Violence in Iraq escalates: List of key events

Thirty individuals have been killed within the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, after combating between supporters and rivals of spiritual chief Muqtada al-Sadr.

Mourners pray in front of the coffins of supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who were killed during clashes in Baghdad, during their funeral in Najaf, Iraq August 30, 2022
Mourners pray in entrance of the coffins of supporters of Iraqi populist chief Muqtada al-Sadr, who had been killed throughout clashes in Baghdad, throughout their funeral in Najaf, Iraq on August 30, 2022 [Ahmed Saed/Reuters]

Thirty individuals have been killed in combating in Iraq between rival Shia militias, in addition to the Iraqi safety forces, after the highly effective spiritual chief Muqtada al-Sadr claimed that he was withdrawing from politics.

Al-Sadr’s announcement on Monday led to his supporters converging on websites in Baghdad’s fortified Inexperienced Zone, the place they stormed the Republican Palace the place the federal government is predicated. Additionally they confronted supporters of their rivals, the Iran-backed Coordination Framework alliance, resulting in combating between the 2 teams.

As evening fell, gunfire and explosions had been heard throughout the Inexperienced Zone, and the combating has continued into Tuesday.

Nonetheless, at a press convention on Tuesday afternoon, al-Sadr ordered his supporters to totally withdraw from the Inexperienced Zone, and finish the violence.

Right here’s a listing of key occasions up to now:

  • Al-Sadr introduced on Twitter his “remaining withdrawal” from politics and the closure of all political establishments linked to his Sadrist Motion. Al-Sadr has made related statements earlier than, solely to stroll them again, however analysts have mentioned that his newest announcement could also be a bluff or a option to distance himself from any violence.

  • Supporters of al-Sadr, who had been primarily based at a sit-in outdoors the parliament since late July, pulled down cement obstacles outdoors the Republican Palace and stormed the constructing.

  • Different supporters approached a counterprotest held by al-Sadr’s Shia rivals, the Iran-backed Coordination Framework alliance, the place each side threw rocks at one another.

  • Protesters additionally blocked the doorway to the Umm Qasr port, close to the southern metropolis Basra, bringing operations down by 50 %, in accordance with Reuters.

  • In response to the rising violence, the Iraqi army introduced a full curfew in Baghdad, starting at 3:30pm native time (12:30 GMT). A nationwide curfew was declared at 7pm (16:00 GMT).

  • Iraq’s caretaker prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi stopped all cupboard classes after pro-Sadr protesters stormed the federal government headquarters.

  • Gunfire and explosions started to be heard on Monday night within the Inexperienced Zone, as reviews emerged of al-Sadr supporters being fired upon, and fighters from the pro-Sadr militia, Saraya al-Salam, took to the streets.

  • Late on Monday al-Sadr declared that he would begin a starvation strike till violence and the usage of weapons stopped.

  • Combating in Baghdad continued via Monday evening and into Tuesday morning. On Tuesday morning Iraqi safety forces mentioned that 4 rockets had landed within the Inexperienced Zone, damaging a residential space.

  • Iran closed its borders with Iraq on Tuesday morning in response to the combating, and urged its residents to keep away from travelling there. Iranian state tv additionally mentioned that each one flights to Iraq had been halted.

  • On Tuesday afternoon al-Sadr ordered his supporters to depart the Inexperienced Zone, together with their protest websites, and apologised for the violence. “This isn't revolutionary [any more] as a result of it has misplaced its peaceable character,” al-Sadr mentioned. A lot of his supporters instantly began to depart.

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