Influential Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has blamed armed groups and Baghdad’s failure to establish state control over weapons for fighters killed in joint US-Saudi air strikes.
Writing on X, al-Sadr accused militia leaders of pursuing personal interests while exposing their fighters and Iraqi security personnel to deadly attacks.
“The militias’ reckless actions and the failure to restrict weapons to the state have been, and continue to be, the cause of the unjust martyrdom of our fighters,” he said.
Al-Sadr said militia leaders continued to “enjoy security, comfort, and commerce”. He demanded an end to “individualistic and irrational” actions by armed factions.
The cleric, who commands a large following among Iraqi Shia Muslims and has emerged as a prominent critic of Tehran’s influence, offered condolences to the victims’ families.
“There is no solace for those whose actions caused their loss,” he said.
