Tensions between Iraq and Israel have increased following the broadcast of an image by Israel's Channel 14, listing prominent anti-Israel resistance leaders targeted for assassination.
The image included Iraq's top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, marking the first time he has appeared on such a list.
The broadcast has sparked widespread outrage across Iraq, with many officials and citizens interpreting it as a provocation tantamount to a declaration of war.
Channel 14, known for its right-wing alignment and close association with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aired the controversial image as part of its coverage of resistance leaders.
While the channel does not represent official Israeli policy, its broadcast has been seen as a serious affront by Iraq, where Ayatollah al-Sistani is revered as the most influential religious leader.
Religious war accusations
Sheikh Khaled Al-Mulla, Head of Iraq's Islamic Scholars Association, condemned the threats made against Ayatollah al-Sistani and other religious figures.
"These actions confirm that Israel is waging a religious war against Muslims," he stated. Al-Mulla's remarks echoed sentiments across Iraq, where al-Sistani's leadership is seen as a vital force in maintaining peace and security in the region.
"Israel's Channel 14, a right-wing outlet closely aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, broadcasted the image, but any official Israeli state body did not release it. In the context of Israel's recent war on Lebanon, Ayatollah al-Sistani issued a fatwa urging Muslims to support the Lebanese people. He has also led ongoing efforts to collect funds and humanitarian aid for Lebanon," Yassin Taha, a Kurdish political analyst and professor of religious studies, told The New Arab.
"Al-Sistani, widely regarded as the highest religious authority for Shia Muslims globally, has a significant following in Lebanon and beyond. While Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds more political power, al-Sistani commands greater religious authority. He has an active office in Lebanon and considers it his duty to mobilise aid for the Lebanese people," he added.
"Additionally, his sons organised a three-day mourning period for the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala," Taha explained.
The Iraqi government has responded swiftly to this incident. Spokesperson Basem Al-Awadi issued a firm statement denouncing the broadcast, saying, "After the Zionist entity committed acts of genocide and blatant crimes against humanity in Gaza and Lebanon, their racist media is now launching a smear campaign against the supreme religious authority."
Al-Awadi stressed that any attack on Ayatollah al-Sistani would be met with strong resistance. "The government of Iraq rejects any harm to the status of our religious authority, which is respected by the people of Iraq, the Arab and Islamic world, and the international community. Such actions threaten global peace and security," he warned.
He also called on the United Nations and international organisations to denounce the broadcast and take measures to prevent further incitement.
"Iraq has worked tirelessly to halt the violence, but Israel's actions, coupled with international inaction, have only worsened the situation," Al-Awadi added.
The Iraqi Presidency echoed these sentiments in a separate statement, condemning the broadcast as an attack not only on Ayatollah al-Sistani but on all Muslims.
"We reject these insults to the religious authority and call for the protection of all religious sanctities, whether Islamic or non-Islamic," the statement read.
'Serious provocation'
The Iraqi presidency warned that continued provocations could widen the conflict in the region. "This aggression will escalate violence in the region and lead to further bloodshed," it said, urging the international community to take immediate action to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.
Other political and religious groups in Iraq have also condemned the broadcast. National Security Adviser Qasim Al-Araji called the targeting of Ayatollah al-Sistani a "serious provocation" and warned that such actions would not go unanswered.
The Islamic Dawa Party also weighed in, calling the broadcast an "insult" to all Iraqis. "The occupying entity has overstepped its bounds, committing atrocities against women, children, and innocent civilians in Palestine and Lebanon, and now it seeks to target our religious authority," the party said in a statement.
The party noted that al-Sistani's influence extends far beyond Iraq, representing a leadership that is highly regarded by Muslims across the world.
"Targeting the religious authority is a direct attack on millions of followers, and this provocation is being met with outrage," the statement continued.
As tensions continue to escalate, many observers are speculating on the potential ramifications should Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani issue a fatwa calling for jihad against Israel. Given his immense influence, such a decree could mobilise millions of supporters from across the world, particularly from Shia communities, to converge on Lebanon and fight against Israeli forces. Al-Sistani, who is known for his measured and peaceful leadership, has historically refrained from making such calls unless the situation was deemed critical.
Born in the Iranian city of Mashhad in 1930, the cleric, easily recognisable by his white beard and black turban, began learning the Quran at the age of five, according to the biography on his official website. His early religious education took place in Mashhad before he embarked on formal studies in the Iranian city of Qom. He later moved to Najaf, Iraq, where he continued his studies and eventually became the most prominent religious authority for Shia Muslims worldwide.
Al-Sistani's influence was demonstrated most powerfully in June 2014, when he issued a fatwa urging young Iraqi men to take up arms against the Islamic State (IS). This call to action led to the formation of the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a coalition of primarily Shia militias that played a key role in driving IS out of Iraq.
With calls for international intervention growing, Iraq has urged global leaders to step in and condemn the threats made against its top cleric. The government has reiterated its support for the Palestinian and Lebanese causes, emphasising Iraq's "firm and principled" stance on the issue of Palestinian statehood and self-determination.
The situation remains precarious, with the Iraqi government and religious authorities closely monitoring developments. While Israel has yet to issue an official response, the inclusion of Ayatollah al-Sistani on the assassination list has only deepened the divide between the two nations and further inflamed tensions across the region. Should the cleric issue a fatwa, the implications for the region and the wider world could be profound, as millions may answer the call to action.