Kataib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi urged the Shia Coordination Framework to suspend Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s executive powers. He made this demand during an emergency meeting on August 2, citing a serious erosion of trust. The call followed a deadly shooting incident in Baghdad’s Dora district that sparked tensions across political factions.
During the meeting, Hamidawi revealed that members of Kataib Hezbollah faced “severe torture” after their arrest linked to the Dora shooting. He demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the motives and conditions surrounding these detentions. The violent episode occurred at the Agriculture Directorate in southern Baghdad, where gunmen stormed the facility and opened fire.
Security forces responded immediately, leading to clashes that left one federal police officer dead. At least 15 other people were injured in the confrontation. Iraq’s Joint Operations Command identified the suspects as members of the Popular Mobilization Forces’ 45th and 46th brigades. They confirmed that the suspects were handed over to the judiciary for legal proceedings.
Following the attack, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad blamed Kataib Hezbollah for the violence. The embassy urged the Iraqi government to ensure accountability for those responsible. However, Kataib Hezbollah calls for suspension of the government’s executive powers to restore trust and stability. Hamidawi rejected any attempts to settle the matter quietly. “We will not accept a settlement, and the law must take its course to bring the abusers, whoever they are, to justice,” he insisted.
Earlier, Kataib Hezbollah accused Al-Sudani of setting a “malicious trap” in the Dora shooting incident. The group claimed the Prime Minister retaliated against Kataib Hezbollah’s political and media stance. In response, Kataib Hezbollah calls for suspension of Al-Sudani’s powers until a full investigation clarifies the facts. Hamidawi called for a special committee from the Coordination Framework to investigate the attack. He recommended using surveillance footage and eyewitness testimonies to reveal the truth.
Furthermore, Hamidawi accused Al-Sudani of abandoning key political principles. He said the Prime Minister’s decisions became “unbalanced” and conflicted with Iraq’s foundational values. To protect the country’s interests, Kataib Hezbollah calls for suspension of the Prime Minister’s powers until the government’s term ends on November 11.
He also thanked Coordination Framework leaders for maintaining unity amid regional challenges. Their “firm positions” helped safeguard Iraq during this turbulent period, he noted. As the situation develops, the group’s call for suspension highlights deep political tensions shaking Iraq’s leadership.
