Iraqi Kurds and Sunnis fear intra-Shiite conflict could spiral to other communities

Sunnis and Kurds in Iraq are wary that if unresolved, the fighting among Shiite factions could spill over into their regions.
Supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gather outside the Iraqi parliament in the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad, on the seventh day of protests against the nomination of a rival Shiite faction for the position of prime minister in the heavily-guarded Green Zone, on Aug. 5, 2022.
Supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gather outside the Iraqi parliament in the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad, on the seventh day of protests against the nomination of a rival Shiite faction for the position of prime minister in the heavily guarded Green Zone, on Aug. 5, 2022. - AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images
Mustafa_Saadoun.jpg
Mustafa Saadoun
@SaadoonMustafa

The Shiite split no longer seems to be limited to central and southern Iraq, the areas of influence of Shiite parties. Its consequences are now also being felt by the Sunni and Kurdish parties in the north and west of the country. 

On Aug. 3, the President of Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, warned that Iraq's dangerously tense political and security situation “requires the cooperation of all parties to preserve the security and stability of the country.”

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