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