Associate of Iraq’s al-Sadr killed by unknown attackers

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD (AA) - An associate of Shia cleric and politician Muqtada al-Sadr was killed by unidentified gunmen last night in Iraq’s southern Najaf province, a local police source told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

“Unknown attackers stormed Shawki Haddad’s home in the city of Kufa, gunning him down before fleeing the scene,” a Najaf police lieutenant told Anadolu Agency anonymously as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Haddad was killed instantly, the police officer said.

Investigations have since been launched into the incident, he added, the motive of which remains unclear.

Haddad was a leading member of al-Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam, a component of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi group.

A predominantly Shia fighting force, the Hashd al-Shaabi was formally incorporated into the Iraqi Armed Forces last year.

Notably, Haddad’s assassination comes only days after al-Sadr disbanded most of Saraya al-Salam’s fighting units.

Al-Sadr's Sairoon coalition won the highest number of parliamentary seats -- 54 -- in May 12 polls, results of which are now being recounted due to widespread allegations of electoral fraud.