Iraq |
Leading figure in Badr Organization assassinated in eastern Baghdad |
2022-10-23 |
[Shafaq News] A group of person or persons unknown reportedly killed a leading figure in Hadi al-Ameri's Badr Organization in the east of the Iraqi capital city, Baghdad, on Saturday. The victim, Shiite holy man Ali al-Azzari, was the head of the Doctrine division at al-Rusafa's third branch of the Iran-back Shiite organization. |
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Iraq |
Parties in CF make counter-conditions for al-Sadr's debate |
2022-08-22 |
On August 20, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada Tateral-Sadr ![]() , said he had made an "unanswered" appeal to the United Nations ...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks... to organize a "public debate" between the opposing parties in Iraq, reiterating his rejection of a "secretive meetings" with "corrupts", "those who want to kill al-Sadr", or "harm the supporters of the Sadrist movement." A member of al-Fatah parliamentary bloc, Mokhtar al-Mousawi, told Shafaq News Agency that holding the debate is contingent upon "uncovering the corrupt figures and providing solid evidence that proves their involvement in what al-Sadr accused them in his recent tweets." Al-Mousawi, however, admitted that "these conditions render the situation more complicated." "The only solution for the country's crisis is dialogue. The head of al-Fatah alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, is waiting for a meeting with the al-Sadr to be scheduled in order to lay down the foundations of a comprehensive dialogue that puts an end to the crisis," the politician added. "Talks are underway to hold a parliamentary session in one of Baghdad's University halls in al-Jadriyah. The date is yet to be determined as things stand due to the political situation." A member of the State of Law bloc, Thaer Makhif, dismissed "the ongoing political skirmishes" as "useless". "In fact, it only complicates the situation and aggravates the political impasse," he said. "The Coordination Framework has never talked the way al-Sadr talked. The Framework repeatedly called for including everyone in the process political process." A source inside Ammar al-Hakim's State Forces Alliance hinted at a rejection inside the mainly Iran-backed Shiite consortium for the conditions al-Sadr has made for engaging in the dialogue. Tensions in Iraq have escalated over the failure of political forces to agree on the formation of a government, 10 months after parliamentary elections. Some of al-Sadr's followers stormed the parliament late last month and began a sit-in, first inside the building and then on its grounds where thousands remain. Al-Sadr submitted a proposal to the UN to hold a public live-streamed dialogue session with the political parties. However, you can observe a lot just by watching... he said there was no tangible response. The Sadrist movement did not attend the dialogue session called in by caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to find a solution for the ongoing political crisis. The meeting was attended by President Barham Salih, Speaker Mohammad al-Halbousi, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zeidan, UN special representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and other politicians. Politicians both inside and outside Iraq have called for calm and dialogue between the parties as the only way to resolve the crisis amid fears that the country would slip into chaos. |
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Iraq |
Al-Khazali: some parties are trying to spread chaos in Iraq |
2022-06-14 |
[SHAFAQ] The leader in the Coordination Framework, the villainous-looking Qais al-Khazali![]() , revealed that parties working "from behind the keyboard" are trying to spread chaos in Iraq. Al-Khazali said in a televised interview that some parties were behind hindering the implementation of China's projects in the country, noting that some others worked, during the protests, to hinder the work of the German company Siemens to develop the electricity sector. "We support the citizens' demands of basic services and right to protest, but solving the country's problems cannot be done through blocking the streets", he noted, "Now that the representatives of the Sadrist bloc have resigned, we entered a new phase." "We look forward to forming a new government a choosing a Prime Minister who is capable of solving the country's economic problems, as well as other crises like drought", he added. The leader of al-Fatah coalition, Hadi al-Ameri, called on the supreme religious authority in Najaf to intervene and solve the political crisis in Iraq. Al-Ameri said in a statement, "The blessed Supreme Marja'iyah, always shows up at the right time to save the day and bring life back to normal." The President of the Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, warned of "chaos" in the aftermath of the mass resignation of the Sadrist politicians from the Iraqi parliament, urging the Kurdish parties to join hands. Barzani tweeted on Monday, "we are watching with concern the latest political updates in Iraq. We hope chaos does not prevail and the parliament represents all the Iraqis." "I urge all the Kurdish parties to unite," he added. |
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Iraq |
Al-Ameri on the Green Zone and al-Takaddom headquarters attacks: Unjustifiable |
2022-01-15 |
[SHAFAQ] The leader of al-Fatah (Conquest) alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, on Friday denounced the attacks on the parties' headquarters and the Green Zone as "unjustifiable". Al-Ameri said in a statement earlier today, "we resolutely condemn the recent attacks on the Green Zone and political parties headquarters in general." "These deeds are unjustifiable. Security forces shall carry out their duties in maintaining security, protecting the citizens and their properties." |
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Iraq |
Al-Ameri will be in charge of the talks with the Sadrist movement, source says |
2021-12-26 |
[SHAFAQ] A source in al-Fatah alliance revealed that Hadi al-Ameri, the head of the alliance and the Secretary-General of Badr Organization, will handle the part related to forming the government in the negotiations with the Sadrist bloc according to the division of labor between the Coordination Framework forces. The source told Shafaq News Agency that the leaders of the Shiite Consortium divided the talks with the other blocs into three axes. "The first axis will be handled by the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, who will hold the talks with the Kurdish forces to reach a consensual formula that satisfies all the parties and the higher interest of the country." "In the second axis, former Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi will handle the talks with all the Sunni forces to ensure their endorsement of the Framework's standpoint." "The two leaders have made a headway in the negotiation rounds held over the past few days," he said. "Al-Ameri will handle the talks with the leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada Tateral-Sadr ![]() , and the leading figures in the movement. A meeting will be held soon between both parties." "The location of the meeting is yet to be decided, but it is more likely to take place in al-Hanana, the headquarters of al-Sadr in Najaf. The meeting will be dedicated to reaching an agreement over the details related to forming the government if the latter decided to rejoin the Shiite house and form a majority that forms the upcoming national and consensual government." "The Coordination Framework is sparing no effort to bring the Sadrist movement into the Framework to form a unified Shiite Coalition that agrees upon a comprehensive national agenda." Related: Hadi al-Ameri: 2021-11-08 Resistance Factions: Sunday's attack is a strike to the majority's most important achievement Hadi al-Ameri: 2021-09-18 Good Morning Hadi al-Ameri: 2021-09-18 Leader of al-Fatah alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, lambasted the ''conspiracies'' plotting to ''dissolve'' or ''merge'' al-Hashed al-Shaabi into other security agencies |
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Iraq |
Resistance Factions: Sunday's attack is a strike to the majority's most important achievement |
2021-11-08 |
[SHAFAQ] The consortium of the Iraqi Shiite "Resistance®" factions deplored the liquidation attempt against the Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, earlier on Sunday, calling for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of this transgression.A blurb released on Sunday deemed the attack a strike to "the Iraqi state that we built with our blood, because this position exclusively is one of the most crucial institutions of the state. It is the most important achievement of the majority in the post-dictatorship era." "This deed is not concordant with our allegiance to building the Iraqi state since the fall of the dictatorship in 2003," the statement continued, "whoever perpetrated this deed is attempting to shuffle the cards; particularly as we demand a fair investigation that reveals the killers of our deaders who demonstrated peacefully on Friday." "The making of such an incident will not prevent us from our insistence upon punishing the culprits and the big parties involved in the Iraqi bloodshed." The statement called for "forming a committee with the participation of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces-PMF) to investigate this incident and announce the results." The Resistance® Factions warned of "a series that encompasses more of these acts that aim to confuse the Iraqi street and pass the results of the rigged elections to push Iraq into dangerous stages of its political, economic, and security future." In a blurb issued earlier today, Sunday, the head of al-Fatah alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, called on the security forces to investigate the circumstances of the attack and reveal the perpetrators as soon as possible. Al-Ameri warned that a "third party" has executed the drone attack on the Prime Minister's office. A drone laden with explosives targeted al-Kadhimi's residence inside the Green Zone, downtown the Iraqi capital Baghdad, early on Sunday in what the Iraqi military deemed an attempted liquidation, but said al-Kadhimi escaped unhurt. A source told Shafaq News Agency earlier that the residence of the Iraqi Premier was targeted by a rocket. The attack, which security sources said injured several members of al-Kadhimi’s personal protection team, came after protests in the Iraqi capital over the result of a general election last month turned No group immediately grabbed credit for the attack on al-Kadhimi’s residence in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies. Supporters of Iran-aligned gangs which have grown their power in parliament and government in recent years have protested the results of the October election. Demonstrations by their supporters turned The police responded with tear gas and live gunfire, killing at least one demonstrator and wounding hundreds, according to security and hospital sources in Baghdad.
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Iraq |
Leader of al-Fatah alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, lambasted the ''conspiracies'' plotting to ''dissolve'' or ''merge'' al-Hashed al-Shaabi into other security agencies |
2021-09-18 |
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Iraq |
PM Kadhimi promises to return 30,000 former PMF fighters to service |
2021-05-14 |
Promises are easy. Resurrecting paid positions — especially when the Americans are leaving, taking all their lovely money with them — is hard. [Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has promised to return former fighters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or al-Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) to service even if requires amendments to the entire budget law, state newspaper al-Sabah reported on Wednesday. Kadhimi met with MPs representing the al-Fatih coalition, led by PMF leader Hadi al-Ameri. According to al-Sabah, Kadhimi said that when his government prepared the budget law, it included budget allocations for the return of former PMF members whose contracts had been rescinded, but the parliament removed those allocations to reduce expenditure. The PM directed the "formation of a working team from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance and the [Popular] Mobilization Authority to reach a fair solution that guarantees a speedy return for them," it added. "If the matter reaches a dead end legally, the budget law will be amended as soon as possible and sent to the parliament for another vote," Kadhimi said, adding that PMF fighters "have done a favor for this country." The PMF was established in 2014 following a fatwa — of religious call to action — from Iraq’s highest Shiite religious authority, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, to fight the Islamic State ![]() Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not reallyMoslems.... (ISIS). Although the PMF has been brought under the umbrella of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and measures have been taken to fully integrate the units into Iraq’s official military apparatus, many continue to act independently, accused of committing human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... violations, along with corruption. There are no official figures for the number of PMF fighters, but the PMF itself has said it numbers up to 150,000 people. "The number of actual Hashd fighters is 48,0000, but their leaders receive the salaries of 130,000; a difference of 82,000!" Former MP Faeq al-Sheikh Ali tweeted in May 2020. Dozens of PMF fighters who had their contracts rescinded organize limited-scale demonstrations from time to another in Baghdad and other provinces. When PMF head Faleh al-Fayyad announced in April that PMF salaries had been raised to 1.4 million dinars each (980$), protests began escalating. On May 2, dozens of former PMF members demonstrated near the Finance Ministry building in Baghdad, and tried to break into it after clashing with security forces, which prompted the authorities to evacuate and close the building. The former Iraqi government, headed by Haider al-Abadi, fired many PMF members due to their failure to serve during the battles against ISIS. In May 2018, Abadi attacked the PMF, saying that there are "corrupt" leaders in it who tamper with the salaries of the PMF members, and do not allow the government to audit the numbers, records, and salaries of fighters and affiliates. Qassim al-Zubaidi, a former PMF finance official, was assassinated in Baghdad in April 2018. After his death, Abadi revealed that he received a call from Zubaidi days before his liquidation, trying to reveal corruption in distribution of PMF salaries in the committee. "Do the corrupt imagine that they are intimidating us? ... You will pay the price," Abadi said, promising to bring the corrupt to justice, but that never happened. Related: Mustafa al-Kadhimi: 2021-05-10 Al-Kadhimi responds to ''demonization attempts'', and reiterates his position of unlawful arms Mustafa al-Kadhimi: 2021-05-05 Senior officer arrested by Abu Ragheef Committee Mustafa al-Kadhimi: 2021-04-26 Ibn Khatib hospital Director arrested, the Supreme Judicial Council announces Related: Popular Mobilization Forces: 2021-05-08 Iraqi President Stresses: PMF Must Be Subject to State Authority Popular Mobilization Forces: 2021-05-02 Iraqi Army, PMF repel ISIS attacks in Diyala Popular Mobilization Forces: 2021-04-27 ISIS terrorist apprehended in Baghdad, six villages cleared in Nineveh, 5 PMF men kaboomed |
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Iraq |
Iraqi president rejects prime minister nominee, threatens to resign |
2019-12-27 |
[Rudaw] Iraqi President Barham Salih submitted his resignation letter to parliament in the face of pressure from the Bina coalition to name Basra’s current governor as the next Prime Minister of Iraq. The pro-Iran Bina coalition claims to be the largest bloc in Iraqi parliament. According to the Iraqi constitution, the largest bloc in parliament has the constitutional prerogative to select Iraq’s new prime minister. The coalition, headed by Hadi al-Ameri and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, nominated Basra governor Asaad al-Aidani. They sent a letter to President Salih requesting that he assign al-Aidani to lead Iraq’s new cabinet. |
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Iraq |
Iraqi protesters rally after night of arson attacks |
2019-12-26 |
[AlAhram] Iraqi anti-government protesters again hit the streets Wednesday, angered by an activist's death and an attempt on the life of a popular TV satirist. The latest rallies in Baghdad and cities including Basra and Karbala came after a night of unrest that saw protesters torch the headquarters of two pro-Iran ![]() spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word Iranis a cognate form of Aryan,the abbreviation IRGCis a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA),the term Supreme Guideis a cognate form of either Shahor Führeror maybe both, and they hate militias in the country's south. The demonstrators have rallied for almost three months to demand the ouster of the entire political class that has run the oil-rich yet poverty-ridden country in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion which overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein. The mostly youthful activists accuse Iraq's leaders of enriching themselves, mismanaging the economy and being beholden to powerful neighbour Iran, an influential actor in Iraqi politics. Passions were inflamed when popular TV satirist Aws Fadhil was targeted Tuesday by unknown assailants, with three bullets hitting his car. Fadhil posted footage of the bullet holes on social media and declared: "They are targeting those who support the revolution, to silence them ... But we are continuing our revolution." He added that "we have already achieved a goal", referring to a parliamentary vote Tuesday to approve an electoral reform law, in line with the demands of the protesters. Lawmakers will from now be elected in first-past-the-post contests within electoral districts, rather than through a complex system using provincial party lists and proportional representation. Constituencies will also be redrawn, though it was unclear how and critics feared the new boundaries could be biased toward major parties and tribal groups. ARSON ATTACKS Despite the reform steps, protesters again rallied Wednesday -- including in the city of Diwaniyah, where they marched under a large Iraqi flag to mourn a prominent activist, Thaer al-Tayeb. A suspicious explosion hit Tayeb's car on December 15, badly wounding him and fellow activist Ali al-Madani, in Tayeb's hometown 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Baghdad. After Tayeb's death in hospital was announced Tuesday, crowds of demonstrators rushed to the two headquarters of pro-Iran militias in Diwaniyah and torched them. First they set fire to the building of the powerful Badr organization, run by the parliamentary head of the pro-Iran paramilitaries, Hadi al-Ameri. Then they burnt the headquarters of Assaib Ahl al-Haq, a group whose head Qais al-Khazali is subject to sanctions by the United States, accused of "kidnapping, murder and torture". Protesters also blocked roads with burning car tyres in the southern city of Basra. POLITICAL DEADLOCK Around 460 people have been killed, most of them protesters, since the start of the demonstrations in early October and 25,000 have been maimed. But rallies have continue despite the campaign of intimidation, assassinations and abductions of activists, which the United Nations ...boodling on the grand scale... blames on militias. After dwindling in recent weeks, the protest campaign has recovered its vigour at a time when political factions are wrangling over a replacement for outgoing premier Adel Abdel Mahdi. He quit in November but still serves as caretaker. Negotiations to fill the premier's post have remained deadlocked since the latest in a series of deadlines expired at midnight on Sunday. Related: Baghdad: 2019-12-25 Iraqi protesters' ire at Iran extends to goods boycott Baghdad: 2019-12-25 Jihadist rebels refuse to surrender Ma’arat Al-Nu’man to Syrian Army after peace talks Baghdad: 2019-12-24 Car bomb kills two soldiers in western Iraq Related: Basra: 2019-12-18 Iraqi Protesters in Basra chanting slogans against Qusai Al-Suhail, Al-Fateh new candidate for the Iraq's premiership Basra: 2019-12-15 Protesters in #Basra chant against the nomination of Mohamed al-Sudani as prime minister Basra: 2019-12-15 Pompeo warns Iran after proxy attacks in Iraq Related: Karbala: 2019-12-22 Iraq: protesters burn SpecOps HQs, attempt to storm govt building Karbala: 2019-12-17 Backer of Iraq anti-government protests killed in Baghdad Karbala: 2019-12-15 Security forces use hot water cannons to scatter the demonstrators in front of the provincial Council building in #Karbala Related: Diwaniyah: 2019-12-24 Anti-Iran protesters demonstrate in Iraq Diwaniyah: 2019-12-23 Thousands protest in Iraq as deadline for new PM looms Diwaniyah: 2019-12-08 Tensions flare as gunmen kill 17 protesters in Baghdad |
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Iraqi paramilitaries threaten ‘revenge’ after offices torched |
2019-10-27 |
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The heads of powerful Iraqi paramilitary factions threatened they would take "Dire Revenge" on Saturday after their offices in the south of the country were torched during deadly protests. Demonstrators set fire to dozens of government buildings and offices belonging to the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) militias better known as Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary force across southern cities late Friday. In Missan province, the headquarters of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the PMU militias, was torched and a leading commander of the group reportedly killed. Wissam al-Alyawi was later pronounced dead by the group, after footage circulated online showing him writhing in an ambulance as a crowd of men tried to break into it. Asaib chief Qais al-Khazaali was in Baghdad on Saturday for the funeral procession of Alyawi and his brother Issam, apparently killed in the same incident. "His blood is on America and Israel’s hands, but I will take Dire Revenge - many times over," Khazaali told mourners, holding back tears as he stood next to their wailing mother. "This blood is proof to all our people of the size of the conspiracy that is targeting us," he said. Dozens of PMUs fighters were gathered in military fatigues for the procession in central Baghdad, just a few districts south of where protests were taking place in Tahrir (Liberation) Square. Another paramilitary force, Saraya al-Salam, had also been spotted in Baghdad in recent days after their leader ![]() Tateral-Sadr ... the Iranian catspaw holy man who was 22 years old in 2003 and was nearing 40 in 2010. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah... threw his weight behind the demonstrations. The Badr Organization, a powerful Iranian-backed gang whose offices were set alight in the southern city of Diwaniyah, also blamed Israel and the United States for Alyawi’s death. "They don’t want a stable Iraq. They want to pull it into discord and chaos," said its head Hadi al-Ameri, who also attended the funeral. And Harakat Nujaba, an Iraqi paramilitary faction close to Iran, warned protesters to stay peaceful. "Take a careful look, and let us be united," it said in an online statement. Related: Popular Mobilization Units: 2019-10-18 Iran-backed militias used snipers in Iraq to help quell recent protests – report Popular Mobilization Units: 2019-10-11 Iraqi PM vows to reshuffle cabinet, probe into killings Popular Mobilization Units: 2019-10-09 Iran sent thousands of troops to Iraq for Shia pilgrimage: Iranian commander Related: Hashd al-Shaabi: 2019-10-18 Syria will respond through all legitimate means to Turkish aggression: Assad Hashd al-Shaabi: 2019-10-05 Al-Sadr calls on Mahdi government to quit, to be followed by snap elections Hashd al-Shaabi: 2019-10-02 One killed, 200 wounded in Iraq’s anti-government protests Related: Qais al-Khazaali: 2018-01-24 Iraqi militia: Lebanese arrest order for commander ‘politicized’ Qais al-Khazaali: 2017-12-12 Who is Qais al-Khazaali, godfather of Iranian-backed Shiite militias? Qais al-Khazaali: 2017-09-03 Barzani vows ‘strong’ response to any attempt to seize Kirkuk Related: Saraya al-Salam: 2019-09-03 Sadrist militias kill eight Islamic State militants in central Iraq Saraya al-Salam: 2019-08-28 Armed group threatens US military, civilian sites in Iraq Saraya al-Salam: 2019-06-24 Iraqi militiamen foil Islamic State plot to infiltrate into Salahuddin |
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