Hundreds of members and supporters of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) protested in Nineveh’s Bartella subdistrict, chanting in support of Iran against Israel by waving flags of the Islamic republic.
“We declare our strongest condemnation and denunciation of the brutal aggression that the Islamic Republic of Iran is being subjected to by the Zionist enemy and its supporters from the global arrogant powers,” Abbas Abu Fadel, head of AAH’s office in Nineveh, said in a speech.
He described what Tehran is dealing with as an “aggression” and a “flagrant violation of all international laws and humanitarian norms.”
At the protest, an AAH member told Rudaw that they stand with Iran “in peace and war.”
“The descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib all over the world are with the Islamic Republic of Iran in peace and in war. We are under the leadership of Seyyed [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah] Ali Khamenei and Seyyed [Grand Ayatollah] Ali al-Sistani,” Ali al-Shabaki, an AAH member, told Rudaw.
The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted on Friday after Israel conducted extensive airstrikes in Iran, killing several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran has since launched dozens of waves of missile and drone attacks, and both sides continue to exchange strikes.
According to official figures, 224 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel, with nearly 600 Israelis and over 1,300 Iranians injured.
AAH, led by Qais al-Khazali, is designated a terrorist organization by the US and Israel over its alleged ties to Iran and attacks on US and coalition forces. Khazali is also part of the Coordination Framework, a key component of Iraq’s governing coalition.
Iraq is concerned that the escalating hostilities could spill over, threatening its sovereignty and fragile post-war recovery. Iraq hosts both US forces and Iran-backed militias, placing it in a vulnerable position should the conflict intensify.
Kawa Omar contributed to this report.
