Iraqi MP goes to Hezbollah HQ after clashes with security forces
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The head of the Iraqi parliament's defense and security committee, Hakim al-Zamili, has gone to Kata’ib Hezbollah headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday.
Baghdad Today reported the visit after various reports of clashes between Iraqi police and the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi in the Iraqi capital.
The incident began when a convoy of Kata’ib Hezbollah vehicles arrived at the scene where a police patrol had stopped a car in Baghdad.
“The men in five vehicles opened fire and police responded,” an interior ministry official told AFP, adding that two policemen and one Hezbollah fighter were injured in the shootout.
Iraqi Security Forces surrounded the headquarters of the Kata’ib Hezbollah militias after the clashes that took place on Palestine Street in Baghdad, demanding that the militants responsible for the clashes be handed over, Sky News Arabic reported on Wednesday.
The “person behind the shooting” was arrested and the siege on the headquarters was lifted, according to the interior ministry official.
In a press conference late Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the conflict had been handled and the matter turned over to the relevant authorities.
Iraq is in a highly politicized state as political players try to gain sway after the parliamentary election on May 12 that saw Muqtada al-Sadr win the most seats.
The election results are contested with parliament calling for a full recount of votes.
Iraq's incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi finished third. Abadi is the commander of all of Iraq's security forces, though through the ISIS conflict militias, sometimes backed by Iran and outside of the parliamentary-recognized paramilitary units (PMUs), participated in battles.
Hashd al-Shaabi, a Shiite-led umbrella organization, formed the core of the PMUs. Many of its members "officially" resigned from the group and then won seats in parliament.
A new coalition government is yet to be formed.
Updated at 7:23 pm
Baghdad Today reported the visit after various reports of clashes between Iraqi police and the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi in the Iraqi capital.
The incident began when a convoy of Kata’ib Hezbollah vehicles arrived at the scene where a police patrol had stopped a car in Baghdad.
“The men in five vehicles opened fire and police responded,” an interior ministry official told AFP, adding that two policemen and one Hezbollah fighter were injured in the shootout.
Iraqi Security Forces surrounded the headquarters of the Kata’ib Hezbollah militias after the clashes that took place on Palestine Street in Baghdad, demanding that the militants responsible for the clashes be handed over, Sky News Arabic reported on Wednesday.
The “person behind the shooting” was arrested and the siege on the headquarters was lifted, according to the interior ministry official.
In a press conference late Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the conflict had been handled and the matter turned over to the relevant authorities.
Iraq is in a highly politicized state as political players try to gain sway after the parliamentary election on May 12 that saw Muqtada al-Sadr win the most seats.
The election results are contested with parliament calling for a full recount of votes.
Iraq's incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi finished third. Abadi is the commander of all of Iraq's security forces, though through the ISIS conflict militias, sometimes backed by Iran and outside of the parliamentary-recognized paramilitary units (PMUs), participated in battles.
Hashd al-Shaabi, a Shiite-led umbrella organization, formed the core of the PMUs. Many of its members "officially" resigned from the group and then won seats in parliament.
A new coalition government is yet to be formed.
Updated at 7:23 pm