Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Iraq

Sadiqoun bloc condemns alleged entry of 2,500 US Soldiers into Iraq, citing sovereignty violation

2023-08-16

[Shafaq News] The Sadiqoun Parliamentary Bloc, linked to the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement led by Qais Khazali, expressed apprehension over reports of the alleged arrival of 2,500 American soldiers within Iraqi borders.

The group contends that this development violates Iraqi illusory sovereignty and the existing strategic security accord between Baghdad and Washington.

Hassan Salem, a spokesperson for the Sadiqoun Bloc, informed Shafaq News agency that the American soldiers have purportedly taken up positions at the Ain al-Assad air base. Salem noted that it remains uncertain whether this troop movement occurred with or without the knowledge of the Iraqi government.

Salem underscored that Iraq had previously conveyed to the United States that combat forces "are unnecessary" within its territory. He emphasized that any foreign military presence should be limited to roles focused on training and advisory capacities.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia'a al-Sudani, who also serves as the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, restated Iraq's position that foreign combat forces are not presently required within the country. He indicated that Iraq is actively engaged in ongoing dialogues to shape the future nature of its relationship and collaboration with the Global Coalition.

The United States has maintained involvement in Iraq for over two decades. The initial invasion in 2003, justified by the George W. Bush administration as a response to perceived weapons of mass destruction development, led to the subsequent occupation and a protracted conflict destabilizing the nation.

The aftermath created conditions conducive to the rise of terrorist entities like ISIS. While no weapons of mass destruction were ultimately found, the conflict's repercussions were substantial.

Following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011, they returned in 2014 to aid in the fight against ISIS.

After discussions with U.S. President Joe The Big Guy Biden
Joe <q>The Big Guy</q> Biden

...46th president of the U.S. S I'm not working for you. Don't be such a horse's ass....
in Washington, former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi later announced that Iraq no longer requires international combat forces. al-Kadhimi declared that Iraqi security forces are now sufficiently equipped to safeguard the nation against external threats. He also highlighted that international combat forces have generated tensions and resentment among the Iraqi populace.

At the time, Biden conveyed respect for the Iraqi government's decision.

Currently, the United States maintains a limited military presence in Iraq while continuing to offer military assistance and training to the Iraqi government. Diplomatic ties persist, and the two nations uphold a strategic partnership.

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Iraq

Political Frictions Surface Among Shiite Armed Factions Ahead of Iraq's Provincial Council Elections

2023-06-23

[Shafaq News] An informed political source on Wednesday said mounting disagreements armed factions backing political parties vying in the upcoming Provincial Council Elections in Iraq.

The Iraqi government had declared on Tuesday the rescheduling of the Provincial Council Elections, previously set for November 6, to December 18. These local elections, held a decade since their last occurrence, will include 15 provinces, excluding the autonomous Kurdistan region.
An insider informed Shafaq News Agency of a proposal that has been under discussion to revive the Fatah Alliance —an umbrella of political movements that posses armed wings— along with the inclusion of the Ataa Alliance led by Faleh al-Fayyad, head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

The proposal was met with approval from the Sa'iroon bloc, led by Ammar al-Hakim, as well as the Ataa Alliance and other political powers. However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well...
it involved distancing the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement and urging its independent list participation, triggering concerns among factions about the Asa'ib gaining a majority of local seats within this alliance. The source indicated that no final decision has been reached, and ongoing discussions persist on this matter.

On the backdrop of unprecedented popular protests peaking in the fall of 2019, the Iraqi parliament voted to dissolve these councils and end their mandate, with protesters accusing them of corruption.

According to the Iraqi constitution, provincial councils wield broad authorities. They operate independently, without being subject to the control or supervision of any ministry, and possess extensive administrative and financial powers.

"These discussions are a testament to the dynamic and evolving nature of Iraqi politics," said the source. "The alliances are not yet finalized and could shift drastically based on the changing political climate and public sentiment."

Link

Good Morning

2023-05-13

Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney
'can't sleep' over Bud Light backlash

Saturday May 13th, 2023

Prigozhin says Russian troops are %u201Cfleeing%u201D near Ukraine%u2019s Bakhmut.

TrudyGermiMissIllinois1949_group

Border officials encountered 'inoperable destructive device' at Arizona border		Qais al-Khazali stirs controversy, claiming that Israel%u2019s Mossad was behind the murder of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib 1,300 years ago
Palestinian militants fire rockets toward Jerusalem		Pentagon will send %u201Creinforcements%u201D to the Gulf due to Iranian threats to interfere with commercial shipping in the Middle East
Largest Colombian %u201Cnarco sub%u201D ever recorded decommissioned in the Pacific, with three tons of cocaine found on board		ISIS reveals toll of operations in Syria, Iraq, Africa, Asia

Army officer says squatter moved into her DeKalb home while she was on duty, now she can't evict him

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Qais al-Khazali stirs controversy, claiming that Israel’s Mossad was behind the murder of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib 1,300 years ago

2023-05-13

Damn, that Mossad is good!

[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

The leader of #Iraq’s Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, Qais al-Khazali, stirs controversy after claiming that Israel’s #Mossad was behind the murder of #ImamAli bin Abi Talib who was assassinated over 1,300 years ago.https://t.co/cYw8FHwUtS
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 12, 2023

Link

Iraq

A leading figure in the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement pits al-Sudani against al-Maliki: source

2023-01-30

[SHAFAQ] A leading figure in the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement has pitted Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani against a patron of the Shiite Coordination Framework, a source from inside the mainly Iran-backed Shiite consortium revealed on Sunday.

According to the source, Prime Minister al-Sudani nominated the officer in charge of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq's organizations in al-Karkh, Mohannad Shaker, for the upcoming governorate Council elections.

"Al-Maliki, who deems himself the Coordination Framework's leader and the patron of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, was not pleased with the move," the source said, "al-Maliki wants to keep the nomination power exclusive to himself, and such a moved is a mutiny from his point of view."

"Al-Sudani, and some of the Framework's leaders share his view, rejects al-Maliki's monopoly," the source continued.

"Purportedly, the leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, the villainous-looking Qais al-Khazali
the villainous-looking <span class=Inverse>Qais al-Khazali</span>

the villainous-looking <span class=Inverse>Qais al-Khazali</span>

......sinister-looking Iranian stooge, Secretary General of Persian proxy militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, wannabe Nasrallah......
, stands at the midpoint, but he signaled an unpronounced backing to al-Sudani by forming a list along with other members of the Coordination Framework," the source said.

Al-Sudani's ties with the Coordination Framework have always been marred by sporadic disagreements. On January 28, 2022, al-Sudani made a set of decisions without consulting the Coordination Framework's commission, which unnerved al-Maliki and other leaders.

Link

Iraq

Doors of the CF are always open to the Sadrist movement, leader of AAH, Qais al-Khazali

2022-09-28

[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

The doors of the CF are always open to the Sadrist movement, leader of AAH, Qais al-Khazali, said.

In a statement to Shafaq News, al-Khazali said, "to overcome the political stalemate, dialogue is a must. Without dialogue, it is impossible."
Read more: https://t.co/Nmhys1VJnm pic.twitter.com/D5KZO5RD8C
— SHAFAQ News (@Shafaqnews) September 27, 2022

Link

Iraq

Al-Khazali calls for an investigation into the killing of an Iraqi child by US troops in Baghdad

2022-09-21

[SHAFAQ] The leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais al-Khazali, on Tuesday called for an immediate investigation into the killing of a 15 years old Iraqi girl by US troops near Baghdad's international airport.

A statement by the Shiite clergyman demanded "the security and intelligence bodies to present a detailed report that explains to the Iraqis the consequences of this cowardly deed, how does a US military base exist on Iraq's soil against the provisions of its constitution in a flagrant violation of its illusory sovereignty, how do they use live bullets, under the pretext of training, inside the neighborhoods?"

Earlier today, media outlets close to the Iran-backed movement reported the death of Zeinab Isam Majed al-Khazali, 15, due to a "random shooting" by US troops in a training field near the Baghdad Airport.

Link

Iraq

Al-Khazali shutdowns the offices of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement in Iraq

2022-09-02

[ShafaqNews] The leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais al-Khazali, urged his supporters to avoid getting involved in media and security brawls with the supporters of the Sadrist movement, ordering an immediate shut down of the movement's offices all over Iraq.

Al-Khazali's remarks came after overnight festivities between proponents of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement and members of the pro-Sadrist Saraya al-Salam (The Peace Companies) in the southern governorate of Basra. Four persons were killed in the festivities, according to security sources.

In a tweet he posted earlier today, al-Khazali urged his supporters to avoid friction with rival parties ahead of the Arbaeen anniversary.

"Some are waiting and seeking an opportunity to aggravate the situation. Do not give them this opportunity and abort their plot with silence," he tweeted.

The Shiite holy man commanded a "full closure" of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement all over Iraq. "If they want to burn an office, let them do it. Please do not care about it. God will repay you more than what you expect," he added.

Earlier today, a self-proclaimed advisor of Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
Moqtada <q>Tater</q> al-Sadr

...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival al-Khoei assassinated shortly after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
lashed out at the leader of the Iran-backed Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement in the aftermath of the Basra festivities.

"I warn you, Qais. If you do not harness your impudent militias, disown the killers and criminals affiliated with you, or announce that they do not belong to you, then you are impudent too," Salih Mohammad al-Iraqi, who runs a Twitter account named "the leader's advisor" and is widely believed to be al-Sadr's mouthpiece, tweeted.

Link

Iraq

Suspected clashes between rival Shiite factions erupt in Basra

2022-09-02

[Rudaw] Clashes reportedly broke out between rival Shiite militia groups in Iraq’s southern city of Basra on Thursday morning, days after deadly fighting between militias of Shiite holy man Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival, al-Khoei, assassinated only a few hours after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
and Iran-backed factions in Baghdad left at least 30 people killed.

A well-informed civil society source, who requested complete anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, told Rudaw English that Sadr-affiliated Saraya al-Salam and pro-Iran
Iran

...The nation is noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence...
Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) engaged in heavy confrontations which continued from 2am to 6:30am on Thursday morning in Basra, adding that the number of casualties remains unknown.

Videos circulating on social media and various telegram channels linked to both sides purportedly showed festivities continuing on Thursday morning, despite Sadr calling on his supporters to withdraw and end the violence on Tuesday.

Sources told Rudaw that the fighting broke out in response to the killing of a member of Saraya al-Salam outside the offices of Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

The Iraqi Security Media Cell said "conflicting reports" have been circulated on social media regarding the incident in Basra, confirming the death of one and the injury of another, without specifying the nature of the festivities or naming any parties involved.

Security forces have arrested a number of suspects and the situation is under control, the statement added.

The source that spoke to Rudaw English claimed that the authorities in Basra represent certain political parties, and believed that there may have been attempts to "cover" the incident as to not incite further instability, particularly at a time of soaring tension.

Salih Mohammed al-Iraqi, a close associate of Sadr, later in the day "warned" the villainous-looking Qais al-Khazali
......sinister-looking Iranian stooge, Secretary General of Persian proxy militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, wannabe Nasrallah......
, secretary-general of AAH, to restrain his "disrespectful militias" and "mad dogs."

"If you don’t absolve yourself from the killers and criminals following you or prove that they do not belong to you then you are disrespectful too," said Iraqi.

Khazali responded to Iraqi’s statement, telling his supporters to refrain from negatively responding to the comments that have been made about him, and asking the AAH to close down all of their offices "until further notice."

"Any office that they want to burn, let them burn it and do not care about that, because God will compensate you more than you would expect," Khazali said.

Clashes between Saraya al-Salam and Iran-backed militia groups broke out on Monday after Sadr announced he was quitting politics. Heavy gunfire took place inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, with footage on social media depicting both sides using heavy machine guns. The fighting also spread to other Iraqi provinces, including Basra. According to the latest numbers by AFP, 30 people were killed and 500 others were maimed as a result of the ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful festivities.

AAH is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), an umbrella group of Shiite paramilitary forces that was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(ISIS) under a fatwa from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. A number of forces within the umbrella group are backed by Iran.

Saraya al-Salam was founded by Sadr himself in 2014 and considered as a revived version of Sadr’s Mahdi army, bully boyz who fought the Americans following their invasion in 2003.

Link

Iraq

Al-Khazali calls for new elections, amending the law; Iranian catspaw’s political wing withdraws from parliament

2022-06-25

[SHAFAQ] The Secretary-General of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, called on the political forces to reach a political agreement for reelection.

Al-Khazali considered that the resignation of the Sadrist bloc's deputies made the problem "deeper and more complicated," stressing, "it is not possible to form a government in these circumstances, and it can't succeed."

"I call for a political agreement to reelection after amending the electoral law, canceling electronic voting, and making essential changes in the High Electoral Commission." He added.

Yesterday, Iraq's parliament swore in 64 new politicians to replace 73 members of a bloc led by Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
Moqtada <q>Tater</q> al-Sadr

...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival al-Khoei assassinated shortly after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
after the influential Shiite Moslem holy man asked them to step down amid a prolonged stalemate over forming a government.

Party linked to Iran-backed militia withdraws from Iraqi parliament

[Rudaw] The political wing of the Iran-backed militia Kataib

Hezbollah on Thursday announced its withdrawal from the Iraqi parliament, refusing to fill the vacant seats left by previously resigned Sadrist MPs.

Hussein Muanas, head of the Huquq Movement, announced in a video statement on Thursday the resignation of the political bloc from the Iraqi parliament.

"We have made a decision to withdraw from the Council of Representatives and not fill the seats of the resigned MPS because we will not become substitutes for the brothers in the Sadrist bloc," said Muanas.

Muanas added that their withdrawal does not affect their support for the formation of an Iraqi government, stressing that the party will not "deviate" from representing the people.

The withdrawal of Huquq comes as influential Shiite holy man and leader of the Sadrist Movement Moqtada Tater al-Sadr on Wednesday urged the parliamentary blocs not to be intimidated by the "illegal" pressures, referring to Iran, asking political parties to take a "brave stance for reformation and saving the homeland."

Huquq, an ally of the Coordination Framework, had secured one seat following Iraq’s October elections and were bound to get five additional seats following the resignation of the Sadrists earlier this month.

The movement refrained from attending the parliament’s exceptional session on Thursday where a total of 64 new members of the Iraqi parliament were sworn in, replacing the majority of the resigned MPs. Nine seats remain vacant.

Sadr asked all 73 MPs of his bloc to submit their resignations to the parliament’s speaker on June 12, in an effort to put an end to the political impasse that has plagued Iraq since October’s elections. The resignations were approved by Mohammed al-Halbousi soon after.

Iraq continues to be shrouded in political instability with the country yet to form its next government a staggering eight months following the October elections.

The Coordination Framework was the Sadrist Movement’s most formidable opponent before the withdrawal of the latter, opposing Sadr’s attempts at forming a national majority government and insisting on forming a government based on political consensus.

Link

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
the villainous-looking <span class=Inverse>Qais al-Khazali</span>

......sinister-looking Iranian stooge, Secretary General of Persian proxy militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, wannabe Nasrallah......
, 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.

Link

Iraq

US sentences Asaib Ahl al-Haq former member to four years in prison

2022-05-08

[Rudaw] A former member of an Iran-backed Shiite militia group was sentenced to four years in prison by the US on Friday for "lying" to US officials during his immigration application process, announced the Department of Justice late Friday.

The 36-year-old Chasib Hafedh Saadoon al-Fawadi, an Iraqi who lives in New York, was sentenced to 48 months in prison after allegedly admitting to submitting false information to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services while applying for permanent residency in the country in 2017, stated the US Department of Justice.

Al-Fawadi had previously denied being a member of any groups engaged in ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful activities, but was later revealed that he had been a member of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) militia group until he migrated to the US in 2016, according to the Department.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), an umbrella group of Shiite paramilitary forces that was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(ISIS) under a fatwa from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. A number of forces within the umbrella group are backed by Iran.

US State Department designated the AAH as a terrorist organization in January 2020 and its leaders the villainous-looking Qais al-Khazali
......sinister-looking Iranian stooge, Secretary General of Persian proxy militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, wannabe Nasrallah......
and Laith al-Khazali as terrorists.

The statement added that as a part of the murderous Moslem group, al-Fawadi had travelled to Syria in 2013 to engage in combat operations that supported the Syrian regime. "Al Fawadi concealed his travel to Syria, Iran, and Jordan when he applied for refugee classification and again in his application for permanent resident status," read the statement.

The former member of the AAH claimed during his immigration application that he was being persecuted by the AAH for refusing to help the murderous Moslem group in kidnapping Sunni citizens of Iraq.

Investigation into al-Fawadi’s case by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI
FBI

...Formerly one of the world's premier criminal investigation organizations, something for a nation to be proud of. Now it's a political arm of the Deep State oligarchy that is willing to trump up charges, suppress evidence, or take out insurance policies come election time...
) and Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations began in September 2020. He will be removed from the US upon his release from the federal prison without any further immigrations proceedings, according to his sentence.

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