Najaf mayor injured while removing illegal structures in city center

NAJAF, Iraq — The mayor of Najaf, Mohammed Jabbar, was injured on Tuesday during an operation to demolish illegal structures in central Nasiriya, a city in Iraq's southern Najaf province, when a confrontation broke out between municipal teams and local residents. According to security sources, the incident occurred on Hububi Street after municipal crews began dismantling unauthorized buildings. A verbal argument between the crews and some residents escalated into a physical fight. Jabbar was injured while attempting to calm the parties and intervene in the altercation, the sources said. Security forces were deployed to the area and restored order in the city center. No further information on the mayor's condition was immediately available.