The New York TimesThe New York Times

Iraqi Shiite factions turn their guns on each other in a deadly new phase

By Jane Arraf

30 Aug 2022 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

The violent situation in Baghdad has escalated over the past week - leaving at least 24 dead. The New York Times provides a detailed overview of what has been happening in Iraq's capital city.

After years of harsh repression under Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s majority Shiites finally came to political power in the wake of the 2003 U.S. invasion, and have largely held on to it through wrenching chapters of sectarian civil war, terrorist uprisings and internal tensions.

Now, long-building frictions among some Shiite factions have erupted into deadly fighting on the streets of Baghdad, leaving 24 dead. The turmoil has raised fears that the country is caught in a perilous cycle with no functioning government and no common ground to make one.

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