蜜芽传媒

Fighting between Iraqi security forces and Shia militia has continued inside the heavily-fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Violence involving militia factions has also been reported in the cities of Basra, Najaf, Nasiriyah and Hillah.

The clashes broke out after Shia cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, announced he was closing his political office, prompting his supporters to storm the presidential palace.

Entifadh Qanbar is a former spokesman of the Deputy Prime Minster of Iraq. He told Newsday: 鈥淵ou have two million followers who are now loose canons with weapons. He was able to control them when he was in charge and he鈥檚 probably happy to see them go and fight their counterparts.鈥�

(Picture: Muqtada al-Sadr鈥檚 Peace Brigades fighters fire their weapons during clashes with the Iraqi security forces near the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 30, 2022. Credit: REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani.)