Prominent Iraqi Sunni, Shiite leaders call for ‘non-interference’ in Syria
The Sunni leader, Khamis al-Khanjar, also underlined “We reiterate that al-Sadr’s stance mirrors a conscious political discourse which prioritizes the national interest of Iraq and Iraqis.”
Dec. 6, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24)—Khamis al-Khanjar, the head of the Sovereignty Alliance (al-Siyada Alliance), announced on his Facebook page, “We highly value Muqtada al-Sadr's position, which calls for non-interference in the affairs of Syria. We must keep our country away from the current clashes in Syria.”
The Sunni leader also underlined “We reiterate that al-Sadr’s stance mirrors a conscious political discourse which prioritizes the national interest of Iraq and Iraqis.”
Moreover, he indicated that “we hope all the political sides take this call seriously and take the initiative to adopt a similar stance.”
This reiteration by the Sunni leader comes after Muqtada al-Sadr announced on Thursday that “We closely monitor the unfolding events in Syria and we have nothing for the beloved Syrian people, other than offering prayers for all the different components. May God protect all the people of that country from all harms, extremism, sectarian oppressions, and foreign interferences.”
Al-Sadr also added, “We maintain our stance for non-interference in Syrian affairs and we shall not stand in opposition to what the Syrian people decide because only the people can decide on their fate.”
Syria has witnessed a prolonged period of internal turmoil. The flares of war have erupted again and there are continuous conflicts and skirmishes in parts of the country.
Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria with a population of more than 2 million, fell in the hands of Islamist armed groups in an incredibly quick fashion following the retreat of the Syrian Army.
Read More: Syrian opposition forces parade in Aleppo following takeover
The reignited conflicts have brought with them a new wave of displacement for civilians who have already been facing dire situations for years.
Read More: US Calls for Protection of Civilians, Minorities in Syria, as Insurgents Continue their Advances
The current state of affairs in Syria reminded the Iraqi government of Iraq of the past traumas when ISIS slipped through borders into Iraq. As a result, the Iraqi government’s initial step was to reinforce its border areas with Syria.
There was also communication between Baghdad and Damascus where the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that “Syria’s Security is key to the stability of the whole region.”
The Iraqi government’s decision to deploy reinforcement to the border areas with Syria indicates Iraq’s concerns about the current situation in Syria. This could also indicate the Iraqi government’s efforts to ease the concerns of the Iraqi population.
The political discourse in Iraq over the unfolding events in Syria is also divided. As figures such as Muqtada al-Sadr and Khamis al-Khanjar call for non-interference, there are Iranian-backed armed groups such as Kataeb Hezbollah who pressure the government in Baghdad to actively engage in Syria.
What position the Iraqi government might take remains to be seen.