Arr! The Iraqi cap'n be vexed 'bout the Yankee cannonball blastin' a grand militia commander, says aye!
2024-01-05
Arr, me mateys! Shiver me timbers! This Iraqi cap'n, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, be sayin' that them scallywags from the U.S. be violatin' our sovereignty with their blasted drone strike in Baghdad! Avast! Tis a matter o' great concern!
The United States has faced condemnation from Iraq after carrying out a drone strike that killed a high-ranking militia commander in central Baghdad. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani accused the US of violating Iraqi sovereignty by targeting and killing Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, the leader of the Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba. The US defense official confirmed that the strike was authorized due to al-Saidi's responsibility for recent attacks on US personnel. Prime Minister Sudani criticized the US for bypassing the Iraqi government and called for the withdrawal of US troops from the country.He also defended Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of militias under the control of the Iraqi military, as an official presence and integral part of the armed forces. Sudani argued that attacks on security forces went against the mandate of the international coalition that helped defeat the Islamic State. Iraqi military spokesman Yehia Rasool held the International Coalition Forces responsible for the attack and criticized the unprovoked aggression on an Iraqi security body.
The drone strike occurred amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has increased tensions in the Middle East and allegedly provoked attacks on US forces in both Iraq and Syria. The US had issued warnings of retaliation if intentional targeting of US forces occurred. Since October 17, there have been over 120 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria, with various militia groups claiming responsibility and calling for the end of Israel's military operations in Gaza and the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
The strike resulted in the death of al-Saidi and six others were wounded. The Associated Press contributed to this report.