Basra protest movement demands Iraq summon Kuwait's ambassador over fishing incident

BASRA, Iraq — A grassroots movement in Basra opposed to the Khor Abdullah agreement has called on the Iraqi government to investigate reports that Kuwaiti coast guard vessels opened fire on a fishing boat inside Iraqi territorial waters and detained five Iraqi fishermen. The group, led by lawmaker Amir Abduljabbar, said in a written statement that if confirmed, the incident would constitute a new violation of Iraq's sovereignty and the rights of its citizens at sea. The statement noted that the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has remained publicly silent on the matter and urged the government to take urgent diplomatic and legal steps. It specifically called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to intervene directly, have Kuwait's ambassador in Baghdad summoned to receive a formal protest, and secure the release of the fishermen. According to the statement, the five fishermen, who departed from the Faw district south of Basra, lost contact while in Iraqi waters before a Kuwaiti coast guard patrol allegedly fired on their vessel and took them to Kuwaiti territory. The movement also demanded guarantees that similar incidents would not recur. Neither the Iraqi nor Kuwaiti government has issued an official statement on the incident.