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.



Israel Shocks Lebanon with Plan to Link Withdrawal to Normalization

Israeli soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border, in Israel, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Avi Ohayon
Israeli soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border, in Israel, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Avi Ohayon
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Israel Shocks Lebanon with Plan to Link Withdrawal to Normalization

Israeli soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border, in Israel, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Avi Ohayon
Israeli soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border, in Israel, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Avi Ohayon

Lebanon’s government and public were caught off guard by Israeli leaks suggesting a potential deal that would link Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the demarcation of land borders to a normalization agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

However, Lebanon firmly rejects the idea, stressing that border talks are strictly security-focused, limited to Israel’s withdrawal, border delineation, and the release of detainees.

The leaks, attributed to an Israeli political source, emerged a day after Israel released four Lebanese detainees in what it described as a “goodwill gesture.” The development coincided with preparations for negotiations on disputed border points.

Israeli media quoted a political source as saying that talks with Lebanon are part of a broader, comprehensive plan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies have reshaped the Middle East, and Israel wants to maintain this momentum to achieve normalization with Lebanon, the source said.

Just as Lebanon has demands regarding the border, Israel has its own demands as well, and these issues will be discussed, the source further stated.

The remarks were seen as an Israeli attempt to link border demarcation and withdrawal from Lebanese territory to a normalization agreement, according to a Lebanese lawmaker following the developments.

However, Lebanon firmly rejects any such linkage, considering it an overreach beyond the mandate of the committee overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 26.

A senior Lebanese official told Asharq Al-Awsat that the idea of linking border discussions to normalization with Israel is “not on the table for Lebanon.”

The official emphasized that the mandate of the five-nation committee, formed after the recent conflict, is “security-focused, not political,” and is strictly limited to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The official explained that the committee's role is “confined to overseeing Israel’s withdrawal from five remaining occupied border points, demarcating the 13 disputed border areas, and securing the release of Lebanese detainees held by Israel.”

While the remarks were attributed to an unnamed source rather than an official spokesperson, they caught Lebanese officials off guard.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry had not been informed of any such proposal and that no international official had raised the issue so far.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met on Tuesday with US General Jasper Jeffers, head of the ceasefire monitoring committee, alongside US Ambassador Lisa Johnson, ahead of a committee meeting in Naqoura.

According to the Lebanese presidency, Aoun urged the committee chief to pressure Israel to implement the agreement, withdraw from the five occupied hills, and release Lebanese detainees.