Sadr reacted to the developments in Syria

Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia cleric, responded to the developments in Syria by publishing a message on social media. According to Iraqi media, Muqtada al-Sadr emphasized in his message: “We are closely monitoring the situation in our dear neighboring country, Syria, and we have nothing but prayers for all the people and tribes of this free and proud nation. We pray that God keeps away from them calamity, terrorism, extremism, oppression, darkness, sectarianism, and foreign interference.”He added, “We remain firm in our position of non-interference in Syria’s affairs and in not opposing the decisions of the Syrian people because they alone are the reference to decide their own destiny.”He continued, “We hope that everyone will be cautious and not fall into the three-pronged schemes of the U.S., U.K., and Israel, along with their puppets, aimed at destroying religion, eliminating unity, and spreading division.”Muqtada al-Sadr concluded his message by stating, “It is essential that the Iraqi government, people, and all parties, including paramilitary and security forces, refrain from interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, and the government must prevent such interference and punish those who undermine Iraq’s security.”Muqtada al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shia cleric and politician, is a former opponent of Saddam Hussein’s regime, advocates for an Islamic government, and opposes foreign forces in Iraq. His militia, known as the Mahdi Army, has had clashes with U.S. coalition forces, Sunni extremists, and the Iraqi central government at various times. His main base of support is in the southern provinces of Iraq, particularly in Sadr City, a Shia neighborhood in Baghdad..