BASRA, Iraq - Tensions between two tribes in the southern Iraqi province of Basra on Friday led security forces to use drones to stop the fighting, with the quarrels first surfacing three years ago.
Tensions between the tribes of Albu Hamdan and al-Batut sparked clashes that lasted for more than five hours in the town of Garma, as the two tribes fought over concerns of debt.
"We have closed our shops since 4 pm yesterday because of the bullets of the Hamdan and Batut tribes coming at us," witness Uday Shareef told Rudaw's Halkawt Aziz, describing the situation as "hell."
"We live in hell, not in a country or Iraq," Shareef said.
Five people were killed and 21 others were wounded in the heavy fighting that ensued between the tribes, and a large number of security forces have been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control.
Deadly tribal clashes became common in the war-torn country following the toppling of Iraq's former president Saddam Hussein in 2003 when tribal justice gained preference over courts and police. This issue is mostly predominant in central and southern Iraq.
The Iraqi province of Basra is the area that is most affected by tribal fighting, followed by Dhi Qar, Maysan, Baghdad, and Kut, according to security forces. Despite legal measures being taken, the phenomenon is yet to be controlled.
Tribal leaders, often with a huge cache of arms and weapons, gather to settle erupting fights.
The clashes usually vary from petty squabbling between children, offending the beliefs of others, and even conflict over sewage. The tribal leaders' verdicts often take precedence over the law.
