On August 9 the spokesman for the office of commander in chief announced the findings of an investigation into the July 27 gun battle at the Karkh Agriculture Directorate in Baghdad. It found that elements of Kataib Hezbollah’s 45th and 46th Hashd Brigades were responsible. The former Karkh agriculture director Iyad Kazim Ali was also implicated in corruption, document and contract forgery and the illegal seizure of land which benefited the Hashd.
In response Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani dismissed the heads of the two Kataib Hezbollah brigades for acting without orders and causing casualties amongst the police. The premier went on to demand a review of the Hashd. This marked a rare occasion when the government took on the powerful pro-Iran factions within the Hashd. Usually these groups are off limits because they are part of the ruling coalition and are backed by Tehran.
On July 27 Ali was to be replaced as Karkh agriculture director. The bodyguards of his replacement caused a confrontation and Ali called his friends in Kataib Hezbollah. They arrived at the government building leading to gun fire that killed a policeman and a civilian. Ali was being dismissed because he had been seizing land in southern Baghdad that was set for a major road development and giving some of it to Katiab Hezbollah.
Kataib Hezbollah responded to Sudani’s actions by rejecting the blame for the July gun battle. It accused the government of trying to undermine it by exaggerated the situation.
Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law was also critical claiming that PM Sudani was causing tension with the Hashd and implied he was acting for western countries meaning the United States.
How far this will go is unknown. It comes amidst a controversy over a new Hashd law that would further institutionalize the force. Iran also sent its secretary general of its National Security Council to Baghdad to shore up its allies. In these situations Baghdad usually announces an investigation which never releases its findings. That has finally happened and two commanders have been held accountable. Sudani may be attempted to assert his power over these factions. On the other hand, it might have just been a face saving measure before this year’s elections to show that the PM was doing something when it was only cosmetic in nature.
SOURCES
Al Aalem, "The fall of Baghdad’s neutrality: A security agreement overturns the dual balance and ends the policy of Tehran’s influence,” 8/12/25
- “State of Law warns of dangerous showdown with Iraqi armed factions,” 8/10/25
NINA, “The results of the investigation into the heinous attack on Karkh Agriculture Department announced,” 8/9/25
Shafaq News, “Kataib Hezbollah rejects Baghdad clash probe, accuses government of targeting PMF,” 8/10/25
Xinhua, “Iraqi PM sacks paramilitary commanders over gov’t office attack,” 8/10/25
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