Who is fighting who?

There is a lot of confusion over who is confronting who in Baghdad, particularly around the Green Zone.

Some have reported that Iraq's Special Division forces, who are responsible for protecting the Green Zone, have been clashing with Sadr's Saraya al-Salam.

But the Sadrists claim they are being attacked by fighters belonging to the Hashd al-Shaabi, a paramilitary umbrella group. Many Iran-backed factions that are Sadr's chief rivals are part of the Hashd, though technically so is Saraya al-Salam.

Military sources told Middle East Eye's Suadad al-Salhy, who is reporting from Baghdad, that the Hashd al-Shaabi (also known as Popular Mobilisation) has not started fighting yet.

Hashd fighters are currently confined to the Green Zone and have not received any reinforcements due to the blockage of bridges and roads, the sources said.

The military sources said they expect developments to worsen in the coming hours after the arrival of the Hashd's backup forces from outside Baghdad.