ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Muqtada al-Sadr is suspending his militia’s operations in Basra for two years to end paramilitary interference in the work of the national security forces.
The suspension of the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades) is effective immediately, Sadr announced in a statement on Wednesday.
Sadr, who used to head the Mahdi Army – the force was resurrected as the Peace Brigades in 2014 when ISIS appeared on the scene, campaigned for the disarming of militias. He has said that all weapons must be in the hands of the state.
In addition to suspending operations of his militia, he also fired the head of the brigades in Basra province, Samir Mohammed al-Luaibi, and issued a two-year suspension to the head of the brigades in southern Iraq, Haider Mustafa, known as Abu Aya.
Sadr sent a delegation to Basra “to support the security forces,” but not interfere, the statement added. Basra was the stronghold of the Mahdi Army.
Any member of his Peace Brigades who engage in “non-jihadi” work will be punished.
There have been recent reports of problems between Sadr's forces and the national security forces in Basra.
The influential Shiite cleric emerged as political kingmaker after his coalition won the most votes in Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary election. The election results have been contested and a recount is underway.
The suspension of the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades) is effective immediately, Sadr announced in a statement on Wednesday.
Sadr, who used to head the Mahdi Army – the force was resurrected as the Peace Brigades in 2014 when ISIS appeared on the scene, campaigned for the disarming of militias. He has said that all weapons must be in the hands of the state.
In addition to suspending operations of his militia, he also fired the head of the brigades in Basra province, Samir Mohammed al-Luaibi, and issued a two-year suspension to the head of the brigades in southern Iraq, Haider Mustafa, known as Abu Aya.
Sadr sent a delegation to Basra “to support the security forces,” but not interfere, the statement added. Basra was the stronghold of the Mahdi Army.
Any member of his Peace Brigades who engage in “non-jihadi” work will be punished.
There have been recent reports of problems between Sadr's forces and the national security forces in Basra.
The influential Shiite cleric emerged as political kingmaker after his coalition won the most votes in Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary election. The election results have been contested and a recount is underway.
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