BAGHDAD: Iraqi cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, whose political bloc came first in a May parliamentary election, said on Thursday he was scaling back his militia to strengthen the incoming government and its security forces.
The cleric’s list won the most seats in an election marred by low turnout and allegations of fraud.
He is currently embroiled in negotiations with the heads of other blocs over forming the next government, in which he is expected to play a leading role.
Sadr said in a handwritten order published on his website that his Saraya Al-Salam (Peace Companies) militia must disband in all cities except for the capital Baghdad and the cities of Karbala and Samarra, both homes to holy Shiite shrines.
The cleric had earlier this month called for a nationwide disarmament campaign after an arms cache exploded in his stronghold district of Sadr City in Baghdad, killing 18 people. Political opponents said the cache had belonged to his militia.
His Thursday order called on his men to store arms in a manner that protects civilians. All the militia’s leaders except those in the three named cities were prohibited from “activities on the ground.”
Al-Sadr said the militia was also now banned from conducting any operation outside Iraq, and all weapons received from the government and its security forces were to be returned.
Like most Iraqi political leaders, Al-Sadr has consistently maintained a powerful militia.
In the past he has mobilized tens of thousands of followers to protest against government policies and has been seen as a wild card in Iraq’s turbulent politics, which is often driven by sectarian interests.
His militia, once known as the Mehdi Army, staged two violent uprisings against US occupation forces after their invasion of Iraq and toppling of Saddam Hussein.
Iraqi and US officials described him at the time as the biggest security threat in Iraq.
Muqtada Al-Sadr scales back his militia in Iraq
Muqtada Al-Sadr scales back his militia in Iraq
- The cleric called for his Saraya Al-Salam to disband in all cities except Baghdad, Karbala and Samarra
- Al-Sadr is leading discussion on forming the largest coalition in parliament
In major policy shift on Syria, UN Security Council lifts sanctions on Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham
- Move reflects evolving Syrian political landscape in the post-Assad era, ending a global freeze on assets, travel ban and arms embargo
NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Friday removed Al-Nusra Front, the militant group that evolved into Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, from its so-called Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions List.
The move signals a major shift in international policy toward Syria’s evolving political landscape in the post-Assad era, and ends a global freeze on assets, travel ban and arms embargo that have been imposed on the group since 2014.
Al-Nusra Front and Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham were led by Ahmad Al-Sharaa, formerly Abu Mohammed Al-Julani, who is now Syria’s president and was a leading figure in the offensive that toppled the Assad regime.
The consensus decision by the Security Council’s sanctions committee was announced by the UK, which holds the presidency of the Security Council this month and was acting in the absence of the chair of the committee. It followed a request by the new Syrian authorities to delist “Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.”
The decision means measures that were applied to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham under Security Council Resolution 2734, adopted in 2024, no longer apply. As a result, UN member states are notrequired to freeze the group’s funds, restrict the movement of its representatives, or block the supply or transfer of arms and related materiel.
Al-Nusra Front was added to the sanctions list for its ties to Al-Qaeda and involvement in the financing and execution of militant activities during the war in Syria. The UN initially continued to treat the group’s successor organization, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, as a listed alias.
Al-Sharaa has said the group severed all prior transnational jihadist links and is now solely focused on local Syrian matters.
