By Svar Nanan-Sen 13:16, Tue, Jan 28, 2020 | UPDATED: 13:31, Tue, Jan 28, 2020
Muqtada al-Sadr is considered to be one of the most influential religious figures in Iraq not holding any official title in the government. He is a politician and militia leader who has led the Sadrist movement. Muqtada al-Sadr previously led the Mahdi Army during the American occupation of Iraq.
One protester in Iraq told France 24: “Moqtada al-Sadr is a symbol of resistance.
“He is famous for having resisted the Americans and the Islamic State in Iraq.
“With him, Iraq belongs to the Iraqis.”
Sheikh Nafaa al-Atwani, who is the highest tribal authority in Sadr City, also praised Moqtada al-Sadr’s resistance against America.
Protesters waving flags in Iraq (Image: Express)
He told France 24: “The Americans are our greatest enemy.
“All honourable Iraqis should request that they leave.”
On Friday, January 3, the USA undertook a drone airstrike following a series of “orchestrated” attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the past few months and attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad, all of which was done on the orders of General Soleimani.
US President Donald Trump approved of the assault on General Soleimani claiming the action was undertaken to make “the world a safer place”.
In a statement, the Pentagon said: “At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qassem Soleimani.”
It added: “This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.
“The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world.”
US vs Iran firepower (Image: Express)
This assassination has been dubbed by many high-ranking Iranians a “declaration of war”.
Donald Trump has warned the US could act “disproportionately” if Iran targets any American “person or target” in revenge for the killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani.
Since that time, Iran “unintentionally” shot down a Ukranian passenger jet which saw 176 people killed.
No comments:
Post a Comment