Prominent leaders in the Popular Mobilization Forces hinted at withdrawing confidence from the Iraqi government, while senior sources confirmed that the repercussions of the Green Zone incursion last week peaked when faction leaders discussed "a project to topple Mustafa al-Kadhimi's term." Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Fatah Alliance, stated in a TV interview that "the circumstances surrounding al-Kadhimi's assignment compelled him to support him, and he was sincere in that," but he added, "I will not be with him if the course deviates in the mission of expelling foreign forces from Iraq, restoring the state's dignity, and securing the election atmosphere," as reported by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Thursday.
For his part, Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, said in another TV interview that "al-Kadhimi harbors hostility towards the Popular Mobilization Forces." He added that "al-Kadhimi's government has adopted an anti-Hashd policy since day one, and its practices peaked with the arrest of leader Qasim Muslih."
Three Shiite leaders in Iraq stated that "incomplete dialogues among faction leaders have rekindled thoughts about ending al-Kadhimi's term, as continuing these dialogues could lead to greater measures than Muslih's arrest." However, sources pointed out that the project faced significant hesitancy from senior Shiite leaders "not in defense of al-Kadhimi, but due to complex political calculations."
