Altercation in Karbala escalates to gunfire; multiple injured, arrests made: Ministry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's interior ministry said on Saturday that a dispute between two groups in Karbala escalated into a shooting incident, leaving several people injured and resulting in multiple arrests.

The ministry confirmed that eleven individuals suspected of involvement in the violence have been detained.

According to officials, the incident began as a verbal altercation on Friday evening in the Al-Askari neighborhood of the Al-Taqa district. The confrontation later turned violent, with both sides engaging in a physical fight that escalated into an exchange of gunfire during a memorial gathering.

Several civilians were injured and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, though authorities did not disclose the severity of their injuries.

Security forces responded "swiftly, deploying units to the area and imposing strict measures to contain the situation," the ministry said.

The ministry added that the Karbala Police Command has "regained full control of the area, noting that the security situation is now stable and no further incidents have been reported."

Sadr orders Saraya al-Salam shutdown in Karbala

Following the incident, influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered the suspension of activities of his armed faction, Saraya al-Salam, and the closure of its offices in Karbala, citing the group’s involvement in the clashes.

Saraya al-Salam, founded by Sadr in 2014, is widely regarded as a revival of the Mahdi Army, the militia that fought US forces following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In December, Sadr also suspended the group’s activities in Basra and Wasit provinces, citing "repeated violations" and "harm to its reputation."

He has repeatedly stressed that preserving the group’s reputation takes precedence over maintaining its physical presence.

Sadr remains one of the most influential Shiite political figures in Iraq.