Harakat al-Nujaba chief attacks politicians who won’t condemn ‘US-Zionist aggression’

BAGHDAD — Akram al-Kaabi, secretary-general of the Iran-aligned Harakat al-Nujaba movement, issued a statement Friday attacking what he described as the silence of some Iraqi politicians regarding what he called “U.S.-Zionist aggression against Iraq, Iran and Lebanon,” while praising fighters who have taken up arms against U.S. forces.

Al-Kaabi did not name the politicians he was criticizing, saying he was addressing “some, not all,” and acknowledging that many others “still support and communicate and hold honorable positions.” Those who “do not dare to condemn the American-Zionist aggression against Iraq, Iran and Lebanon, and cannot pass their decision to choose a prime minister for their country,” he wrote, should “honor us with their silence.” He also criticized politicians who, in his words, “stand before war criminal and enemy of peace and humanity, the foolish Trump, fearful and humiliated.”

The statement appears aimed at Iraqi leaders who have called for neutrality and diplomacy since the war began Feb. 28. Iraq’s top leadership — including Prime Minister Sudani, President Rashid, Parliament Speaker Halbousi and Supreme Judicial Council President Zaidan — met Thursday and rejected attacks on Iraqi territory from all sides, stressing that negotiation and diplomatic solutions are the best path forward. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told his Russian counterpart Wednesday that Iraq is “the affected party, not a participant,” saying the country is “being subjected to attacks from both sides of the conflict.”

Al-Kaabi linked the politicians’ silence on the war to the stalled government formation process, saying those who cannot condemn the strikes also “cannot pass their decision to choose a prime minister for their country.” The Coordination Framework has nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate, a move that drew a public warning from President Trump that Washington would not continue support for Iraq if Maliki returned to office. Maliki has declined for weeks to attend Framework meetings or engage with withdrawal scenarios.

Al-Kaabi praised fighters who had decided to “liberate their country from the filth of the American occupiers,” saying they had left their families and taken up arms “in revenge for their religious authorities, sanctities and dignity.” Iran-aligned Iraqi militias have claimed responsibility for multiple drone attacks inside Iraq and the Kurdistan Region since the war began, with Erbil alone targeted by more than 100 missiles and drones.