr.
They are determined to go ahead with the nomination of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as prime minister, a position that had inflamed tensions in July.
On Monday, the Framework declared that Sudani remains their candidate and on Tuesday, Framework MPs met with him at parliament.
Sadrist officials, meanwhile, have stressed that the Framework, and the parliament, will not be allowed to hold a parliamentary session to elect a president, who may task Sudani with forming a new government.
