Civil war may spark in Iraq next year, claim international analysts

Amman: – Two months have been completed since the general elections in Iraq, but no government has been formed. The protests held by the Iran supporter groups are hindering the process of government formation. The United States and the Middle East are also trying to use their influence in Iraq. International analysts are warning that if the situation remains the same, a tug of war will start in Iraq, culminating in a civil war.

The Party of Muqtada Al-Sadr won the maximum of 73 seats in the elections held in October in Iraq. Despite this, Sadr will have to help other parties form the government, and moves have started in that direction. Interim Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, the United States and the United Nations welcomed the results of the elections held in Iraq.

But Iran is opposed to the election of Sadr, who once was connected to Iran. The Iran affiliated groups have termed the Sadr victory as illegal and have demanded re-election. At the same time, the Iran-backed groups have started large scale protests in Iraq. The change in the stance of Muqtada Al-Sadr is said to be the main reason for this. Sadr has adopted a stand since the last few years that there should be a government in Iraq, which is neither under US influence nor under Iranian influence. Sadr is firm that the US military should leave Iraq. But at the same time, Sadr has announced that the government in Iraq should not be under Iranian influence.

Moreover, talks are rife that Muqtada Al-Sadr may retain Al-Kadhimi as the Prime Minister in the new government. A few weeks ago, analysts pointed out that Sadr also visited Saudi Arabia. Iran is worried that the Iranian influence in Iraq will be finished if that happens. Therefore, Iran, the United States and the Arab Gulf countries are making all the efforts simultaneously not to lose the grip over Iraq. Analysts claim that the conflict among these could spark a civil war in Iraq.