Sadr urges Iraqi factions to set aside differences as 'great danger' looms from Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday urged political factions to put aside their disputes, warning that Iraq faces an approaching threat from the Syrian border. His warning comes amid victories by the Syrian Sunni-led army against Kurdish-led fighters. 

In a post on X, Sadr cautioned that internal conflicts could weaken the country at a critical moment, saying that “It is difficult for me to address you, but Iraq is dearer and more precious.”

Sadr called on political parties to focus on what he described as mounting dangers, warning of severe consequences if divisions persist. “Leave your conflicts and your competition over this fleeting world... and pay attention to the dangers surrounding you... for neither God nor history will have mercy on you,” he said, as he appealed for unity amid regional instability.

Addressing developments in neighboring Syria, the leader of the National Shiite Movement warned that the situation posed a serious risk to Iraq’s security. “What is happening in Syria and near the Iraqi borders is a matter that should not be handled naively,” he warned, adding that the issue must rather “be taken with the utmost seriousness... for the danger is imminent, and terrorism is supported by global arrogance.”

Sadr also directed a message to political parties in the Kurdistan Region, whom he referred to as “the forces of Northern Iraq,” advising them not to become directly involved in Syria, saying that it will provide “a pretext for terrorism to violate Iraqi lands and encroach upon them and our holy sites.”

He concluded his message with a prayer for the protection of Iraq and all components of Syria from extremism and violence.

Following Sadr’s warning, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) announced heightened security measures along the Iraqi-Syrian border. In a statement on Sunday, the PMF said: “The Popular Mobilization Forces, under the Nineveh operations command, have reinforced security along the border strip adjacent to Syria in Nineveh governorate [on the Syrian border].”

The statement added that the PMF had widened its field deployment to protect border posts, saying the forces “expanded its field deployment to secure border posts in order to prevent the infiltration of terrorist elements and criminal activities, and to effectively secure the border.”

Sadr’s remarks come after a 14-point agreement between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi following days of intense clashes between the Syrian Arab Army along with its allied armed groups and the Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria (Rojava). 

Sharaa announced the agreement late on Sunday, saying it had been signed by both him and Abdi. He added that Abdi was originally due to visit Damascus, but the meeting was postponed until Monday because of bad weather.