Iraq’s Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq group shuts offices after clashes

BAGHDAD (AA) – The leader of Shia Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq group, Qais al-Khazali, on Thursday ordered the closure of the armed faction's offices across Iraq until further notice.

The move came after deadly clashes with Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades), a militia affiliated with Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, that left four people dead.

"I ask the brothers in Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq to close all the movement's offices, starting from now and until further notice," al-Khazali tweeted.

Earlier on Thursday, Saleh Muhammad al-Iraqi, who is close to al-Sadr, sent a strongly worded message to al-Khazali, warning him following the recent clashes.

The violence first erupted in the southern city of Basra on Wednesday after a member of Saraya al-Salam was killed in clashes with Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is one of the forces affiliated with the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia factions close to Iran.

Disputes between the coalition and al-Sadr have prevented the formation of a new government in Iraq since the last elections on Oct. 10, 2021.

More than 30 protesters were killed on Monday when supporters of al-Sadr stormed the Republican Palace, where the government is seated in Baghdad after the firebrand leader said he was stepping down from politics.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat