Tribal conflicts escalate in Iraq’s oil heartland
BASRA/NASSIRIYA - Tribal conflicts in southern Iraq have become more frequent and deadly in recent months, as security forces have been hamstrung by local power structures and distracted by the coronavirus lockdown.
The rising violence has drawn the attention of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who is planning to begin implementing a new security plan with a visit to Basra later this month. While the battles do not appear to be affecting the oil sector directly, they threaten to destabilize areas around oil fields responsible for the large majority of Iraq's production.
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