Qais al-Khazali Warns Iraq’s Involvement Is Crucial in Stopping Divisive Regional Plans
“Don’t be surprised if anything is instigated to pull Iraq into the battlefield,” al-Khazali stated, stressing that the struggle is not just territorial but rooted in deep ideological divides.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, a powerful militia group aligned with Iran al-Khazali, the leader of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, a powerful militia group aligned with Iran, delivered a sharp message during his Eid al-Fitr sermon on Monday, emphasizing Iraq’s pivotal role in preventing the fragmentation of Syria and the broader Middle East.
He stated that Iraq could actively thwart the efforts of Israel, the U.S., and certain Arab nations who he claims are orchestrating divisive plans in Syria, further warning of provocations designed to draw Iraq into broader regional conflicts. “The war is ideological,” he said, highlighting that Iraq’s entanglement in these battles is inevitable, given the ideological nature of the hostilities.
The Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia, which operates as part of Iran's broader Axis of Resistance, plays a key role in the region’s ongoing confrontations against U.S. and Israeli interests. Founded in 2006, the group is a major player in Iraq’s complex political and military landscape, working alongside other Iran-backed factions to counter American and Israeli influence in the region.
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is deeply involved in the Iran-backed ongoing opposition against the U.S. presence in Iraq and the broader region, and the group is heavily entrenched in the fight against Israeli policies, particularly those concerning the Palestinian issue.
This militia, along with others in the Axis of Resistance, has fought not only in Iraq but also in Syria and Yemen, aiming to undermine U.S. and Israeli influence through coordinated military and political efforts.
In his address, al-Khazali expressed his belief that Iraq must adopt a more proactive stance in regional affairs. He pointed to Iraq’s potential to stop “the sectarian divisions being promoted in Syria by foreign powers, especially those seeking to undermine the region’s stability.”
سماحة الشيخ قيس الخزعلي يؤكد على ضرورة دعم القوات الأمنية وفي مقدمتها الحـ.,ـشد الشـ.,ـعبي pic.twitter.com/aaUvU10Ptu
— قناة العهد (@ahadtv) March 31, 2025
Al-Khazali also warned of “the increasing threat of foreign provocations aimed at involving Iraq directly in the ideological conflicts engulfing the region.” He criticized efforts by Israel and its allies to manipulate events, stating, “Don’t be surprised if anything is instigated to pull Iraq into the battlefield,” stressing that the struggle is not just territorial but rooted in deep ideological divides. This call for greater involvement from Iraq comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East, where the U.S. and Israel are pushing for further isolation of Iran and its proxies.
The remarks, published by Al-Ahed News, a media outlet closely linked to Hezbollah, underscore the deepening ties between Iran-backed militias and regional resistance movements. Al-Khazali’s defiance echoes Iran’s ongoing strategy of supporting proxies in the Middle East as part of its broader efforts to challenge U.S. and Israeli hegemony.
