Iraqis Protest In Baghdad On Anniversary Of Soleimani's Killing
Chanting anti-American slogans hundreds of people rallied in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the killing of an Iranian general.
Chanting anti-American slogans hundreds of people rallied in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the killing of an Iranian general.
A US drone strike on January 3, 2020 killed General Qasem Soleimani, who was the head of Iran’s elite Qods (Quds) Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Supporters of Shiite factions aligned to Iran were bused in from across Iraq so that they could take part in the rally.
“We will not let you stay after today in the land of the martyrs,” some of the placards read. American and Israeli flags were strewn on the ground, with people trampling on them.
The killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis pushed Iran and the United States perilously close to all-out conflict and sparked outrage among Iran’s supporters in Iraq, leading parliament to call for the expulsion of all foreign troops from Iraq.
The US-led coalition formally ended its combat mission to support Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State group at the end of December.
Some 2,500 troops will remain for the foreseeable future, however, to continue supporting Iraqi forces in an advisory role.
Some militia leaders have insisted on the departure of all US troops.
Report by AP
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei insisted that the IRGC general will remain in history as a martyr whereas his killers will be forgotten.
During a meeting with Soleimani’s family and close collaborators on the second anniversary of his death Khamenei described him as a martyr and symbol of “resistance” in the region, stressing, “Martyr Soleimani is more dangerous to his enemies than Commander Soleimani”.
“Resistance” or “Resistance front” is a term used by the Islamic Republic to refer to its anti-Western allies and proxies throughout the region, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to Houthis in Yemen, the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and Iraqi Shiite militias.
Khamenei said, “Trump and others like him will be forgotten and lost in the dustbin of history, of course after paying for their crimes in the world.”
As the country is getting ready to hold ceremonies for the second anniversary of Soleimani’s killing threats and rhetoric by Iranian officials have increased. Iran is planning a long list of events lasting ten days to mark Soleimani’s “martyrdom”. He was killed by a US drone strike on January 3, 2020, as he arrived in Baghdad.
He was Iran’s top military and intelligence operator in the Middle East, organizing proxy forces.
Soleimani played a major role in the Syrian civil war as the coordinator of Iran’s military involvement, including sending tens of thousands of regular and irregular forces to fight in support of Assad.
Iranian officials have often threatened retribution against American and Israeli officials that they have listed as having been involved in ordering, planning and carrying out the drome strike that killed Soleimani. Shortly after his death, Khamenei in January 2020 had said that those responsible for ordering and carrying out the killing had to pay for their actions.
Soleimani’s successor as commander of the extra-territorial Qods (Quds) force, Esmail Ghaani (Qaani) and other officials have also called for retribution against Trump and others.
Iran’s hardline leader said that two years after Soleimani’s death Iran’s proxies are now in a stronger position and more infused with hope.
