Iraq PM strongly condemns US raids on PMU forces as ‘flagrant violation’ of country’s sovereignty
PressTV, Tehran
[ Editor’s Note: Iraq once again makes another toothless protest against US bombing any targets inside Iraq that it wants, including units of the country’s military, the PMU.
Sure these units are involved in combating US supported terrorist forces in eastern Syria where it has committed itself to an aggressive form of sanctions, asset stripping one of the most economically productive regions of Syria in violation of a number of international laws and the UN charter.
Where are the US military inspectors general protecting US troops from being used this way? Or is there some secret OK from the Supreme Court for the US military to engage in proxy terrorism while at the same time presenting to Americans that it is fighting for freedom, or defending US allies. But should that include terrorist proxies?
I don’t remember any news over such a policy being debated and passed in Congress. In fact I have no memory of this policy even being proposed, and there has been no demand from our supposedly free and independent media.
If the ‘oath’ says “to defend the country from all enemies, foreign and domestic, why has no action been taken over using US forces supporting the bad guys on one side of a conflict, and then have other US troops fighting against them to justify a US presence inside a country?
How this “defends” America from all enemies escapes me. Maybe the IG’s office could explain it to me. After all, we have managed, at least verbally to say were are going to finally deal with sexual abuse in the military, so why can’t we face up to US troops and veterans doing exactly what we claim to be against?
If we can deal with Trump and his army of crazies, we should be able to deal with all the geopolitical grifters misusing Americans inside our military… Jim W. Dean ]
First published … June 28, 2021
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has strongly condemned as a “flagrant violation” of the Iraqi sovereignty an overnight airstrike by US warplanes against the positions of the anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha’abi, in which several resistance fighters were killed.
“We condemn the US air attack that targeted a site last night on the Iraqi-Syrian border, which represents a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security,” said a statement from Kadhemi’s office on Monday.
The statement added that the government will “study all legal options” to prevent such action being repeated. The statement came after the Iraqi cabinet, headed by al-Kadhimi, held an emergency security meeting the day after the U.S. air strikes.
In the early hours of the day, US warplanes attacked three positions purportedly belonging to the PMU along the border.
Later, the 14th Brigade of the PMU announced that four of its fighters had been killed when the warplanes hit its headquarters. The brigade is made up of the Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada anti-terror resistance group.
The PMU in general is an Iraqi government-sponsored umbrella organization composed of about 40 factions of volunteer counter-terrorism forces, including mostly Shia Muslims besides Sunni Muslims, Christians, and Kurds. The organization had a significant role in defeating the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq.
Separately, Iraq’s military spokesman Yehya Rasool denounced the US airstrike and said it was a “breach of sovereignty.”
“We condemn the US air attack that targeted a site on the Iraqi-Syrian border last night, which represents a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and national security in accordance with all international conventions.”
Rasool further called on everyone to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation of tensions. He said Baghdad would work thoroughly to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Foreign Ministry: US attack on PMU violation of Iraq’s sovereignty
Additionally on Monday, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement, condemning the deadly strike. It was an “assault and a violation of national sovereignty and a clear departure from international norms and conventions,” the statement read.
“We affirm our adherence to Iraq’s sovereignty and unity and to rely on everything that would enhance that, through sustained coordination and communication with various parties and through diplomatic initiatives and endeavors that ensure the non-repetition of such rejected and condemned hostilities.”
Al-Nujaba Movement: US will pay for its folly
In a relevant development on Monday, a senior member of Iraq’s al-Nujaba Movement, which is part of the PMU, said in a Twitter post that Washington would pay for its folly in attacking Iraq’s popular forces.
Ali al-Asadi said the Monday US airstrike was a desperate reaction to the latest manifestation of power by the PMU through a huge military parade, which was held to mark the anniversary of the PMU’s formation.
“This [attack] is another reason, which proves that the occupier does not care about stability of this country…. We tell the occupier: you will pay for your despicable measure and will suffer the consequences of your folly,” Asadi said.
Anti-American sentiments have been running high in Iraq since the US assassinated Iran’s anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of Iraq’s PMU, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in Baghdad on January 3, 2020.
Just two days later, Iraqi lawmakers unanimously passed a bill mandating the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq.
Iraqi resistance groups have pledged to take up arms against US forces if Washington fails to comply with the parliamentary order.
