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Iraqi News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani warns against Iran-Israel escalation, calls for international intervention
Najaf ( – Iraq's top Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, issued a strong warning on Thursday (June 19, 2025) regarding the ongoing military strikes between Israel and Iran, calling for international intervention to stop the war. In a statement from his office, Al-Sistani condemned the 'continued military aggression' against Iran and any threats to its leadership. He warned that any 'criminal escalation' could lead to widespread chaos and spiral out of control, urging world bodies to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The statement comes on the seventh day of mutual attacks between Iran and Israel. Separately, Ali Al-Fatlawi, a leader in the Fatah Alliance, a prominent Iraqi political coalition, told media that if the situation escalates further, it is possible the supreme religious authority could issue a fatwa for 'jihad' against the US and Israel. Al-Sistani's official statement, however, focused on de-escalation and a diplomatic solution, reflecting the gravity with which Iraq's highest religious authority views the regional conflict.
Shafaq News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Fatah Alliance anticipates jihad fatwa from al-Sistani amid Israeli strikes on Iran
Shafaq News/ Iraq's pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance, led by Hadi al-Amiri, said on Thursday it expects a religious decree (fatwa) for jihad to be issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's highest Shiite authority, in response to escalating Israeli and US actions against Iran. Ali al-Fatlawi, a senior official within the alliance, told Shafaq News Agency that 'the assault on the Islamic Republic, which defends the foundations of Islam, is not limited to the Shia sect—though it is at the forefront of the defense.' He claimed that 'the weakness of Sunni Islamic leadership has made Shiite religious voices appear more dominant.' Al-Fatlawi considered an attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be tantamount to an attack on Islam itself,' likening his influence to that of Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani in Iraq. Al-Sistani, based in the holy city of Najaf and known for his restraint in political matters, issued a rare statement earlier on Thursday warning that any strike against Iran's top religious or political leadership would trigger regional chaos. His office described the ongoing Israeli military campaign as a violation of religious ethics, international law, and humanitarian norms. In Shia Islamic jurisprudence, jihad refers not only to armed struggle in defense of the faith but also to moral and societal resistance in times of crisis. Al-Sistani's last call for jihad came in 2014 when he issued a landmark fatwa urging Iraqis to take up arms against ISIS. That edict led to the formation and mobilization of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a network of mostly pro-Iranian paramilitary groups that now hold significant influence in Iraqi security and politics.
Shafaq News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Experts warn of Iraq's vulnerability as Israeli-Iranian conflict escalates
Shafaq News/ Israel's airstrikes on Iran early Friday, followed by Tehran's missile response, have placed Iraq in a vulnerable position, as lawmakers and experts point to Baghdad's limited ability to act due to its lack of control over airspace and territory. The cross-border escalation has heightened tensions across the region, with some analysts warning that the conflict could spiral into a broader confrontation involving neighboring countries, including Iraq. Israeli strikes targeted multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, reportedly killing senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded by launching attacks on Tel Aviv. Member of the Iraqi Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, MP Mokhtar al-Moussawi, told Shafaq News that Iraq can do little more than condemn the Israeli aggression. 'This is clearly an attack on Iran, but Iraqi security forces must also remain alert and vigilant because the threat is not limited to Iran—Iraq now lies between Tehran and the Zionist entity [Israel],' he stated. Al-Moussawi, a lawmaker from the Iran-backed Fatah Alliance led by Hadi al-Amiri, emphasized that Iraq's current stance is confined to verbal condemnation. 'Iraq does not possess sufficient military capabilities, nor does it control its own skies or territory. The Israeli warplanes that struck Iran reportedly passed through Iraqi airspace,' he said. Security expert Ali al-Maamari believes the Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran are part of a calculated strategy rather than an all-out war effort. 'These attacks are meant to pressure Tehran into reconsidering its nuclear program, potentially forcing it back to the negotiating table to halt uranium enrichment and dismantle sensitive infrastructure,' he told Shafaq News. According to al-Maamari, Iran faces a critical choice. 'If Tehran concedes, it will suffer a partial loss; if it doesn't, the consequences may escalate toward regime destabilization,' he pointed out, adding that Iranian-backed armed forces across the region have not yet launched a coordinated response. 'This is likely because the United States has officially denied involvement in the Israeli strikes, which weakens any justification for retaliating against US interests in Iraq.' For his part, Jordanian political analyst Hazem Ayyad explained to Shafaq News that the Israeli operation may mark the beginning of a prolonged confrontation. 'Given Iran's stated threats to target American bases in the Gulf—including in Iraq and Jordan—the danger of escalation is very real.' Ayyad added that any damage to sensitive facilities, such as the Dimona nuclear reactor near the Jordanian border, poses a serious risk. 'Beyond military implications, the environmental and security threats would be considerable,' he noted. He further warned of possible regional spillovers. 'Strikes on strategic facilities like Haifa Port could have consequences for Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean. If regional actors such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, or Iraqi factions decide to intervene, the situation could escalate into a full-scale regional war.' Beyond the military scope, Ayyad underlined broader implications that will likely affect the economy, energy markets, maritime routes, and even food security in countries directly impacted, such as Iraq and Jordan. 'What we're witnessing is not just a temporary flare-up, but signs of a long-term conflict that may last for weeks, if not longer, unless serious international efforts are made to de-escalate and prevent the region from sliding into wider confrontation.'
Shafaq News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Fatah Alliance backs Iranian retaliation against Israel
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Fatah Alliance leader Hadi al-Amiri, a key figure in the Iraqi Iran-aligned Coordination Framework (CF), endorsed Tehran's missile response to Israeli strikes. In a statement, al-Amiri condemned the recent Israeli operation as a 'cowardly assault' and a sign of what he described as the 'Zionist project's failure to confront the Axis of Resistance,' an Iran-led regional alliance comprising groups including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Iraqi factions, and Yemen's Houthis (Ansarallah). He reaffirmed Iran's right to retaliate, calling the response a 'legitimate and moral duty,' and warned that remaining silent would amount to complicity. 'We hold the US fully responsible for the Israeli violation of Iraqi airspace,' al-Amiri added, urging the Iraqi government to take immediate steps to prevent further incursions. He also called on Muslims worldwide to adopt a unified stance against what he labeled as a shared adversary that 'recognizes no borders, sects, or nations.' Al-Amiri stressed that the Palestinian issue remains central despite growing normalization efforts in the region. 'Palestine remains at the heart of the struggle,' he noted, describing normalization as betrayal. His comments follow Israel's launch of Operation Rising Lion on Friday, a sweeping air campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites across multiple provinces, including Tehran, Hamedan, East Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah. Some strikes also hit residential areas, resulting in civilian casualties.
Shafaq News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Fatah Alliance denies blocking al-Sudani's second term bid
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Fatah Alliance, led by Hadi al-Amiri, dismissed reports claiming the Coordination Framework (CF), a political alliance of predominantly Shiite parties, has blocked Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from seeking a second term. Fatah official Uday al-Khadran told Shafaq News that no formal decision has been made within the CF to oppose al-Sudani's re-election bid, stating, 'Any future support will hinge on his performance and how he addresses the country's pressing challenges.' He emphasized that al-Sudani's success remains closely linked to the Framework, which endorsed his government and continues to back it. 'If his governance proves effective, he'll be considered again. If not, alternatives will be explored.' The statement follows growing speculation over fractures within the alliance as Iraq gears up for parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025. Al-Sudani has already launched a new electoral coalition—the Alliance of Reconstruction and Development (Al-Ima'ar wal Tanimia)—positioning himself for a second term. The bloc includes seven parties, notably his own Furatain Movement, and other influential groups such as: - The Sumer Homeland Gathering (Tajammo' Ahali Sumer) led by Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi; - The Al-Wataniya Coalition of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi; - The Karbala Creativity Alliance (Ibda'a Karbala) under Karbala Governor Nassif al-Khattabi; - The National Solutions Alliance (Houloul) headed by Mohammed Sahib al-Darraji;
