Latest news with #AliAl-Sistani
Shafaq News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
We are your fighters: Pro-Khamenei mobilization emerges in southern Iraq
Shafaq News/ A group of Shiite seminary students in Basra announced on Thursday that they are prepared to carry out suicide operations in support of Iran. The group declared loyalty to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and affirmed their adherence to the religious authority in Najaf [Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani]. The announcement, read aloud during a press conference, marks the first public mobilization of its kind in Iraq since the outbreak of direct hostilities between Israel and Iran. 'We do not condemn, we do not issue statements—we point our weapons at the chests of traitors,' the statement read. 'To Sayyed Khamenei, we say: we are your fighters.' The group called on the Iraqi government to move beyond 'cold statements' and enact sovereign action by immediately closing Iraqi airspace to any aircraft used for military operations against Iran, calling such a move 'the least level of response.' They further demanded the expulsion of foreign forces, singling out US troops as 'the most dangerous occupiers,' and described the American embassy in Baghdad as 'a poisoned dagger in Iraq's sovereignty.' Speaking to Shafaq News, cleric Sheikh Ali al-Maliki emphasized, 'The time calls for action, not compromise. We are openly declaring ourselves martyrdom projects in the hands of the Guardian Jurist, Ayatollah Khamenei, and we are fully prepared to defend Iran and confront the agents of the Zionist [Israel] project.' Meanwhile, in Babil province, residents of Al-Midhatiya staged a demonstration, raising images of both the Najaf clerical establishment and Khamenei, alongside Iranian and Iraqi flags. Protesters denounced Israeli strikes on Iran and pledged full solidarity with Tehran. The escalation comes days after Abu Ala al-Walai, secretary-general of the Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada armed group, warned that dozens of Iraqi "martyrs-in-waiting" are prepared to attack US interests if full-scale war erupts between Iran and Israel. Tensions have soared since June 13, when Israel launched a surprise wave of missile strikes deep inside Iranian territory. Iran responded that same night with massive retaliatory barrages. The exchanges have resulted in dozens of casualties and widespread infrastructure damage on both sides, triggering international alarm over the potential for a broader war that could destabilize the entire region.
Iraqi News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani warns against Iran-Israel escalation, calls for international intervention
Najaf ( – Iraq's top Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, issued a strong warning on Thursday (June 19, 2025) regarding the ongoing military strikes between Israel and Iran, calling for international intervention to stop the war. In a statement from his office, Al-Sistani condemned the 'continued military aggression' against Iran and any threats to its leadership. He warned that any 'criminal escalation' could lead to widespread chaos and spiral out of control, urging world bodies to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The statement comes on the seventh day of mutual attacks between Iran and Israel. Separately, Ali Al-Fatlawi, a leader in the Fatah Alliance, a prominent Iraqi political coalition, told media that if the situation escalates further, it is possible the supreme religious authority could issue a fatwa for 'jihad' against the US and Israel. Al-Sistani's official statement, however, focused on de-escalation and a diplomatic solution, reflecting the gravity with which Iraq's highest religious authority views the regional conflict.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Iraq's Sistani condemns threats against Iran's Supreme Leader
BAGHDAD — Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, the highest Shia religious authority in Iraq, has strongly condemned any threats or assassination attempts targeting Iran's Ali Khamenei. In a statement published on his official website, Sistani warned that such actions would violate religious, moral, and international laws, carrying 'very serious consequences for the entire region.' He cautioned that these acts could trigger 'widespread chaos that would worsen the suffering of the region's people and severely damage everyone's interests.' Sistani called on global governments to work towards ending the ongoing conflict and to pursue a peaceful resolution to Iran's nuclear issue. Sistani holds spiritual authority over millions of Shia Muslims in Iraq and around the world. — Euronews
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Parliament demands air defense upgrade
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraq's Parliament called for urgent enhancement of national air defense systems after repeated Israeli violations of Iraqi airspace during operations against Iran. In a statement following a closed-door session, lawmakers urged the government to strengthen aerial, land, and maritime defense capabilities, file a formal complaint with the United Nations, and safeguard Iraqi sovereignty. The Parliament also endorsed the Najaf religious authority's (Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani) stance in support of Iran and firmly rejected the use of Iraqi territory for cross-border military operations. MP Firas al-Maslamawi of the State of Law Coalition, a main alliance within the pro-Iranian Coordination Framework, pointed to growing calls to reassess Iraq's security cooperation with the Global Coalition, citing failures to prevent airspace violations and effectively address ISIS threats. 'Israeli incursions and ineffective counterterrorism coordination highlight the urgent need to protect our airspace,' he noted. To address defense gaps, Parliament announced the formation of a joint committee from the security and integrity blocs to examine delays in acquiring modern air defense systems. Since June 13, Iraqi airspace has become a corridor for missiles and drones exchanged between Israel and Iran, and according to military experts, Baghdad currently lacks advanced systems capable of intercepting such threats. In response, Iraqi forces have deployed anti-air units to strategic sites, including the Bazarkan oil field in Maysan province. A security official told Shafaq News the systems remain in monitoring mode and will only be activated if a direct threat is detected.
Iraqi News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Pope Francis, who made historic visit to Iraq, dies at 88
Baghdad ( – On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church died at the age of 88. After a protracted illness, the Vatican confirmed his death. His historic trip to Iraq in March 2021—the first by a sitting pontiff to visit the nation, was one of the highlights of his pontificate. Pope Francis visited Baghdad, Najaf, Ur, Mosul, Qaraqosh, and Erbil over the course of four days, delivering a message of peace, reconciliation, and hope to a country that has been devastated by years of sectarian bloodshed and war. During his tour, the Pope had a rare historic interfaith meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, one of the most powerful leaders of Shiite Islam. Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani with Pope Francis in Iraq in 2021 Additionally, he spoke to displaced Christian communities in Qaraqosh and offered prayers amidst the rubble of churches in Mosul. In a startling revelation years later, Pope Francis disclosed in his autobiography that he had survived two assassination attempts during his visit to Mosul. According to a report by Iraqi News, British intelligence uncovered planned suicide bombings targeting the Pope, but Iraqi security forces managed to thwart the attacks before they could be carried out. Pope Francis's visit to Iraq inspired initiatives to promote national cohesion and solidarity, leaving a lasting impression. In recognition of his meeting with Al-Sistani, the Iraqi government subsequently declared March 6 to be the Day of Tolerance and Coexistence.
