SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iran-aligned Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement shut down all of its offices and headquarters across Iraq on Thursday after it mounted an armed clash with the military wing of the Sadrist movement.
Secretary-General of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais al-Khazali, ordered the closure of the movement’s offices and HQs across the country, until further notice.
An overnight armed clash took place earlier today in the Iraqi oil-rich city of Basra, southern of the country, Saraya al-Salam, the military wing of influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the Iran-aligned militant group of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq were engaged in the battle.
Basar’s violence marked another armed clash to hit the country amid a political crisis fueled by the supporters of the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr against mostly Iran-backed parties and paramilitary groups.
Sadr’s proxy, Mohammed Salih al-Iraqi, in a statement expressed an angry outburst at Qais Khazli, the leader of the Iraqi paramilitary group following the incident, and Iraq’s security media cell said, “Basra’s incident was a criminal act, and several perpetrators were detained.”
At least four people were killed in the clash, among whom a fighter and a commander of Saraya Al-Salam included.
