ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey late Monday joined Kuwait and called on its citizens to avoid traveling to the Iraqi capital amid deadly clashes and shelling that have so far taken the lives of at least 23 people and injured more than 300 others.
Tensions in Iraq hit a peak shortly after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said he was quitting politics and chaos spread in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone as Sadr supporters stormed the Republican Palace, where cabinet meetings are usually held - a move that was followed by fire and ongoing clashes.
Iraq has once again made it to the headlines and all eyes have turned to the war-torn country, watching events unfold with deep concern.
Turkey said it was “concerned” about the developments in the neighboring country, issuing a travel alert for Iraq.
"Considering that the security situation in Baghdad has started to deteriorate, our citizens are advised to avoid traveling to the aforementioned city except for compulsory situations,” read a statement from the Turkish foreign ministry.
Turkey echoed Kuwait’s call, which urged its nationals to leave Iraq.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspended its flights to and from Baghdad over the civil unrest.
Iran also closed its border with Iraq and "some" Iranian airlines canceled their flights to Baghdad, Iranian state media reported late Monday.
“The Kuwait embassy in Baghdad has advised nationals who are currently in Iraq to leave soon, and those who were planning to travel to Iraq to adjourn their trips due to the unfolding situation,” Kuwait News Agency reported Monday evening.
Reports of clashes spread all over social media and it soon became clear that the Iran-backed Coordination Framework and the Sadrist Movement had started to exchange fire.
Iraqi Security Media Cell on Tuesday said the Green Zone was targeted by "four rockets."
As fighting continues between Iran-backed militias and Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam in the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions, no official announcements have been made on the death toll and number of injuries.
However, AFP cited medics saying 23 supporters of Sadr have so far been killed and 380 others have been injured.
A resident of an area near the Green Zone described the sound of fighting and explosions on Twitter, saying it was "the same" as the ones heard during the fight with the Islamic State (ISIS) to free Mosul.
The US State Department described the unrest in Iraq as “disturbing.”
“We are aware of the reports of increasing violence and potential casualties, and we condemn the use of violence above all,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing, urging “all those involved to remain calm and pursue peaceful avenues of redress.”
The Iraqi army had announced a nationwide curfew from 7:00 pm while the Council of Ministers suspended its sessions indefinitely.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said “security or military forces, or armed men" were prohibited from opening fire on protesters.”
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Tuesday was announced as a holiday across all Iraqi provinces amid the violence after protests began to spread to other cities. People, by the thousands, flocked onto the streets of Basra, Dhi Qar, and Maysan, blocking roads and taking over government buildings.
The US deemed reports of evacuating its embassy in Baghdad “false.”
“The safety of US Government personnel and US citizens, and the security of our facilities both in the National Capitol Region and abroad remains our highest priority … reports of Embassy Baghdad being evacuated are false,” Patel said during his briefing.
Sadr on Monday afternoon announced his “definitive retirement” from politics shortly after a close aide to his father and uncle retired from his role as a arja (Shiite religious authority) in Iran’s religious epicenter of Qom.
His statement came two days after he said “all parties” including his own should give up government positions to help resolve the political impasse engulfing Iraq.
The United Nations on Monday urged all Iraqis "to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation and avoid any violence."
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) warned that “the very survival of the state is at stake.”
Iraq held snap parliamentary elections in October but disagreements prevented political parties from electing a president and a prime minister for the country.
The Sadrist Movement was the kingmaker of the vote, gaining the largest number of seats. However, Sadr withdrew his lawmakers from the parliament in June after he failed to form a government and threatened to exclude his rival Iran-backed Coordination Framework from it.
The situation escalated in late July after Sadr supporters held protests and stormed the Iraqi parliament, demanding the dissolution of the parliament and holding a new vote.
The Shiite cleric has previously made such withdrawal announcements but returned to politics shortly after making them.
Updated at 9:23 am
