MUQTADA AL-SADR

Angry protesters in several Middle Eastern countries have gathered to denounce the recent desecration of Islam’s holy book by far-right activists in Sweden and the Netherlands.

An influential Iraqi cleric who announced his withdrawal from politics four months ago has broken a period of relative silence to launch an anti-LGBTQ campaign.

Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says he hopes to continue hosting talks in Iraq between regional arch-enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran during his tenure

A gas tanker has exploded near a soccer field  in northeastern Baghdad

Iraq’s parliament has voted to form a new Cabinet, ending a yearlong political stalemate

Iraqi officials have elected a new president, former minister Abdul Latif Rashid, only hours after nine rockets landed near the nation's parliament building.

Iraq’s military says at least nine rockets have targeted Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of the country’s government

Iraqi lawmakers elected a new president in a key step toward ending a year-long political vacuum.

The U.N. special envoy for Iraq is warning  that the situation in the country remains “highly volatile” nearly a year after last October’s elections failed to form a government

Supporters of Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr again stormed Baghdad’s Green Zone government area Wednesday as the Iraqi parliament holds session on the resignation of its speaker

Four security officers have been wounded as four rockets landed in Baghdad's Green Zone government area.

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister has convened a second round of talks with Iraqi leaders aimed at resolving the ongoing political crisis between rival Shiite blocs

Iraqi security officials say four militiamen have been killed in reprisal attacks between rival Shiite militia groups

Iraqi security officials say four militiamen have been killed in reprisal attacks between rival Shiite militia groups.

"Iraq is another failed state, and the country will fall into the wrong hands in the end," predicts one political analyst after clashes leave 23 dead.

Iraqi paramilitary forces killed in heavy clashes have been laid to rest as the country’s parliament speaker called for three days of mourning for the dozens killed

Iraqi paramilitary forces killed in heavy clashes have been laid to rest as the country's parliament speaker called for three days of mourning for the dozens killed.

At least 30 people have died in violent clashes with police following the resignation of an influential Shiite cleric, according to Iraqi officials.

Iraq witnessed bloody street violence for nearly 24 hours spurred by loyalists of a powerful Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, that was the culmination of a 10-month power struggle

Iraq witnessed bloody street violence for nearly 24 hours spurred by loyalists of a powerful Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, that was the culmination of a 10-month power struggle.

Armed supporters of a powerful Iraqi cleric who clashed with security forces in the capital have begun to withdraw from the streets.

Iran closed its land borders to Iraq as flights to the country halted Tuesday amid violence in Baghdad following an influential Shiite cleric's announcement he would resign from politics. The death toll rose to 22 Iraqis on Tuesday after the unrest erupted the previous day, according to two medical officials. Iraq's military said four rockets were launched into the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government where armed clashes raged overnight between a militia royal to Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi security forces.

Riots broke out in Baghdad after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his resignation from Iraqi politics.

At least 3 people have been killed in clashes as followers of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr storm government buildings.

An influential Shiite cleric whose followers have been staging a sit-in outside Iraq’s parliament announced his resignation from politics and the closure of his party offices on Monday

An influential Shiite cleric announced that he will resign from Iraqi politics, and hundreds of his angry followers responded by storming the government palace.

Hundreds of followers of an influential Shiite cleric stormed Iraq’s government palace on Monday shortly after he announced he was withdrawing from politics, further deepening an unprecedented political crisis. Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers stormed the Republican Palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries, for the first time. Iraq’s military swiftly announced a city-wide curfew for civilians and vehicles on Monday to quell rising tensions and the possibility of clashes.

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister has warned that the political crisis in the country is threatening security achievements made in past years

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister has warned that the political crisis in the country is threatening security achievements made in past years.

A small homemade explosive has donated near Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone as an Australian diplomatic convoy made its way into the area

Dozens of supporters of Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are rallying in Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone amid a monthslong political crisis

Two government officials say that Iraq’s finance minister has resigned over the country’s worst political crisis in years

Iraq’s top judicial body says it doesn’t have the authority to dissolve the country’s parliament

Iraq’s top judicial body says it doesn't have the authority to dissolve the country’s parliament.

Iraq’s political crisis shows no signs of abating weeks after followers of an influential cleric stormed parliament

Demonstrators blocked roads as protests broke out in southern Iraq on Monday after power outages left many without electricity during scorching peak summer heat

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have held a mass prayer called for by an influential Shiite cleric in Baghdad, a highly symbolic move amid an unprecedented political crisis roiling Iraq

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have held a mass prayer called for by an influential Shiite cleric in Baghdad, a highly symbolic move amid an unprecedented political crisis roiling Iraq.

Residents of the impoverished Baghdad suburb of Sadr City say they support an influential Shiite cleric who called on thousands of his followers to storm Iraq's parliament.

Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has told his followers to continue their sit-in inside Iraq’s government zone, and called for the dissolution of the parliament and early elections

Followers of an influential Shiite cleric camped out inside the Iraqi parliament building for a fourth straight day were instructed to leave the building but maintain their protest outside

The political rivals of an influential Iraqi cleric whose followers stormed the parliament have declared their own counter-protest

Thousands of Shiites gathered in Baghdad for a counter-rally called by Iran-backed groups against their rival, an influential cleric whose followers are staging a sit-in inside the Iraqi parliament, have left the area.

Followers of an influential cleric have pledged to continue the sit-in to derail efforts from Iran-backed groups to form the country's next government.

Hundreds of followers of an influential Shiite cleric are camped out inside the Iraqi parliament, after toppling security walls around the building and storming in the previous day

Hundreds of followers of an influential Shiite cleric are camped out inside Iraq's parliament after toppling security walls around the building and storming in the previous day.

Parliament Speaker Mohammed Halbousi suspended future sessions until further notice.

Hundreds of followers of an influential Shiite cleric have breached Iraq’s parliament for a second time this week to protest the government formation efforts lead by Iran-backed groups

Thousands of followers of an influential Shiite cleric have stormed into Iraq's parliament to protest government formation efforts led by his rivals from Iran-backed groups.

Followers of Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr came by the thousands to storm the country’s parliament at his command, and they rapidly dispersed with little violence

Followers of Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr came by the thousands to storm the country's parliament at his command, and they rapidly dispersed with little violence.

Riot police have used water cannons to repel demonstrators who pulled down cement blast walls at the gate of Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, home to government buildings and foreign embassies

Hundreds of Iraqi protesters have breached Baghdad’s parliament, chanting anti-Iran curses in a demonstration against a nominee for prime minister by Iran-backed parties.

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, whose country is mired in political crisis, says it is in Iraq’s interest to keep pushing for a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to ease regional tensions

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, whose country is mired in political crisis, says it is in Iraq’s interest to keep pushing for a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to ease regional tensions.

Iraqi leaders say they will move forward with efforts to form a government following the shocking resignation of 73 lawmakers from parliament during a prolonged political impasse

Dozens of lawmakers who make up the biggest bloc in Iraq’s parliament have resigned amid a prolonged political impasse

Dozens of lawmakers who make up the biggest bloc in Iraq's parliament have resigned amid a prolonged political impasse.

Iraq still doesn’t have a government, eight months since national elections took place, and there seems no clear way out of the dangerous deadlock

Iraq still doesn’t have a government, eight months since national elections took place, and there seems no clear way out of the dangerous deadlock.

Iraqi lawmakers have passed a bill criminalizing any normalization of ties and any relations, including business ties, with Israel.

The U.N. special envoy for Iraq is warning the country’s political leaders that “the streets are about to boil over” because of their deadlock and failure to address a host of issues

Iraq’s new parliament has held its first session, nearly three months after Iraqis voted in a general election whose results have been contested by powerful Iran-backed factions

Iraq’s new parliament has reelected its speaker for a second term, the first step toward forming a new government after a general election whose results have been contested by powerful Iran-backed factions.

Troops and patrols have deployed around Baghdad following the failed assassination attempt with armed drones that targeted Iraq’s prime minister in his residence.

Pro-Iran Shiite militias that emerged as the biggest losers in Iraq's parliamentary elections three weeks ago are still rejecting the outcome of the vote.

Iraqis have voted in parliamentary elections held months ahead of schedule as a concession to a youth-led uprising against corruption and mismanagement.

Iraq’s prime minister says his country no longer requires U.S. combat troops to fight the Islamic State group.

Iraq’s vaccine roll-out had been faltering for weeks. Apathy, fear and rumors kept many from getting vaccinated despite a serious surge in coronavirus infections and calls by the government for people to register for shots. It took a populist Shiite cleric’s public endorsement of vaccinations — and images of him getting the shot last week — to turn things around.

Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, in the posters, gather in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)BAGHDAD – Supporters of a firebrand Iraqi cleric shot dead five people on Saturday, according to medical officials, in overnight clashes with anti-government protesters in southern Iraq. Following the clashes beginning on Friday, al-Sadr’s supporters stormed Haboubi square, and torched tents pitched in the square. Anti-government protesters feel betrayed by al-Sadr’s flip-flop approach toward them, especially in the last few months when he withdrew support for their movement. Dozens returned to the anti-government sit-in's site on Saturday morning in support of those protesters killed overnight.

Baghdad Thousands of protesters gathered Friday in central Baghdad to demand that American troops leave the country as anti-U.S. feelings run high in the country following the drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump that killed a top Iranian general in the Iraqi capital. Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protest against the U.S. military presence in Iraq during a demonstration in Baghdad, January 24, 2020. Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr carry placards depicting U.S. President Donald Trump at a protest against the U.S. military presence in Iraq, in Baghdad, January 24, 2020. ALAA AL-MARJANI/REUTERSIraq's parliament responded to the airstrike on Soleimani with a decisive, but non-binding vote to demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces. U.S. officials have halted all counter-ISIS joint operations for the roughly 5,000 American troops who have worked closely for years with Iraqi counterparts.

Iraqi officials said Saturday the casualty toll had risen to 25 dead and 130 wounded after a bloody night of attacks by unknown gunmen that targeted anti-government demonstrators in the capital. Three among the dead were policeman and the rest were protesters, officials said. The health and security officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather near his home, after it was attacked, in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq December 7, 2019. Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather near his home, after it was attacked, in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq December 7, 2019.

(CNN) - Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has agreed to resign after weeks of anti-government protests that led to hundreds of casualties, Iraq's president announced Thursday. In a televised speech to the nation on Iraq's Al-Iraqiya TV, President Barham Salih said Abdul Mahdi had agreed to step down on the condition that a successor is agreed to replace him. "The prime minister has agreed to resign," Salih said, adding that Abdul Mahdi had asked "political blocs to reach an acceptable alternative" in order "to prevent a vacuum." One of Iraq's leading Shiite clerics and most powerful politicians, Muqtada al-Sadr, had called on other parties Tuesday to back his push for a no-confidence vote in Abdul Mahdi. The protests, which have gripped parts of Iraq for the past month, were sparked by longstanding complaints over unemployment, government corruption, and a lack of basic services.

Similar protests earlier this month were brutally put down by security forces, leaving nearly 150 people dead, according to BBC News. The semi-official Iraq High Commission for Human Rights, which accounts for violence in additional cities in southern Iraq, put the death toll at 63. Security forces fired tear gas as protesters tried to remove blast walls from a main bridge leading to the government district. By nightfall, the security forces had chased the protesters back to Tahrir Square, a central roundabout. Demonstrators gather in the Iraqi capital Baghdad's Tahrir square as security forces use tear gas to push them away on October 26, 2019.

The death toll from anti-government protests in Iraq rose to nearly 100 on Saturday, the fifth day of protests, the country's parliamentary human rights commission said. Authorities have been trying to control the protests through curfews and a near-total internet blackout, according to BBC News. An Iraqi protester waves the national flag during a demonstration against state corruption, failing public services, and unemployment, in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on October 5, 2019. As in previous days, protesters waited to gather until the afternoon, when temperatures were cooler and ensured greater participation, and security forces responded by opening fire. Security forces responded with gunfire, but there was no immediate word on casualties, said the officials, who described the protest as "very large."

Security agencies fatally shot 19 protesters and wounded more than three dozen in a sustained deadly response that has claimed more than 80 lives since the upheaval began. The semiofficial Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, affiliated with the parliament, put the death toll at 94. Scrambling to contain the demonstrations, Iraqi leaders called an emergency session of parliament Saturday to discuss the protesters' demands. As in previous days, protesters waited to gather until the afternoon, when temperatures were cooler and ensured greater participation, and security forces responded by opening fire. Security forces responded with gunfire, but there was no immediate word on casualties, said the officials, who described the protest as "very large."