At Least 15 Killed in Iraqi Unrest After Influential Leader Announces Retirement

Supporters of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr clashed with riot police and entered Iraq's Republican Palace on Monday after the influential Iraqi leader announced his “final withdrawal” from politics. 

At least 15 people have been killed and hundreds more injured, according to multiple reports. The Iraqi military declared a nationwide curfew, and caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi suspended cabinet meetings, which usually meet in the Republican Palace. Al-Kadhimi and Iraqi President Barham Salih urged calm, and the U.S. evacuated its embassy employees from the area. Iran closed its border with Iraq on Tuesday, and several other countries canceled flights to the nation.

The clashes came after months of political turmoil as al-Sadr’s populist Sadrist movement and its rivals tried to form a governing coalition in Iraq’s parliament. In June, al-Sadr ordered his bloc to withdraw from parliament after calling for new elections. Some experts noted that al-Sadr had backtracked on previous supposed resignations, making it unclear whether the latest announcement would really be a “final” withdrawal. 

Coverage was widespread across the spectrum and generally similar between left and right-rated outlets. Some coverage from right-rated outlets like The Daily Wire (Right bias) highlighted the U.S. embassy staff evacuations, echoing the 2012 attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Updated 8/30/22 at 9:10 a.m. ET with new death toll and more developments.