Dhe political conflict in Iraq continued to turn violent on Tuesday night. Videos showed the militia Saraja al-Salam led by the influential Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr fighting heavy fighting with militias loyal to Iran in the so-called Green Zone in Baghdad. Long volleys of fire could be heard. At least 11 people were killed and 160 others injured, medical sources said. Media reported 15 dead and 350 injured. Fighting continued on Tuesday morning.
Numerous government institutions, the Iraqi parliament and several embassies, including the diplomatic mission of the United States, are located in the approximately ten square kilometer large and actually highly secured Green Zone in the center of Baghdad.
Several rockets also reportedly fell in the Green Zone during the night. Videos on social networks are said to show that the missile defense system to protect the American embassy was then activated. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said fighting was raging in the area around his country’s embassy. Employees had been evacuated and would work temporarily from the German embassy. The situation in Iraq is “very tense” and changing rapidly, Hoekstra wrote on Twitter.
Al-Sadr’s supporters stormed and temporarily occupied the government palace housing Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kasimi’s office on Monday. The influential clergyman had previously announced his retirement from politics. Late Monday evening, the 48-year-old religious leader announced that he would go on a hunger strike until violence against his followers ceased. Al-Sadr’s movement emerged as the strongest force in last October’s parliamentary elections. However, it failed to form a government. Al-Sadr is calling for new elections as a way out of the crisis.
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