Iraqi Shiite militias hold funerals for fighters killed in US air strikes
Iran-backed militia members and their supporters held funeral processions in cities across Iraq yesterday for fighters killed by US air strikes.
On Friday night, the US launched 85 strikes against Tehran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. Iraq’s government said at least 16 people were killed in the strikes, including civilians.
The attacks were the first wave of retaliation ordered by President Joe Biden for a drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan on January 28.
Hundreds of militia fighters gathered early yesterday at the Baghdad headquarters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a state-funded network of proIran armed groups formed to fight ISIS in 2014.
“America is the Great Satan,” mourners shouted, waving Iraqi and PMF flags and vowing to retaliate.
The funeral was attended by Hadi Al Amiri – a powerful Shiite politician who heads the Badr Organisation, which has an influential militia – as well as US-sanctioned PMF chairman Falih Al Fayyadh.
“The Parliament should adopt a courageous decision to defend the Iraqi people to immediately order the departure of these troops out of Iraq,” Mr Al Amiri said.
“The presence of these forces is a betrayal of the Iraqi people.”
Mr Al Fayyadh described the attacks as a “heinous crime that targeted [the PMF] protecting the borders”, and said they were “based on flimsy, invalid and untrue excuses”.
“All that they [Americans] say about supporting Iraq to defeat terrorism are lies,” he said, standing on a stage adorned with portraits of the fighters killed on Friday.
“They are the ones who contribute to weakening our forces and to preventing them from doing their main duties to defend this country.
“Iraqi land will be cleansed of all foreign presence.”
There are about 2,500 US troops in the country – the remnants of the force that entered Iraq as part of the anti-ISIS coalition in 2014. They have the task of training Iraqi troops and advising the country’s military.
In January this year, under pressure from Iran-backed militias and political factions, Baghdad began talks with the US aimed at ending the coalition’s mission and replacing it with bilateral security agreements.
Mr Al Amiri called these talks “mere procrastination”, and said they represent “more sacrifices and blood we offer only to please America”.
Several Tehran-backed militias vowed to retaliate after Friday’s air strikes.
One, Harakat Al Nujaba, said it would redouble its resistance to the presence of US troops.
“Let the American occupation and its ill-fated administration know that the Islamic resistance will respond with what it deems appropriate at the time and place it wants, and that this is not the end,” it said.
“We have surprises that will anger the enemy, and you will exit Iraq humiliated and disgraced. We will not make peace, we will not retreat, and we will not be defeated.”