The power and lawlessness of the pro-Iran Hashd was once again on display in Baghdad at the end of July. A routine replacement of a district agricultural director led to a gun battle between Kataib Hezbollah and the police as the former was relying upon the official to seize land to enrich itself. The government as usual did nothing of consequence to stop this faction.
On July 27 elements of Kataib Hezbollah stormed an Agriculture Ministry building in the Karkh district of Baghdad to try to stop a new director being sworn in. Iyad Kadhim Ali the former director of the Karkh Agriculture Department was being replaced due to corruption charges by Osama Hassan Saloumi.
Kadhim had been assisting Kataib Hezbollah buy up agriculture land in southern Baghdad province and displacing the locals to make way for a new major road development.
In June the head of the Baghdad Provincial Council Ammar Hamdani asked for the Agriculture Ministry to replace Kadhim. When that time came the new director Salmoui brought a group of armed bodyguards that led to a confrontation with Kadhim’s people. Saloumi happens to be backed by the Imam Ali Brigades who also want the land in southern Baghdad to profit from. Kadhim ended up calling his allies and they showed up to disrupt the process. The police came leading to a gun battle. One policeman and one civilian were killed as a result and 12 were injured.
In the aftermath 14 people were arrested. Originally it was reported that they came from the 45th and 46th Hashd Brigades which belong to Kataib Hezbollah. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy found that only one of those was actually involved in the violence and the rest were Kataib Hezbollah house guards and innocent bystanders.
Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani met with members of the Coordination Framework the ruling coalition and announced an immediate investigation. That means nothing will happen. Kataib Hezbollah and the Imam Ali Brigades are not only part of the security forces but the government as well and backed by Iran. That makes them untouchable according to the rules set by the Iraqi elite.
Iraqi militias have been a lawless force since the fall of Saddam in 2003. They have seized government assets and positions to enhance their power and make money off of. The Coordination Framework is full of these factions and they have gained more government offices as a result. They have been willing to fight for their fiefdom’s and the events in Karkh are just the latest example.
SOURCES
Al Aalem, “Al-Sudani tracks the factions’ seizure of territory south of Baghdad ... but the stick is still in the middle!” 7/29/25
- “”Uncontrolled Tawahi” imposes its control over Madain and Nahrawan: seizure, demolition, and government silence,” 7/29/25
Bas News, “Clashes Between Iraqi Police and Militias Injure Several in Baghdad," 7/27/25
- “Ex-Agriculture Director Arrested Over Deadly Baghdad Clashes,” 7/28/25
Knights, Michael, Malik, Hamdi, Ameer al-Kaabi, “Kataib Hezbollah Kills an Iraqi Policeman and Civilian in Baghdad,” Washington Institute for Near East Policy,” 7/29/25
Al Mada, “Washington accuses “armed factions” of the Sadiya clashes, while the faction considers them friendly fire," 7/29/25
Al Masalah, "The death toll from clashes south of Baghdad has been revealed, including a civilian killed by “accident,”” 7/27/25
Reuters, “Iraqi police clash with paramilitary fighters who stormed government building,” 7/27/25
Rudaw, “Iraqi authorities arrest PMF members linked to attack on ministry," 7/27/25
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