Amid attempts to quell violence in cities across Iraq, a UN official stressed Tuesday that “the smallest spark can suffice to trigger a major disaster.” 

In the Oct. 4 Security Council briefing, UN Special Representative for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert discussed worrisome developments in Iraq following major protests in recent weeks, violence in both the capital and southern parts of the country, and deadly Iranian strikes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

“The importance of maintaining calm, of maintaining dialogue, constitutional compliance, respect for democratic principles, the unimpeded working of state institutions, and a functioning government,” have been repeatedly underlined by the UN in its meetings with Iraqi officials and others over the past year, she said. “But regretfully, discord and power play prevailed over a sense of common duty.” 

For months, Hennis-Plasschaert said, “the ordinary Iraqi citizen was being held hostage to an unpredictable and untenable situation.” And, she added, "we have not seen the end of it yet. Last night, after three days of rocket attacks, Basra witnessed intense fighting, while smaller incidents were reported in other southern governorates.”