Maliki frames Iran-Israel conflict as battle between ‘path of Ali’ and ‘Zionism’

BAGHDAD — Nouri Al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition and former Iraqi PM, called on what he described as “the Islamic nation” to stand with Iran in its confrontation with Israel, describing the conflict as a broader struggle between “the path of Ali and the path of Zionism.”

Ali Ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and is recognized as the fourth caliph in Sunni Islam and the first imam in Shia Islam.

Speaking during an event in Baghdad commemorating Al-Ghadeer Day, he said, “Today, those standing against the illegitimate Zionist entity are the sons and followers of Ali.” While acknowledging support from other Muslim communities, Al-Maliki claimed that “today’s battle is one between the path of Ali and the path of Zionism.”

According to the Shia tradition, Al-Ghadeer Day marks when Prophet Mohammed designated his Imam Ali as his successor, a claim disputed by Sunnis who recognize Ali as the fourth caliph after Abu Bakr, Omar, and Othman.

Calling on Muslim nations to align with Iran, Al-Maliki said, “We in Iraq—while it is true that the battle is not on our borders—believe that the entire Islamic nation must stand by Iran, support and assist it. War is not a picnic, and international institutions must stand by what is right.”

Al-Maliki concluded by framing support for Iran as an obligation: “We see standing with the Islamic Republic and showing solidarity with it by all available means as a religious, moral, and humanitarian duty.”

Although Nouri Al-Maliki stepped down as prime minister a decade ago, he continues to play a significant role in Iraqi politics.

Excerpts from Nouri Al-Maliki’s statement during an event in Baghdad:

Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib left a will for us, not just for Malik Al-Ashtar, which states: “Do not be too soft lest you be squeezed, and do not be too hard lest you break.” This is the political model that should characterize those who manage the public affairs of the nation — not to be soft, tender, and moist to the point that those who are enemies of Islam can press and defeat him, and not to be rigid without proper management and thereby break, causing the nation to break with him.

Today, those standing against the illegitimate Zionist entity are the sons and followers of Ali. We do not diminish the role of our Muslim brothers who stood with us, but today’s battle is one between the path of Ali and the path of Zionism.

The sons of Ali have achieved a great victory today in showing the world that what is said about the Israeli army being invincible is untrue. They have defeated the Israeli army, and the images we see from inside Tel Aviv are a great victory achieved by the Islamic Republic with the courage of the Commander of the Faithful.

The Islamic nation must stand by Iran against Zionism.

We in Iraq — while it is true that the battle is not on our borders — believe that the entire Islamic nation must stand by Iran, support and assist it. War is not a picnic, and international institutions must stand by what is right.

Zionist behavior represents a danger not only to Iran and Iraq but to the entire Islamic nation and the whole world.

The aggression faced by the Islamic Republic of Iran is nothing but an attempt to subject this nation and this state to the dictates of the Zionists and the arrogant powers after all previous methods failed to undermine its position and resistance approach.

We see standing with the Islamic Republic and showing solidarity with it by all available means as a religious, moral, and humanitarian duty. We hope this aggression ends soon and the enemies are defeated.