Influential Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called on Iraq to refrain from engaging in the escalating conflict in neighboring Syria, which has intensified following a swift rebel offensive in recent days.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Sadr highlighted the “urgency for Iraq’s government, citizens, political parties, militias, and security forces to avoid any involvement in Syrian affairs.” He further urged the Iraqi government to “take strict action against anyone who jeopardizes national security.”
The appeal from Sadr comes shortly after Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a prominent Syrian Islamist rebel leader, publicly urged Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to ensure Iraq’s neutrality in the Syrian conflict. Al-Jolani’s call for non-intervention comes amid fears of a broader regional escalation.
Earlier this week, Iraq’s Iran-aligned Kataeb Hezbollah group advocated for Baghdad to deploy troops in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Kataeb Hezbollah, which operates as part of the “axis of resistance” backed by Iran, opposes both Israeli and U.S. presence in the region. In Iraq, the group is integrated into the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of paramilitary forces now operating under the regular armed forces.
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Jolani reiterated his appeal on Thursday, urging Iraq’s leadership to prevent Hashed al-Shaabi from intervening in Syria. “Some Iraqi politicians hold the belief that Syria’s crisis could spill over into Iraq,” Jolani said. “This assumption is entirely baseless.”
An Iraqi government official, speaking to AFP, indicated that Baghdad’s “red line” would be crossed if rebels advanced toward eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, or moved closer to Damascus, where the revered Shia shrine of Sayeda Zeinab is located in the southern suburbs.
Meanwhile, a senior figure from an Iran-backed Iraqi armed faction acknowledged that intervening in Syria presents significant challenges, particularly the risk of strikes by Israel or the United States. “We have secure routes available to access the conflict zone, but no decision has been made to proceed as of now,” the official told AFP, requesting anonymity.
As tensions rise, Sadr’s statement underscores the importance of Iraq maintaining its focus on domestic stability and steering clear of regional entanglements that could have far-reaching consequences.
