Tribal feuds spread fear in Iraq’s Basra

BASRA, Iraq: Daud Salman and his family stayed put in their Iraqi village despite years of regular clashes between tribes, but when a stray bullet wounded his son, it was time to move.

In the north of Basra province, “bullets talk,” he said.

Feuds between the region’s and machineguns, killing bystanders and driving a never- ending cycle of revenge attacks.

Security forces, fearing reprisals, rarely intervene.

The region near Iraq’s southern border with Kuwait has long been the scene of inter- tribal battles over business disputes, questions of honor or even football matches.

But with security forces deployed to the country’s north to battle the Islamic State group (IS), Basra residents caught in the

“Peaceful families that have no weapons can’t live,” said Daud, 41.

The clashes have transformed resi

It was during yet another gun a bullet to the shoulder as he stood in front of the family home.

to move to Basra city, away from the tribal areas.

Residents of the province’s north say security forces are powerless to halt the clashes.

In the absence of heavily armed military and federal police forces, “local police are reluctant... to get involved in these battles because there is nothing to protect them,” said provincial council member Ghanem Hamid.

Even in situations where they could prevent the violence, police the tribes involved—hesitate to intervene for fear of later reprisals.

Haydar Ali, a 34-year-old engineer, suggested deploying soldiers and policemen from other provinces “who have no social relations or tribal ties that could affect their role.”

Residents have called on security regular raids have had little impact on the vast numbers of arms circulating in the province.

Tribes in Basra, the only province of Iraq with access to the sea, obtained a glut of weapons when the army of the late Saddam Hus- sein withdrew from Kuwait in 1991 in a hasty retreat.

They further boosted their stockpiles following the US-led invasion in 2003, said Sheikh Abbas alFadhli, who advises the provincial governorate on tribal affairs.

The tribal disputes have a direct impact on Basra’s economy.

Clashes in the oil-rich region, a base for several foreign companies and oil refineries, have caused many to suspend operations, said Gen. Jamil al-Shomary, an army commander in Basra.

roads for three or four days,” preventing people from reaching work, he said.

“There have even been attacks against oil companies.”

‘Condemned by society’

Ali said putting an end to the violence would also require a change in mentalities.

“Criminals and people who provoke tribal clashes need to be condemned by society before they’re condemned by the courts,” he said.

Teacher Saadoun Jassim al-Ali, 46, blamed “lawlessness and impunity” that had allowed instigators of clashes to remain at large.

Sheikh Mohammad al-Zidawi, an elder of the Bu Zayd tribe, said “the wide availability of weapons” was to blame.

He is a member of a committee set up to mediate between tribes.

In 2017, “it resolved 176 tribal disputes, including some that had lasted 15 years,” he said.

The committee organizes meetings between dignitaries from tribes involved in disputes.

Families of slain tribal members spend hours wrangling over the “blood price”— financial compensation for their bereavement— or the banishment of certain tribal members.

Kirk Sowell, a political analyst who publishes

said the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary coalition set up to

“Many of the myriad of Hashed groups are turning into local ma

“Basra has both a major tribal violence problem and (a problem with) organized crime.” risk