Iraq
Babil Governor Ali Turki al-Jamali (left) and armed men he confronted while implementing a project.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Babil Governor Ali Turki al-Jamali submitted his resignation and the provincial council suspended its work for three days on Tuesday after an armed group blocked the implementation of a bridge project in the province and allegedly pointed weapons at local officials.
The Babil Provincial Council held an extraordinary session on Tuesday to discuss Jamali’s resignation, which he submitted in protest over what he described as an attack on the executive authority.
“No authority stands above the authority of the law. Armed men refused the implementation of the Jinsiya Bridge project and pointed weapons at the governor, and all legal measures have been taken against them,” Jamali’s office said ahead of the session.
The governor also shared videos purportedly showing armed men carrying light and medium weapons, including RPG launchers, confronting him and his staff at the project site.
The provincial council unanimously rejected Jamali’s resignation, but decided to suspend its activities for 72 hours in solidarity with the governor, according to a statement from his office.
Jamali is affiliated with the Sadiqoun Movement, the political wing of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq armed group led by Qais al-Khazali.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by Iraqi authorities in asserting state control amid the continued influence of armed groups operating across the country.
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