Iraq: Tribal clashes in Baghdad kill six, including police
An Iraqi security volunteer vehicle patrols the streets of southern Baghdad's Saydiyah neighborhood
At least six people have been killed, including four policemen, in clashes between two local tribes in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, according to The New Arab via AFP on September 7th.
Iraqi security officials, who remain anonymous, stated that the clashes on September 6th were caused by increased fees for a private power generator.
A large majority of Iraq’s citizens are dependent on private generators to compensate for prolonged daily outages in the public power supply. Iraq has been experiencing chronic power shortages amid an electricity crisis, which came against the backdrop of a major heatwave in August. Along with facing public anger towards a lack of energy capacity, the Iraqi government has sought to improve its energy infrastructure with regional and international collaboration, such as with deals with the Turkish energy company, Karpowership company, and the US oil giant Chevron.
The Interior Ministry reported that violence in the Saada area of Baghdad left four police officers dead, including two commanders, after they intervened to break up a “tribal dispute.”
Another security official, who requested anonymity, said the death toll was revised after two policemen died from their injuries.
The ministry added that nine other officers suffered wounds.
It stated that the force was attacked by those who initiated the violence and returned fire which killed two.
Five participants of the clashes were wounded and several others were arrested, according to the ministry.
Tribal clashes such as these are regular in Iraq, given how the war-torn country is flooded with weapons, where even minor disputes can escalate into deadly violence.
Tribes hold considerable influence, often adhering to their own moral and judicial codes, and maintain vast stockpiles of weapons.
Iraq has only recently started to recover a sense of stability following tens of years of violence that came after the 2003 invasion of the country by a US-led coalition that toppled its former leader, Saddam Hussein.
Despite these bouts of violence, it has been reported that US troops have began withdrawing from the Ain al-Asad base in Anbar province and the Victory Base Complex in Baghdad International Airport. This follows continued negotiations between the US and Iraq regarding the planned withdrawal of these forces, with the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani, emphasising the need for this.
The New Arab via AFP, Maghrebi.org
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