Latest news with #AsaibAhlal-Haq
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader denies role in Kurdistan salary crisis
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali pushed back against Kurdish media reports implicating him to the federal government's salary freeze in the Kurdistan Region, calling the claims 'false.' Delivering Eid al-Adha sermon, al-Khazali referenced official data showing poverty rates in Kurdistan surpassing the national average and attributed the rising number of Kurdish refugees abroad to repeated salary delays. 'Employees in the Region have yet to receive their pay.' He emphasized equal rights and responsibilities for all Iraqis but criticized some Kurdish leaders for what he described as 'weak commitment' to national unity, asserting, 'Many in Kurdistan's leadership are not fully invested in a unified Iraq.' Turning to broader challenges, al-Khazali blamed post-2003 governments for 'failing' to improve essential services despite Iraq's wealth, stressing the need for genuine reform. 'The country is on the path to healing, but it needs sincere efforts from all who hold responsibility.' He also warned of unprecedented electricity shortages this summer, blaming past administrations for focusing only on boosting output while ignoring energy conservation. 'There's been no serious effort to promote responsible consumption,' he argued, cautioning that political actors may exploit the crisis. On water scarcity, al-Khazali highlighted record-low river levels—the worst since 1930 — and urged immediate support for farmers in southern Iraq, calling for compensation and long-term solutions to prevent rural economic collapse.
Gulf Insider
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Iraqis Outraged By Visit Of Syrian Leader Jolani Over al-Qaeda Past
Safaa Rashid was barely an adult in 2005 when an explosion ripped through the Iraqi capital Baghdad, killing his 21-year-old cousin, a university student who was working part-time at an electrical goods shop in the city's center. 'A suicide bomber stormed the market and detonated his explosive belt, killing my cousin and dozens of innocent people in an instant,' said Rashid, now 38 and still living in Baghdad. 'He was just at the beginning of his life.' Safaa lost two other cousins that same year in blasts that were attributed to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), the armed group that would evolve into ISI, the Islamic State in Iraq (later just Islamic State), and is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in Iraq and abroad. One of those who joined AQI's campaign at the time was a young Syrian named Ahmed al-Sharaa, who later would reappear in his homeland under the name Abu Mohammed al-Jolani and last year successfully overthrew President Bashar al-Assad to become Syria's new ruler. Although Sharaa has since disavowed his time in al-Qaeda [in terms of public rhetoric at least], his possible presence at an Arab League summit in Baghdad next month has provoked outrage from victims of AQI and its successors, as well as dozens of MPs who are trying to prevent his attendance. 'Jolani is the face of terrorism,' said Rashid. 'He must be held accountable – I lost three cousins to his group's violence…how can someone like this be welcomed as if he were an honoured guest?' 'Premature' meeting? Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said last week that he had formally invited Sharaa to attend the upcoming summit, which is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on May 17. The two also met in Qatar last week for the first time since the overthrow of Assad. Although the Iraqi government had been one of the few in the region to continuously maintain relations with Sharaa's predecessor, Iraq like many other Arab states appears to be trying to integrate post-Assad Syria diplomatically, possibly hoping to end the instability unleashed by the country's 13-year war. But the extension of the invitation has outraged many. Iraqi media reported that at least 50 MPs from Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah – two Iran-backed armed political factions that provided military support to Assad against Sharaa and other Syrian opposition groups – have filed criminal complaints in Iraqi courts against the Syrian president. Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council has yet to take any official action and previously issued a statement saying that several complaint documents circulating on social media were fake and invalid. Nevertheless, it has led Asaib Ahl al-Haq's leader, Qais al-Khazali, to brand Sharaa's invite 'premature', warning there could be a diplomatic incident between the 'brotherly nations' should he be arrested. 'In light of this, and in accordance with the principle of separation of powers, the decisions of the Iraqi judiciary must be adhered to and respected by all,' he wrote on X. Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior Kataib Hezbollah figure, meanwhile described Sharaa as a 'convict'. Change of attitude Sharaa travelled from Damascus to Baghdad in 2003 to join al-Qaeda shortly before the US-led invasion that toppled President Saddam Hussein. Though he has denied being close to the group's leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, other outlets have claimed he quickly rose through the ranks to a senior position. During the insurgency against US-led forces in Iraq, AQI was responsible for numerous sectarian atrocities across the country, triggered by the group bombing al-Askari Shrine in Samarra on 22 February 2006. Zarqawi had earlier declared all-out war on Iraqi Shias, 'wherever they are in Iraq'. Sharaa has argued his time in AQI was more about gaining fighting experience and defending Iraqis than building a caliphate or imposing al-Qaeda's harsh variant of Islamic law. 'There was a massive Arab and Islamic response to the American intervention,' he told The Rest Is Politics podcast. He added that during his time in a range of US-run facilities, including the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, his attitude towards the conflict changed and he began to fall out with other al-Qaeda members over their support for overt sectarianism. Iraqi Telegram accounts linked to pro-Iran groups have posted documents they say further implicate Sharaa in AQI's actions, though they also suggested Sharaa was released from an Iraqi prison for lack of evidence. Former ISIS terrorist Jolani who is now president of Syria was released from prison just days before the first colour revolution protests in Syria (March 3, 2011.) He was arrested on May 14, 2005, by U.S. occupation forces in Iraq and held at Camp first 'protests'… — Syrian Girl (@Partisangirl) April 18, 2025 The Islamic Dawa Party, which held the prime ministership during the bulk of the AQI and ISI insurgency, also warned against inviting Sharaa to Iraq. Though they did not mention the prime minister by name, they said that anyone invited to the Arab League conference should have a 'spotless' legal record both at home and abroad. In a statement on Sunday, they also drew comparisons with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the outstanding arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court over the war in Gaza. 'The same should be done in Iraq towards those who have committed heinous crimes against its people, whatever the excuses, out of respect for Iraqi blood and in loyalty to the martyrs who gave their lives for the nation's dignity and honour,' said the party. 'A significant step' Although many of Syria's neighbours have tried to rebuild links with the country following Assad's defeat, much of the international community has continued to be wary, not least after the recent outbreak of sectarian violence on the country's west coast. The violence in Latakia, which erupted after attacks by Assad loyalists on pro-government forces, has seen widespread killings of hundreds of members of the Alawi religious minority by armed groups. Sharaa condemned the killings and has sought to calm tensions through dialogue, but the attacks have again raised the spectre of sectarian violence and drawn parallels with the Sunni-Shia bloodshed that devastated Iraq in the mid-2000s. Not everyone has opposed diplomatic meetings with Sharaa. A number of MPs have emphasised the need for dialogue between the two countries after decades of violence. Click here to read more…
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
CF on the brink: Disputes divide Iraqi bloc
Shafaq News/ Divisions have deepened within Iraq's Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) following a tense meeting, marked by absences and disagreements over relations with Syria and upcoming parliamentary elections. A source from the bloc told Shafaq News that Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, did not attend, while Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, left early due to disputes, particularly over Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's push to expand ties with the government of Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Shara. Al-Sudani defended the move, saying closer cooperation with Damascus would improve border security, curb ISIS infiltration, and reduce US pressure. Separately, plans for a new electoral bloc, Tahaluf Qarar (Decision Alliance), have unraveled before its formal launch. Disagreements between al-Sudani and Hadi al-Ameri led to a decision to contest the November 11 vote on separate lists, sources said. Talks with Sanad bloc leader Ahmad al-Asadi also broke down amid disputes over the leadership of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and a now-withdrawn draft law on the group. The alliance was to include Sudani's al-Furatin bloc, al-Amiri's Badr Organization, and PMF chief Faleh al-Fayyad. Further talks were held with al-Asadi, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada leader Abu Ala al-Wala'i, and the Huqooq bloc, linked to Kataib Hezbollah. Growing friction has led groups such as State of Law, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and the Wisdom Movement (Tayyar al-Hikma) to consider running independently, while leaving the door open to post-election unification. As Shiite factions prepare for the vote, pressure is mounting on armed groups to fully integrate into the PMF, part of what sources described as a shift toward 'full political engagement.' The developments come amid US threats of further sanctions on Iran-aligned groups and renewed calls for Iraq to enforce state control over all weapons.
Rudaw Net
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Khazali says Israel seeks to ‘separate' Kurdish territories in Iraq, Syria
Also in Iraq Baghdad captures major drug dealer amid ongoing anti-narcotics efforts Tribal violence leaves 1 killed, 8 injured in Basra Mission of global coalition forces in Iraq to end by 2026: Security Media Cell Iraq to begin implementing land return law 'within two months:' Minister A+ A- SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region - Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), said on Monday that Israel's main objective in allegedly reshaping the Middle East is to 'support the separation' of Kurdish territories in Iraq and Syria. Delivering an Eid al-Fitr sermon, Khazali stated that Israel's so-called 'David Corridor,' a project aimed at expanding Israeli control to the Euphrates River, involves 'parts of the Iraqi borders and Iraqi lands.' 'Its goal … is to reach the Kurdish lands in Iraq and Syria, considering the ongoing cooperation [between Israel and the Kurds],' Khazali alleged, adding that the plan involves supporting the Kurds to separate from Iraq and Syria. 'The Israeli incursion and occupation of Syrian territory… are primarily aimed at realizing their ambitions to occupy Syrian territory and achieve the greater goal of reaching the Euphrates River,' he continued. The Kurdish-controlled territories in northeast Syria (Rojava) run along the Euphrates River, with the southeastern part under the control of the new Syrian administration headed by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Khazali's comments come amid increasing Israeli incursions into Syria. AAH is designated as a 'terrorist organization' by Washington because of its alleged ties to Iran and attacks on US and coalition forces. Israel in Syria In late March, a deadly Israeli airstrike on the southern province of Daraa drew international condemnation from regional and global powers such as Germany, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it was targeting 'several terrorists who opened fire toward them,' adding that they launched airstrikes on two military bases in Syria's central Homs province to destroy "military capabilities" in the area. Damascus said six were killed in the Daraa attack. Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, expressed concern in the Security Council on Tuesday about 'Israeli statements on its intention to stay in Syria' and its demands for southern Syria to be demilitarized. Since Assad's ouster in early December, Israel has scrambled to destroy Damascus's military stockpiles. It also sent troops across the border into a buffer zone east of the annexed Golan Heights, justifying the move as a precaution amid the political instability in Syria. Throughout the Syrian civil war, as well, Israel carried out hundreds of strikes, often justifying them under the pretext of targeting pro-Iran armed groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, which supported toppled president Bashar al-Assad at the time. In early February, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Syria's new rulers to respect minority rights, including those of the Druze, Kurds, and Alawites. Minorities in Syria In early March, however, Damascus faced widespread condemnation after a violent crackdown on Assad loyalists in the coastal Alawite-majority areas, where at least 1,500 people were killed - mostly civilians - according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. The Kurds in Rojava and the Druze in southern Syria have been firm in demanding decentralization in post-Bashar al-Assad Syria, despite Damascus rejecting federalism and at times calling it a 'red line.' Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava) - said in early March that he would not reject Israeli support if offered. His remarks were in response to a comment by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier expressed openness to support minorities in Syria, namely the Druze and the Kurds. AAH in Iraq AAH has also taken a firm stance on domestic political and security matters. In September, Khazali rejected the United States' delivery of a number of 105mm howitzers to the Peshmerga forces in August, which the Iraqi defense ministry said at the time was approved by previous federal cabinets. Khazali said it is "important to correct this mistake by returning them [the artillery] to the federal army." Meanwhile, in early March, AAH boycotted a parliamentary session of the Iraqi parliament in protest of the exclusion of a contentious law from the agenda that aims to regulate the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) structure, salaries, and retirement policies. The State of Law Coalition, led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Khazali's AAH, are among the most influential Shiite political parties in Iraq, both maintaining strong ties to Iran and advocating for the institutionalization of the PMF, which is composed of various armed factions - some of which have close ties to Iran. The PMF was established in 2014 during the Islamic State's (ISIS) rise to power, which saw the group seize control of large parts of Iraq's north and west. The group was created following a fatwa, a religious edict, by Iraq's highest Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to protect the country's holy Shiite sites in the southern Najaf and Karbala provinces Following the Kurdish referendum in 2017 and the defeat of ISIS, the northern oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which was largely controlled by the Kurdish Peshmerga, was expelled and taken over by the PMF. The province is disputed between Baghdad and Erbil.
Shafaq News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Khazali: criticizes global inaction on Gaza warns of regional Israeli agenda
Shafaq News/ The Secretary-General of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais Al-Khazali, condemned the international community for failing to take meaningful action as Gaza faces "slaughter from vein to vein." Speaking at the Eid al-Fitr sermon on Monday, al-Khazali praised the stance of resistance leaders and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Gaza, describing it as a reflection of "sincerity and devotion." 'Sayyed Nasrallah's moral stance on Gaza stems from the principles of Ahl al-Bayt [the family of the prophet Muhammad]." Al-Khazali criticized the Islamic world for merely watching without providing real support to the besieged Gaza Strip, arguing that the ideological motives behind the conflict extend beyond Palestine and Lebanon, 'they serve Zionist ambitions to dominate the region." Without naming the country, the Shiite leader pointed out that one Arab state is actively involved in implementing the Israeli project to partition Syria.' Since resuming operations 12 days ago in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 900 Palestinians, bringing the total death toll to 50,280, with around 114,100 wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
