webfact Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Iraqi security forces kill protester, rockets hit U.S. embassy By Aziz El Yaakoubi and Nadine Awadalla University students carry an Iraqi flag, during ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq January 26, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces shot at anti-government protesters in Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least one person, and unidentified men set fire to sit-in tents in a southern Iraqi city, police and medics said, as months-long civil unrest escalated. Separately, at least one of five Katyusha rockets fired at Baghdad's fortified Green Zone hit the U.S. embassy, wounding three people, in a rare direct targeting of the compound, security sources said. Reuters could not independently verify the rocket attacks. Anti-government protests erupted in Baghdad on Oct. 1 and quickly turned violent. Security forces and unidentified gunmen have shot protesters dead. Nearly 500 people have been killed in the unrest. The protests are an unprecedented leaderless challenge to Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim-dominated and largely Iran-backed ruling elite, which emerged after a U.S.-led invasion toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. Demonstrators are demanding that all parties and politicians be removed, free and fair elections be held and corruption rooted out. The government has responded with violence and piecemeal reform. The international community has condemned the violence but not intervened to stop it. In Baghdad, one protester was killed, police sources and medics said, and more than 100 others hurt across the country after the security forces tried to clear protest camps. At least 75 of those hurt were in the southern city of Nassariya. A Reuters witness said protesters set fire to two security vehicles and hundreds of other demonstrators controlled key bridges in the city. Later, unidentified men set fire to tents that are part of a months-long sit-in in the city centre. 2020-01-26T154727Z_1_LOV000LR5M0C5_RTRMADV_STREAM-2000-16X9-MP4_IRAQ-PROTESTS.MP4 Protests have flared in the last two days after populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, many of whose supporters had participated, said he would no longer be involved in anti-government demonstrations. Sadr opposes all foreign interference in Iraq but has aligned himself more closely in recent months with Iran and the Tehran-backed parties that dominate state institutions in Baghdad. Some demonstrators have accused the populist cleric of treachery of their cause. Sadr has organised separate anti-American demonstrations aimed at pressuring U.S. troops to leave Iraq, moves that critics say aim to eclipse the anti-establishment movement which has taken aim at all politicians including Sadr. The increase in unrest comes after Washington killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, the mastermind of Iran's control over Iraq, and an Iraqi paramilitary chief in a drone strike in Baghdad on Jan. 3. Iran responded with ballistic missile attacks on two Iraqi military bases, but the killing has revived tensions in Iraqi politics and delayed the formation of a new government. Five Katyusha rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies, late on Sunday, a military statement said. It did not report casualties. 'INTERNAL STRIFE' Security sources told Reuters that at least one rocket landed inside the U.S. embassy compound and wounded three people. If confirmed, it would be the first time in years that such attacks on the Green Zone, which are regular, have actually hurt staff there. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned the attack in a statement from his office, and said that the continuation of such acts could "drag Iraq into becoming a battlefield." Sadr had called for demonstrations against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and other cities on Sunday but cancelled them, with his office giving "avoiding internal strife" as the reason. Sadr's supporters had bolstered anti-government protests before the assassination of Soleimani but have since been directed by their leader to focus their anger against America. They began withdrawing from anti-government sit-in camps on Saturday. "We protest because we have a cause. I don’t think Moqtada Sadr or any other politician will change our mind," said a protester in Baghdad who declined to give his name. "I don’t go to protests often but I came out today because of what they did yesterday. I want to express my solidarity with my brothers in Tahrir," said Hussain Ali, a student, referring to demonstrations in Tahrir Square, the main area of protests in the capital. In Baghdad, protesters were coughing and washing their faces and eyes to rid themselves of the effects of tear gas while medical workers provided first aid, as the site was inaccessible to ambulances, a Reuters reporter said. Tuk tuks evacuated wounded protesters in clouds of tear gas and black smoke from burning tyres. Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of university students had gathered in Tahrir Square, the main protest camp, chanting slogans against the United States and Iran. Protests also continued in the cities of Kerbala, Najaf and Diwaniya, defying attempts by security forces to end their months-long sit-in, police sources and Reuters witnesses said. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Iraq staff; Additional reporting by John Davison and Ahmed Rasheed, and Samar Ahmed in Cairo; Writing by Nadine Awadalla, Editing by William Maclean, Toby Chopra and Timothy Heritage) -- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-27 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puchaiyank Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 What's this? Fighting among Iraquis Muslims...people being killed...political corruption...Iranian influence... Who ever heard of such a thing as this? Must be something new for this country... 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Odysseus123 Posted January 27, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 27, 2020 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said: What's this? Fighting among Iraquis Muslims...people being killed...political corruption...Iranian influence... Who ever heard of such a thing as this? Must be something new for this country... On t'other hand. The Big Bird's lament. "No-one likes us..we don't know why we may not be perfect but heaven knows we try..." Edited January 27, 2020 by Odysseus123 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorG Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 This is so confusing. The protestors are against the USA, Iran, and their own government. The USA backs Iraq and is against Iran. The Iraq government is Iranian backed but (sometimes) supports the USA. The Iranians supply agents to stir the whole thing up. Did I miss anybody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tug Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 4 hours ago, DoctorG said: This is so confusing. The protestors are against the USA, Iran, and their own government. The USA backs Iraq and is against Iran. The Iraq government is Iranian backed but (sometimes) supports the USA. The Iranians supply agents to stir the whole thing up. Did I miss anybody? Yes you did you forgot donald trumps helping striengthing Iran’s hand by mishandling the embassy’s trashing his ham fisted handling of that is getting us run out of the Middle East 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sucit Posted January 27, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 27, 2020 4 hours ago, DoctorG said: This is so confusing. The protestors are against the USA, Iran, and their own government. The USA backs Iraq and is against Iran. The Iraq government is Iranian backed but (sometimes) supports the USA. The Iranians supply agents to stir the whole thing up. Did I miss anybody? You just missed if the USA was not there at all, 4,500 US troops would still be alive, a few hundred thousand innocent Iraqi citizens would still be alive, the US would have revenue to spend on its own citizens, and we would have fewer enemies because we would not be bombing and destabilizing the entire region. But yeah other than that little stuff I think you got it. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyCarlton Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 1 hour ago, sucit said: You just missed if the USA was not there at all, 4,500 US troops would still be alive, a few hundred thousand innocent Iraqi citizens would still be alive, the US would have revenue to spend on its own citizens, and we would have fewer enemies because we would not be bombing and destabilizing the entire region. But yeah other than that little stuff I think you got it. I think that you missed the real point. If the USA hadn't gone into Iraq the US wouldn't have control of their oil, Israel would feel less safe and US arms manufacturers would have made much less profit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said: I think that you missed the real point. If the USA hadn't gone into Iraq the US wouldn't have control of their oil, Israel would feel less safe and US arms manufacturers would have made much less profit. what always amazes me is how the role of Israel is so often noted and that of Saudi Arabia so little. It's the Saudis who will be the chief beneficiaries if the Iranian govt. is overthrown. And MbS is great friends with Jared Kushner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillageIdiot Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 9 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said: I think that you missed the real point. If the USA hadn't gone into Iraq the US wouldn't have control of their oil, Israel would feel less safe and US arms manufacturers would have made much less profit. That sums it up - in a nutshell. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyCarlton Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 1 minute ago, bristolboy said: what always amazes me is how the role of Israel is so often noted and that of Saudi Arabia so little. It's the Saudis who will be the chief beneficiaries if the Iranian govt. is overthrown. And MbS is great friends with Jared Kushner. Israel always saw Saddam Hussein as a primary threat to their security. They carried out bombing raids on Iraq before the war on Iraq. Now that threat has gone they see Iran as their primary threat to security. However I do see that the US courts Saudi as a friend, primarily for their oil reserves but also as a major purchaser of US armaments. Israel has never seen Saudi as an enemy, it's never threatened Israel, one of Israels few arab friends. Ironic as Saudi Wasabis orchestrated and executed 9/11, was the birthplace and primary funder of Al Quidea which also begat ISIS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 17 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said: Israel always saw Saddam Hussein as a primary threat to their security. They carried out bombing raids on Iraq before the war on Iraq. Now that threat has gone they see Iran as their primary threat to security. However I do see that the US courts Saudi as a friend, primarily for their oil reserves but also as a major purchaser of US armaments. Israel has never seen Saudi as an enemy, it's never threatened Israel, one of Israels few arab friends. Ironic as Saudi Wasabis orchestrated and executed 9/11, was the birthplace and primary funder of Al Quidea which also begat ISIS. Entirely irrelevant to the fact the Sunni Saudi Arabia sees Iran as its chief competitor in the region and mortal enemy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyCarlton Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 (edited) 4 minutes ago, bristolboy said: Entirely irrelevant to the fact the Sunni Saudi Arabia sees Iran as its chief competitor in the region and mortal enemy. Which is entirely irrelevant to the fact that Israel sees Iran as it's chief threat and has been openly goading Trump to take on Iran. Edited January 27, 2020 by DannyCarlton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 3 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said: Which is entirely irrelevant to the fact that Israel sees Iran as it's chief threat and has been openly goading Trump to take on Iran. But you're the one who only mentions Israel for the Trump adminstration policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyCarlton Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Just now, bristolboy said: But you're the one who only mentions Israel for the Trump adminstration policy. And you're the one that objects to a simple fact. Touchy or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said: And you're the one that objects to a simple fact. Touchy or what? Making Israel the chief culprit in the Trump administration's mideast policy is not stating a simple fact. It's a very dubious assertion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyCarlton Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 1 minute ago, bristolboy said: Making Israel the chief culprit in the Trump administration's mideast policy is not stating a simple fact. It's a very dubious assertion. It's a fact. Get over it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 A post violating Fair Use Policy has been removed. Screenshots must follow the rules on Fair Use. Replies also removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegman Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) 11 hours ago, bristolboy said: what always amazes me is how the role of Israel is so often noted and that of Saudi Arabia so little. It's the Saudis who will be the chief beneficiaries if the Iranian govt. is overthrown. And MbS is great friends with Jared Kushner. You can get this on Amazon. Written by 2 great "realist school" foreign policy experts. It will enlighten you on this subject. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Israel_Lobby_and_U.S._Foreign_Policy Edited January 28, 2020 by pegman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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