The Daily Mail (U.K.) is reporting a high level pro-Iran militia leader in Karbala, Iraq, was shot by unknown gunmen. With the twin caveats that (a) Iraq is a dangerous place and (b) I know only what I read in established public news sources, bear with me as I speculate.
This appears to be the sort of decapitation plus object lesson for other would-be trouble-makers that might have happened at the direction of our (or another) government. Eventually one or more groups in opposition to pro-Iran militias will claim credit for the kill. Perhaps that “credit” will be deserved, perhaps not. Maybe he was shot by a jealous husband or a rival militia.
Regardless of who is responsible, being a pro-Iran leader in Iraq appears to be negatively correlated with longevity - no bad thing. Encouraging Iraqis with talent to choose other occupations is good, from our point of view.
