Signs Indicate That Even If The Islamic State Is Driven Out Of Iraq's Sunni Regions, Old Tribal And Sectarian Conflicts Will Return

Iraqi security forces escort civilians who fled their homes due to the clashes between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State militants in the town of Hit in Anbar province, April 4, 2016. (photo by REUTERS)

Mustafa Saadoun, Al-Monitor: Will conflict continue as Iraq's Sunni areas are liberated from IS?

BAGHDAD — On June 28, the Anbar provincial council voted to dismiss Gov. Suhaib al-Rawi, who is a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party. While the dismissal came as a result of a political conflict within the province, Rawi said he "rejects the decision of his dismissal" as he threatened to "resort to both the law and the judiciary to challenge the Anbar council's vote."

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Islamic Party, headed by former Speaker Ayad al-Samarrai, is trying to restore its presence and regain control over Sunni areas by trying to control the Anbar reconstruction dossier.

For his part, the head of the Sunni Endowment, Diwan Abdul Latif Al-Hamim, who joined the dispute over Sunni areas, is trying to stop the expansion of the Iraqi Islamic Party as he continues to expand his influence there. Al-Masalla website published a report in May showing that each of the aforementioned parties are exploiting their influence on Sunni tribal forces to expand their dominance in Anbar province. Hamim had used the humanitarian crisis plaguing the Sunni province in his favor. However, he is facing major obstacles that have led to a conflict with the Iraqi Islamic Party, as revealed by the leader of the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, Saleh al-Mutlaq.

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WNU Editor: These sectarian and tribal conflicts have been ongoing for decades (if not centuries) .... and I certainly do not see it ending when the Islamic State has been finally driven out.