More than 20 protesters killed by Iran's art militias in Baghdad Against senior officials
The protest in Iraq has lasted more than a month and has already killed more than 450 people, but now, a week after the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, the situation in the country has surfaced with violence that characterizes civil war.
Baghdad shooting incident
More than 20 people were killed tonight (Friday through Saturday) in shooting and stabbing attacks against protesters, carried out by men in civilian clothes. On social networks in the country, several shooters who were captured by the protesters have reportedly admitted to serving the Hezbollah movement in Iraq, the Iranian faithful organization.
More on:
• The documents reveal: This is how Iran took control of Iraq
• Iraq: Iran-sponsored bloodbath
• Iraq: A rocket barrage at an American base
• In the shadow of protest: Iraqi Prime Minister resigned
• Mike Pence in Iraq: Concerned about Iran's malign influence
Saraya al Islam, the armed militia of anti-Iranian Shiite cleric Muqtada a-Sadr, has come to the aid of protesters and his men have begun firing back at the gunmen who carried out the shootings on the protesters. This is the first time since the protest that such an armed conflict has begun.
On the verge of civil war? Protesters in Iraq // Photo: Reuters
Reports in Iraq have claimed that al-Sadr's house was attacked earlier today, while the opinion man is staying in Iran, in the holy city of Shi'a Qum. A-Sadr is not alone in criticizing Iran. Iraqi Shiite leader Ali Sistani also attacked Iranian involvement in the prime minister's election and called on "foreign countries" to stop interfering.
According to reports in Iraq, Quds Force commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Suleimani, is in Baghdad and is taking part in negotiations to form a new government instead of the outgoing prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahadi. Media outlets opposing Iran in the country say Suleimani is behind the wave of violence against protesters in an attempt to suppress protests in a similar way to suppressing protests in Iran in previous weeks.
Banjaf demonstrations against the government
Meanwhile, the White House today announced a series of sanctions against four senior Iraqi militias loyal to Iran, in response to the killing of protesters and growing violence in the country. US Secretary of State David Shankar has strongly condemned the Iranian intervention, saying that Iraq has the right to arrest Qasim Suleimani and his people.
"Iraq has paid a heavy and steep blood price because of Iran's involvement in the country. His country of state does not have the authority to arrest Suleimani and his people, but the Iraqi government has and must do so," Shankar said.
