Sharp Divisions within Iraq’s Coordination Framework

 The wreckage of the two cars, in which Soleimani and Al-Muhandis were killed, are exposed near Baghdad Airport. (AP)
The wreckage of the two cars, in which Soleimani and Al-Muhandis were killed, are exposed near Baghdad Airport. (AP)
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Sharp Divisions within Iraq’s Coordination Framework

 The wreckage of the two cars, in which Soleimani and Al-Muhandis were killed, are exposed near Baghdad Airport. (AP)
The wreckage of the two cars, in which Soleimani and Al-Muhandis were killed, are exposed near Baghdad Airport. (AP)

Iraqi political sources said on Tuesday that the third anniversary of the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani has sparked sharp divisions between the parties of the Coordination Framework, following reports that the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani agreed to a US request to prevent a “million-strong memorial march” for Soleimani in the country.

The Iranian general was killed in a US strike near Baghdad Airport on Jan. 3, 2020.

Limited activities were held on Tuesday to commemorate the event. An official celebration for the supporters of the Coordination Framework was not attended by senior officials, amid suspicions that these divisions will further deepen at the political level.

An informed political source told Asharq Al-Awsat that leaders in the Coordination Framework “feared a recurrence of scenes of angry crowds in the vicinity of the US embassy if the supporters were allowed to commemorate Soleimani’s killing without restrictions.”

Other leaders, according to the same source, “preferred to spare al-Sudani any embarrassment with the Americans, with whom he enjoys good relations…”

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a leader in the Coordination Framework said that the Americans “informed [the Framework] during the negotiations to form the Sudanese government of their absolute rejection of any demonstrations or protest movement against Washington in Baghdad.

“It is most likely that the leaders [in the Framework] has agreed to that,” he underlined.

Activists close to the armed factions published a torrent of angry tweets, accusing the government of complicity to prevent “the loyalists from organizing the march.”

Issam al-Asadi, a politician close to Al-Sadr Movement, said that the Framework prevented any forms of tribute to Soleimani for fear of angering the Americans.

The source expected that the dispute over the commemoration of the Iranian general’s death would open the way for a new rift within the Coordination Framework.



Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
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Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had struck "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, the first targeted killing in the area for several months.

In a statement, Israel's military did not give the identity of the targeted person. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

Lebanese state media said a car had been hit near Tripoli and the health ministry reported two people were killed and three others wounded, without identifying them, Reuters reported.

Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups maintain a presence in various areas of Lebanon, mostly in camps that have housed displaced Palestinians for decades.

Since Hamas' cross-border attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel in 2023, Israel has carried out targeted strikes on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah as well as members of Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

Hamas' deputy chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs in early 2024, and other strikes hit Palestinian camps in northern Lebanon.

A US-brokered ceasefire last year ended the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, though Israel has continued to carry out strikes on what it says are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, mostly in southern Lebanon.

Tuesday's strike near Tripoli was the first time a targeted assassination had taken place in the area since the truce.

Meanwhile, US envoy Thomas Barrack continued a two-day visit to Lebanon to discuss disarming Hezbollah and other militant groups.