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War-weary Iraq weighs Syria intervention as rebels advance

Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim ruling parties and armed groups are weighing the advantages and disadvantages of armed intervention in Syria, deeming a severe hazard the advance of Sunni Islamist rebels who have taken 2 Syrian cities and now bear down on a third.

Baghdad has a dark history with Syria-based Sunni fighters, countless whom crossed into Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion and sustained years of sectarian killing before returning again in 2013 as Islamic State to conquer a 3rd of the nation.

The Syrian rebels advancing in Syria today, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have actually disavowed Al Qaeda and IS and say they have no ambitions in Iraq, however ruling factions have little rely on those assertions.

Baghdad has amassed on its border with Syria thousands of fighters from its conventional military along with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a security agency including many Iran-aligned armed groups that previously combated in Syria.

The orders up until now are to protect Iraq's western flank, rather than to intervene to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to an Iraqi Shi'ite political leader, a federal government adviser and an Arab diplomat informed on the matter.

But the estimation could alter, at least for some Iraqi factions, depending on developments, including if the rebels take the significant Syrian city of Homs, if Assad falls, or if Shi'ites are persecuted, the sources said.

Reuters previously reported that numerous Iraqi fighters had actually crossed into Syria to help strengthen Assad's forces, signing up with Iraqi and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters currently in the country, but there has not yet been a mass-mobilization from Iraq.

The Iraqi government's stance from the beginning has been that Iraq is not a side in this crisis, stated Falih al-Fayadh, leader of the PMF in a telecasted speech on Friday.

However it is not wise for there to be a fire in your neighbour's house while you sleep reassured without thinking of what might take place, he stated.

SUDANI SEEKS TO AVOID REGIONAL CONFLICT

Led by a coalition of mostly Shi'ite political celebrations and armed groups close to Iran, Iraq is a major gamer in Tehran's. so-called Axis of Resistance that includes Hamas in Gaza and. Lebanese Hezbollah.

Israeli onslaughts have heavily impaired the latter 2. players, leading some analysts to evaluate that the 10s of. countless solidified fighters in Iraq's armed formations are. now the force in Iran's network of allies best-placed to. intervene in Syria.

But the nation's federal government, led by moderate Prime Minister. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has actually tried frantically to prevent being. dragged into spiralling regional dispute, rather trying to. focus on rebuilding after years of war.

The ruling union is frequently pulled in different. instructions, with some groups that fought along with Assad in the. previous and have interests in Syria more partial to entering once again,. while other parties see such an intervention as destabilising.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein consulted with Syrian Foreign. Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Baghdad on Wednesday, saying that. Iraq viewed advancements in Syria with severe issue.

The leader of the Syrian rebels, Abu Mohammad al-Golani,. himself began his battling career with Al Qaeda in Iraq, where. he was put behind bars by the U.S., before moving to Syria to establish. the extremist group's franchise there.

Golani split from Al Qaeda in 2016 and on Thursday prompted. Sudani to prevent the PMF from intervening in Syria, saying in a. video posted online that the rebels wished to have tactical and. economic ties to Iraq once they toppled Assad's routine.

They may declare to be in a different state of mind and a different. group, but they quite look the exact same from Iraq, the. federal government advisor stated.

(source: Reuters)