Arbaeen pilgrims on foot in the mud

Clashes between the two main Shia factions – the pro-Iran Coordination Framework and a bloc loyal to influential leader Muqtada al-Sadr – have prevented the establishment of a coalition government. The crisis escalated into violence in late August, when al-Sadr supporters clashed with the army and forces from the Hashd al-Shaabi, former paramilitaries integrated into the regular military. More than 30 al-Sadr followers were killed.