Timeline: What led to the fighting in Iraq’s capital Baghdad
Al JazeeraDec 24, 2022
The Facts
For the second day in a row on Thursday, and following weeks of relative calm, four rockets landed in Baghdad’s "Green Zone" - the area in which Iraqi government buildings and foreign missions are located.
Local security forces stated that no one has claimed responsibility for the attack and no deaths were reported, though Iraqi state news reported that four security officers were wounded.
The Spin
Pro-Iran narrative
Al-Sadr, known for stirring the pot in Iraqi politics, is playing with fire. Though popular with many in the Shiite community, his unruly supporters and his fierce rhetoric are plunging Iraq into civil strife. His actions instigated the violence in Baghdad last month, and he should make way for the CFA, which now has a clear and legal pathway to governance.
Anti-Iran narrative
Iran is wholly to blame for the current crisis in Iraqi politics. The CFA, with Iranian support, has gone out of its way to derail al-Sadr. Al-Sadr even offered the CFA some seats after winning the biggest bloc in parliament, but the Alliance refused due to Iran's all-or-nothing attitude.
Cynical narrative
Al-Sadr has already lost to Iran, and antics like this aren't going to change that. The firebrand cleric did quite well in last year's elections, but his inability to form a government has led to a significant loss of ground to Iranian-backed groups.
