Latest news with #ShiiteMuslims
Nahar Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Iraq condemns 'repeated Israeli attacks' on Lebanon
by Naharnet Newsdesk 02 June 2025, 11:55 Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Sunday condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon as he hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, on his first visit to Baghdad since taking office. Israel has continued to strike Lebanon despite a November ceasefire that ended more than a year of conflict -- including two months of open war -- with militant group Hezbollah, which emerged severely weakened. Lebanese authorities reported on Sunday the third deadly Israeli raid on the country's south in four days. In a joint press conference with Aoun, Sudani denounced "repeated Israeli attacks against Lebanon's sovereignty" which he said were in "violation of international law". The Iraqi prime minister called to "fully implement" a U.N. Security Council resolution that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and served as the basis for the latest truce, which went into effect on November 27. Under the truce terms, Hezbollah fighters were to withdraw north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border, and dismantle their military posts to the south. Israel, for its part, was to pull all its troops out of Lebanon but has maintained five positions it deems "strategic" along the frontier. Sudani also said he discussed with the visiting Lebanese president "shared opportunities in various sectors" including energy, telecommunications and commerce. Dominated by pro-Iranian parties, the Iraqi government has close ties with Lebanon and welcomed thousands of Lebanese people, mostly Shiite Muslims, displaced by the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war. Tehran-aligned armed factions in Iraq are staunch allies of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Since 2021, gas-rich Iraq has provided fuel for power stations in Lebanon, mired in a grave economic crisis. Last month Beirut said it was expecting a delivery of 320,000 tons of wheat from Iraq. In Baghdad, Aoun expressed his gratitude for "all the support and donations" Iraq has given Lebanon. Aoun, who assumed the presidency in January, also met with his Iraqi counterpart Abdel Latif Rashid.
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First Post
18-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Iran sentences three to death over Islamic State-linked shrine attacks
The three individuals were convicted of aiding and abetting in 'corruption on earth,' a charge that carries the death penalty in Iran. Two other individuals described as Islamic State members were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years in prison read more Iran has sentenced three people to death and handed prison terms to several others in connection with two deadly Islamic State-claimed shootings at a major Shiite shrine in Shiraz, the judiciary announced Sunday. The verdicts follow attacks in October 2022 and August 2023 on the Shah Cheragh mausoleum, a revered religious site in the capital of Fars province. The shootings killed 15 people and were later claimed by the Islamic State group. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Fars province's chief justice, Sadrollah Rajaei-Nasab, the three individuals were convicted of aiding and abetting in 'corruption on earth,' a charge that carries the death penalty in Iran. The Revolutionary Court in Shiraz also sentenced them to 25 years in prison for assisting in 'moharebeh,' or enmity against God, another serious capital offence under Iran's Islamic penal code. Two other individuals described as Islamic State members were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years in prison based on what authorities said was their level of involvement and cooperation in the shrine attacks. The judiciary also sentenced two women to five years each. However, their punishment will be carried out under 'Islamic leniency' provisions. They will be monitored with electronic ankle bracelets and confined within a one-kilometre radius of their homes, Rajaei-Nasab said. The verdicts are part of a broader case that includes weapons trafficking and other charges still under judicial review. Some of the rulings have been appealed to Iran's Supreme Court. In July 2023, Iran publicly executed two men convicted over the first Shah Cheragh attack. Authorities said the second attack, in August 2023, led to the arrest of nine suspects, all of whom were identified as foreign nationals. A Tajik national, also linked to the Islamic State, was sentenced to death in September. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Shah Cheragh shrine, one of the holiest sites for Shiite Muslims in southern Iran, has become a target for militants in recent years, underlining the country's security challenges amid broader regional unrest. _With inputs from agencies _
Shafaq News
21-03-2025
- Shafaq News
Over 3 million pilgrims: Najaf gears up for dual religious events
Shafaq News/ Najaf is bracing for an influx of more than three million visitors on Friday as it prepares to host two major religious events: the anniversary of Imam Ali's martyrdom and Laylat al-Qadr, a sacred night in the Islamic calendar. Authorities have rolled out a comprehensive security and logistical plan to manage the surge in pilgrims, with heightened coordination across law enforcement, emergency services, and civic departments. Citywide Mobilization The local government has declared full-scale readiness, deploying extensive resources to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience. Najaf's official spokesman, Ahmed Al-Fatlawi, said the province is draped in black to mark Imam Ali's martyrdom, coinciding with Laylat al-Qadr observances at the Imam Ali shrine. Al-Fatlawi noted that Governor Yousef Kanawi has led multiple strategy meetings with security, health, and service institutions to finalize a 'model operational plan.' The security apparatus is on high alert, with police, intelligence agencies, and the National Security Service securing all entry points to the old city. Reinforcements from the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Imam Ali Combat Division have been stationed at key border areas, including the Najaf desert region. On the service front, municipal authorities have mobilized resources across Najaf and its districts, extending efforts to nearby Kufa. Medical teams have been deployed at key locations, both inside and outside the old city, to handle any health emergencies. Traffic Strategy Unlike previous years, authorities have opted against road closures, keeping all major thoroughfares open—including those under maintenance—to facilitate smoother access for pilgrims. The transport department has also reinforced its fleet, ensuring shuttle services between the old city and key transit hubs to accommodate the massive influx of visitors. Emergency Preparedness The Civil Defense Directorate has activated a three-pronged plan to mitigate potential hazards. Spokesman Nuas Sabah outlined preemptive safety inspections across hotels and commercial establishments, mandating compliance with fire safety regulations and emergency exit protocols. Public awareness campaigns have also been launched, urging vendors and religious processions to observe safety measures when using gas stoves and electrical appliances. Meanwhile, rapid-response teams, including chemical, biological, and radiological emergency units, have been stationed across the city. Historic and Spiritual Significance This year's pilgrimage is expected to surpass last year's turnout of 3.5 million pilgrims. The heightened turnout underscores the deep spiritual connection many hold to Imam Ali, whose martyrdom in 661 AD remains a defining event for Shiite Muslims worldwide. Religious scholar Sheikh Haider Al-Tamimi noted that the observance coincides with Laylat al-Qadr, a night of intense worship believed to mark the revelation of the Quran. While Islamic scholars debate the exact date, many regard the 23rd night of Ramadan—falling this year on Sunday—as the most probable. As Najaf experiences the peak of its pilgrimage season, authorities remain on high alert to ensure the safety and well-being of millions gathering for this sacred occasion.
Shafaq News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Mass grave opens: 1991 Uprising victims honored in Iraq's Basra
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the Basra local government inaugurated the first mass grave for victims of the 1991 Shaaban Uprising, following its rehabilitation in Al-Hussein (First Line) neighborhood. 'The grave, discovered after 2003, was documented as the first registered case in the province,' Basra's Deputy Governor, Hassan Al-Najjar, told Shafaq News Agency, highlighting that it contained the remains of more than 37 victims, some of whom have been identified, while unidentified remains were reburied at the site as a memorial. Al-Najjar also emphasized that rehabilitating the grave is part of efforts to preserve the victims' memory and document crimes committed by the former regime, stressing the importance of 'honoring the martyrs and educating future generations about their sacrifices.' About the 1991 Shaaban Uprising The uprising began in Basra after an Iraqi soldier fired at a statue of Saddam Hussein, sparking widespread protests across 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces. Armed civilians, defecting soldiers, and Kurdish forces joined the rebellion, targeting military and police facilities. Economic hardship and government neglect fueled the unrest. The regime responded with heavy force, deploying helicopter gunships, artillery, and chemical weapons to crush the uprising. Tens of thousands were killed, and many were buried in mass graves across Iraq. Experts estimate these sites may hold up to 300,000 victims, primarily Shiite Muslims and Kurds executed between 1983 and 1991 for opposing the government.
Arab Times
18-02-2025
- Arab Times
4 Pakistani troops killed while responding to an attack on aid trucks in northwest
PARACHINAR, Pakistan, Feb 18, (AP): Militants in Pakistan overnight ambushed security forces who were responding to an earlier attack on aid trucks in the country's troubled northwest, leading to a shootout in which four troops were killed, officials said Tuesday. The ambush happened hours after authorities dispatched reinforcements to respond to Monday's attack on a convoy of aid trucks in which a driver and security official were killed in Kurram, a district in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Some security forces were also wounded in the overnight ambush in Kurram, where at least 130 people have died in recent months in clashes between rival Shiite and Sunni tribes, officials said. Several trucks that were heading to Parachinar, the main city in Kurram, were looted and burned, authorities said. Qaiser Abbas, a doctor at a hospital in Parachinar, said they received the bodies of four security forces Monday night from Kurram, where authorities noted a large-scale operation was being planned to try to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks. No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks but suspicion is likely to fall on Sunni militants. Shiite Muslims dominate parts of Kurram, although they are a minority in the rest of Pakistan, which is majority Sunni. The area has a history of sectarian conflict, with militant Sunni groups previously targeting minority Shiites.
