Iraqi leader al-Sadr issues caution over Israel’s alleged ‘colonial actions’ in Syria
Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential leader of Iraq’s Sadrist Movement, has issued a strong caution regarding what he describes as Israel’s “colonial expansion” into Syrian territory. He has called on the leader of Syria’s transitional government to firmly oppose ongoing Israeli military actions within the region.
In a recent communication with Ahmed al-Sharaa, widely recognized by his alias Abu Mohammad al-Julani, Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr from Iraq addressed developments in Syria. Al-Sharaa, who leads the insurgent faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), orchestrated a significant military campaign in December 2024 that resulted in the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
On Wednesday, Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr released a statement following an announcement by Israel regarding airstrikes on unspecified “military sites” in southern Syria the previous day. According to reports by a monitoring organization, the strikes resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals.
The recent airstrikes mark the latest series of Israeli military actions targeting Syrian territory in recent years, persisting even after the transitional government, headed by al-Julani, assumed authority.
An Iraqi cleric has issued a statement in Arabic, expressing ongoing vigilance over what he described as “colonial actions by Zionist forces” and “terrorist aggression” towards Syria.
Al-Sadr has publicly criticized the Israeli airstrikes, urging Arab governments, particularly the Syrian transitional authorities, to speak out against the bombings and Israel’s “colonial expansion” into Syrian land.
He appealed to al-Julani to cease making sectarian comments, emphasizing that eliminating such rhetoric could bolster unity among Islamic and Arab nations. This unity, he suggested, would empower these countries to adopt a resolute position against what he described as “Zionist-American aggression” across Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.
In a statement issued last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Israeli military will prevent any infiltration by factions associated with the HTS organization or the new Syrian army into the regions located south of Damascus. This security directive is set to encompass the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda as part of an ongoing effort to maintain regional stability.
