Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan 5 (NNN-NINA) – Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH), warned the Iraqi security forces, to move away from U.S. bases, with no less than 1,000 metres starting from Sunday.

Abu Ali al-Askari, security leader of KH tweeted that “brothers in the Iraqi security services must stay away from the bases of the American enemy for a distance of no less than a thousand meters, starting from Sunday evening.”

BAGHDAD (AP) — Thousands took to the streets of Baghdad for the funeral procession of Iran’s top general Saturday after he was killed in a U.S. airstrike, as the region braced for the Islamic Republic to fulfill its vows of revenge.

The day of mourning in the Iraqi capital ended Saturday evening with a series of rockets that were launched and fell inside or near the Green Zone, which houses government offices and foreign embassies, including the U.S. Embassy.

04 Jan 2019; MEMO: An Iraqi commander on Friday called on all national forces in the country to unite against the US, following the killing of an Iranian top commander in a US airstrike in Iraq’s capital Bagdad, Anadolu Agency reports.

Hadi Al-Amiri, the commander of Badr Organization affiliated with Hashd al-Shaabi — an Iran-backed militant group, known also as Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

4 January 2020; AFP: Iraqi factions threatening to oust US troops, officials denouncing American "violations" and fears of a new Gulf war: a US strike has catapulted Iraq back to the tumultuous aftermath of the 2003 invasion.

The precision drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi right-hand-man, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Within hours, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged leaders to exercise restraint.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq’s military denied on Saturday an air strike had taken place on a medical convoy in Taji, north of Baghdad.

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces umbrella grouping of paramilitary groups had said earlier on Saturday said that an air strike targeting its fighters hit a convoy of medics.

However, the PMF later issued another statement saying that no medical convoys were targeted in Taji.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran promised to seek revenge for a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad’s airport that killed the mastermind of its interventions across the Middle East, and the U.S. said Friday that it was sending thousands more troops to the region as tensions soared in the wake of the targeted killing.

03 Jan 2019; MEMO: US Marines yesterday landed at the American embassy in Baghdad, an Iraqi security source revealed.

The officer in the Iraqi defence ministry said US helicopters circled over the Green Zone in the capital as electricity was cut off in the local vacinity.

The source, who preferred not to be named, added: “The Marines landed at the American embassy and combed the building.”

There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi authorities on this.

TASS, January 3: A series of powerful explosions struck near Baghdad International Airport in the early hours of Friday, Al-Hadath TV channel has reported.

The supposed missile attacks apparently targeted US military bases located in the area, the report said. At least 12 Iraqi military were wounded in the explosion. Several civilians were also injured. One of the missiles struck a runway and the airport was closed.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq’s prime minister condemned on Friday the U.S. killing of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and said it would “light the fuse” of war.

The United States killed Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran’s spreading military influence in the Middle East, in a strike at Baghdad airport. Muhandis, an adviser to Soleimani, was also killed.

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Dozens of U.S. citizens working for foreign oil companies in the Iraqi oil city of Basra were preparing to leave the country on Friday, company sources told Reuters.

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad urged all citizens to depart Iraq immediately, hours after the U.S. killed Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in an air strike.

The evacuation will not affect operations, production or exports, Iraqi oil officials said.