Unprecedented Stance: Why Did al-Sadr Oppose Iraq's Involvement in Syria?

In a move that sets him apart from the Shiite bloc in the region, Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist Movement in Iraq, has firmly rejected any Iraqi involvement—by the government, the people, or militias—in Syria’s affairs. He has also called for penalties against those who violate this stance, reiterating his position since the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011.

Since the Syrian opposition launched Operation Deterrence of Aggression on November 27, 2024, the Iraqi government and Iran-aligned militias have declared their support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime, vowing not to stand idly by in the face of advancing factions they have labeled as “terrorists.”

On the morning of December 8, 2024, the Syrian people toppled the Assad regime after opposition factions entered Damascus, mere hours after achieving full control of the city of Homs.

‘Forbidden Combat’

Contrary to the positions of Iran, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shiite militias, which have supported Assad militarily and politically since 2012, al-Sadr opposed deploying his military wing, Saraya al-Salam (the Peace Brigades), to fight in Syria, deeming such acts “religiously forbidden.”

In a recent statement, posted on X in December 2024, al-Sadr said, “We are closely monitoring the situation in our dear neighboring country, Syria, and we can only offer prayers for its proud, free people of all sects, hoping that God protects their nation from terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, and foreign interference.” 

“We remain firm in our stance of non-interference in Syria’s affairs, respecting the right of its people to decide their own fate. I urge everyone not to fall into the schemes of the cursed triad—America, Britain, and Israel—and their allies, who seek to destroy religion, unity, and solidarity.”

Al-Sadr emphasized the need for Iraq—its government, people, factions, and security forces—to stay out of Syrian affairs, as in the past. He further called on the government to prevent such interventions and punish those who breach Iraq’s security and ideological stability.

In a 2017 television interview, when asked whether fighting in Syria justifies labeling any faction as terrorist, Muqtada al-Sadr responded, “Yes, because [that country] has become a symbol of both terrorism and anti-terrorism.”

“The Peace Brigades are not present in Syria because they are prohibited from going there. It is forbidden. I am not willing to sacrifice for any country other than my own. My homeland deserves my sacrifices first, especially given the dangers we face here, which may exceed those in Syria. Therefore, my priority is to my people.”

On April 8, 2017, al-Sadr issued a statement urging Bashar al-Assad to step down to spare Syria the devastation of war and terrorism.

He also called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and militias from Syria, asserting that the Syrian people should take control of their own future.

Internal Struggle

Regarding Muqtada al-Sadr's stance on the ongoing battles in Syria (before Assad’s fall), a member of the Sadrist Movement, Issam Hussein, noted in a post on X that al-Sadr’s call for non-intervention aligns with his belief that Iraq, as a democratic nation with governments changing every four years, should remain out of Syria’s affairs.
“Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr’s statement does not suggest complacency within our borders—you must understand this clearly. His refusal to intervene in Syria is conditional on Iraq staying safe and free from violence. The Sayyid has vehemently rejected meddling in Syrian affairs, and his stance on Iraq’s security is likely even more resolute.”

Iraqi researcher Latif al-Mahdawi, on the other hand, argued that al-Sadr had predicted the inevitable fall of the Assad regime once its allies withdrew, making any defense of Assad pointless.

Speaking to Al-Estiklal, al-Mahdawi pointed out that al-Sadr’s stance reflects strategic foresight regarding his political future, relationships with the Arab world, and the realities of post-Assad Syria.

He noted that any government emerging in the aftermath of Assad’s regime would likely consider al-Sadr’s non-interventionist stance, positioning him favorably for building future ties with a new Syrian leadership.

“Al-Sadr often plays on contradictions to present himself as a political reformer, but his sudden decisions often undo any positive image. While his stance on Syria is commendable, he may later reverse it with a conflicting statement.”

The researcher also highlighted al-Sadr’s divergence from the policies of Iran and its militias and parties in Iraq, describing it as part of the ongoing power struggle between them.

Al-Sadr’s stance on Syria also serves as a means to undermine Iran-aligned militias by opposing their policies and movements, both domestically and internationally, which he perceives as Iranian directives Iraq should not follow, according to al-Mahdawi.

Many of the prominent militias active today trace their roots to the Mahdi Army, formed by al-Sadr in 2003 and frozen in 2008. These militias, which fought alongside Assad’s forces in Syria after the revolution began in 2011, have been accused of committing atrocities in both Iraq and Syria.

Notable among them are Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais Khazali; Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, headed by Akram Abbas al-Kaabi; and Kata'ib Imam Ali, led by Shibl al-Zaydi. These groups operate under Tehran’s authority, following the guidance of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as part of the “Wilayat al-Faqih” doctrine (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist).

A Dramatic Shift

Muqtada al-Sadr, once one of Iran's most prominent and influential allies following the U.S. occupation of Iraq in 2003, has evolved into one of its staunchest opponents. He has gone so far as to describe those close to Iran as “subordinates” and “lackeys.”

The relationship between al-Sadr and Iran has undergone significant changes, particularly after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, on January 3, 2020. This event marked a clear escalation in hostility between the two sides, despite multiple attempts by Tehran to mend relations, the latest of which occurred in February 2022.

In a detailed report, Reuters revealed a meeting on February 8, 2022, between Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani and al-Sadr at the latter’s residence in Najaf. The purpose of the meeting was to persuade al-Sadr to form a government in cooperation with the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework.

On August 23, 2023, the agency cited four Iraqi and Iranian officials familiar with the half-hour meeting, reporting that al-Sadr received the Iranian commander with noticeable coldness.

According to the officials, al-Sadr wore a traditional Iraqi southern keffiyeh in black and white, paired with a brown cloak, a deliberate departure from his usual public attire of all-black robes and a Shia turban. This choice was interpreted as a symbolic assertion of Iraqi sovereignty as an Arab nation charting its own course, free from Persian influence despite shared sectarian ties.

One official recounted that al-Sadr openly challenged Qaani during the meeting, asking, “What does Iraqi politics have to do with you?” 

“We don’t want you interfering.”

The encounter was the culmination of months of Qaani’s efforts to secure a meeting, including a public prayer at the grave of al-Sadr’s father during a prior visit, according to Reuters.

Muqtada al-Sadr reportedly turned down numerous incentives from Iran, including being recognized as the leading Shia political figure in Iraq, in exchange for aligning with Tehran's allies, according to statements attributed to Esmail Qaani by Iranian officials.

On August 29, 2022, al-Sadr announced his final withdrawal from political life and the closure of all institutions affiliated with him.

This decision followed his directive two months earlier for his parliamentary bloc, which had secured the most seats, to resign from parliament. This move transferred the responsibility for forming the government to the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework.

In leaked audio recordings circulated in June 2022 and attributed to former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, it was alleged that Iran supported al-Sadr following the U.S. occupation of Iraq, aiming to shape him into a “second Hassan Nasrallah,” referencing the former leader of Hezbollah.