Al-Qaeda in Iraq revealed in a unique statement that it met with tribal leaders in Anbar province in western Iraq and agreed with them to “unite their efforts against the Safavid [Iranian] gestapo in Iraq.”
The statement confirmed what was published by Al-Monitor on May 8, 2013. Al-Monitor’s correspondent spoke to a political source active in the protests in Anbar, who pointed out that dialogue sessions with tribal leaders to calm the situation — which were attended by the Sunni politician and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq — were held in the presence of representatives from armed groups.