Iraq investigates attacks on Syrian workers

The Iraqi government announced on Wednesday that it would launch an investigation into the recent attacks targeting Syrian workers in Iraq. Reportedly, some Syrians in Iraq have been attacked by local armed groups in recent days, allegedly for supporting Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa and his "Liberation of al-Sham Organization," a rebel group turned ruling party. These attacks have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of Syrian workers in Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the attacks "shameful acts of violence." In a statement, he said, "The law will be fully enforced against all those involved in these attacks." A Shiite group called "Ya Ali Popular Formations" released a video showing its members attacking and beating some Syrian workers in Iraq. The video showed members of the group interrogating a Syrian man, then slapping him repeatedly and throwing planks of wood at him, highlighting the severity of the violence.

A statement purportedly released by the group also circulated on Telegram and other social media networks, linking their recent actions to recent violence in the Syrian coastal region. In the Syrian coastal region conflicts between pro-Assad militants and current government forces have resulted in deadly attacks against Syrian Alawites. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) stated that at least 803 extrajudicial executions were carried out by both sides in just a few days. Many Alawites fled to Lebanon after the attacks. The Alawites are a 10th-century offshoot of Shia Islam that still shares many commonalities with the sect.

The group wrote in its statement: "For months, we have been monitoring the accounts of Syrians working in Iraq who praise Jolani and his rule." Jolani is an earlier alias of al-Sharaa. "We turned a blind eye to this because it was a political matter, but since the massacres began, these social media groups have turned into dens of spies, gloating over our Alawite brothers and provoking the Iraqi street, which is majority Shiite." The group stated that, as a result, they decided to "hunt down all Syrians who support Jolani and deport them." They added, "Deleting your posts and incitement will be useless, because we have a comprehensive database and have been monitoring you for months."

Two interior ministry officials, who asked not to be named, told Agence France-Presse that Iraqi forces had also arrested at least 13 Syrians, accusing them of "promoting terrorist organizations" and supporting the massacres that have taken place in Syria in recent days. The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attacks and calling on the Iraqi government to take action. "The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemns the treatment of Syrians in Iraq, as these acts constitute a violation of human rights and international law," the statement said. "We affirm our full support for our people, and we call on the esteemed Iraqi government to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable and to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Syrians residing in Iraq."