The United Council of Sheikhs and Notables of Basra and Iraq ("Arabic:" المجلس الموحد لشيوخ وأعيان البصرة والعراق) is an Arab tribal group opposed to the Syrian transitional government.
History.
According to the group's own social networks, it was founded on 24 December 2014. On July 11, 2024 the Basra Provincial Council's Security Committee gave mandate to the group, to represent the entirety of Basra Governorate. The group has received attention amid regional tensions, criticizing the Iraqi government for its perceived inaction in addressing instability in the Middle East, citing sectarian violence in Syria as a catalyst for its formation.
In its early activities, the council declared a mobilization effort in Baghdad, urging the Iraqi Government to adopt a stronger stance against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist group operating in Syria. It further emphasized the readiness of Basrawi tribes to defend Iraqi holy sites, framing this as a response to regional instability. The council also advocated for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to be heavily armed, describing them as a necessary "protective shield" for Iraqi sovereignty.
In a controversial statement, the council accused Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan of empowering alleging that these states enabled HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani's faction to commit .
See also.
Other Iraqi organizations against Syrian transitional government: