Iraq’s Sunni political blocs are embroiled in stormy disputes. At the center of tensions is Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi. Strains between his Takaddum Front and the Azm Front threaten Halbousi’s position as speaker.

Jamal Al-Karbouli, leader of Al-Hal party and a senior member of Azm, in February highlighted the extent of the intra-Sunni rivalry. Karbouli jabbed at Halbousi, saying, “It is us who will discipline our prodigal son, and it is us who will return him to his natural size.” He also claimed that “Sunni decision [makers] support unseating” Halbousi from the speakership. Other prominent Sunni figures such as Mishaan Al-Jubouri of the Watan party earlier this month also made clear that Takaddum is not part of their coalition-building efforts.

Longstanding disputes

The Halbousi-Karbouli dispute dates back to May 2019, when the latter pushed for the exclusion of the former from the Al-Mehwar Al-Watani [National Axis] Alliance, the largest Sunni bloc in parliament at that time. The alliance justified Halbousi’s removal in a statement that alleged he had strayed from...