Protesters Withdraw From US Embassy in Iraq, But Tensions Remain
Iraqi PMU leaders call on supporters to withdraw for now
Jason Ditz
Protests against the US Embassy in Baghdad have ended on Wednesday, with the Iraqi government and the leadership of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) militias urging a pullback from the site, and amid US guards firing tear gas against them.
The protests came after Sunday’s US attacks on five PMU bases in Iraq and Syria. The PMU, part of Iraq’s security forces, had a number of representatives at the protest, to the point that the US was blaming them for it.
The PMU issued a statement on the protests, saying that the “message has been received” by the US. One of the protesters said they had “achieved the intended aim” and “pulled out from this place triumphantly.”
The US has threatened more attacks against PMU targets, and has also threatened Iran. The specific PMU militia attacked, Ketaib Hezbollah, has threatened to retaliate against US forces for the weekend attack.
The protests came after Sunday’s US attacks on five PMU bases in Iraq and Syria. The PMU, part of Iraq’s security forces, had a number of representatives at the protest, to the point that the US was blaming them for it.
The PMU issued a statement on the protests, saying that the “message has been received” by the US. One of the protesters said they had “achieved the intended aim” and “pulled out from this place triumphantly.”
The US has threatened more attacks against PMU targets, and has also threatened Iran. The specific PMU militia attacked, Ketaib Hezbollah, has threatened to retaliate against US forces for the weekend attack.
Beyond that, nothing has really been resolved, and nothing agreed to. The US is moving hastily to get more troops into Kuwait, likely anticipating further blowups going forward.
posted by Satish Sharma at
10:34
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