Iraqi cleric urges against "abominable sectarianism" after attacks

Prominent Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has called on the Iraqi government to rein in "undisciplined militias" and prevent the nation from being drawn into "abominable sectarianism." His appeal follows recent bombings by the United States and Saudi Arabia against positions of Iran-aligned Iraqi Shia groups.

Al-Sadr, a significant popular and political figure in Iraq, denounced the "attacks against the holy land of Iraq" but also condemned the actions of militias seeking to drag the country into "a senseless war." He urged the Iraqi government to establish security, assert its sovereignty, and ensure the safety of its people and sacred sites, warning against succumbing to "hateful sectarian myths."

The call comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi convened a security council meeting. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on Tuesday against positions of the powerful pro-Iranian Iraqi Shia militia, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), in eastern Iraq. According to the PMF, the strikes resulted in at least 20 deaths and 32 injuries.

These bombings were reportedly in retaliation for drone attacks carried out by Iran's Revolutionary Guard and allied Iraqi militias against U.S. bases and Saudi energy facilities over the preceding 72 hours. The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) and the Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed the retaliatory action. The activities of these Iraqi Shia militias, along with their Houthi allies in Yemen, have been repeatedly condemned by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the Arab League.

The escalation in violence occurs shortly after Prime Minister Al Zaidi's visit to the U.S. to discuss plans for a strategic partnership and the dismantling of Iran-aligned militias, which Washington designates as terrorist organizations. Prior to Al Zaidi's trip, several armed Shia groups, including some within the PMF, had announced their adherence to the prime minister's plan, which sets a late September deadline for these militias to surrender their weapons to the Iraqi army.