An American newspaper warns of a catastrophic situation if Iraq’s exception to sanctions on Iran ends

[Butifldrm]

 

01/20/2020 12:37

• Views 1950
• Section: Iraq
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News that the Iraqi authorities arrested the crew of Soleimani

Baghdad / Obelisk: Security officials said, according to Sky News Arabia, on January 4, 2020, that the Iraqi authorities arrested two Syrian and one Iraqi, and began an investigation with an intelligence officer at Baghdad Airport and the crew of the plane that transported the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, General Qassem Soleimani, to the capital Iraqi, where he was killed in an American raid.

And local agencies quoted the "officials, confirming that the authorities began investigations to find out the details of Qasim Soleimani's visit and the course of events until his death."

Soleimani was killed, last Friday dawn, in a raid by an American drone that targeted the car he was traveling near Baghdad International Airport, shortly after his arrival in the Iraqi capital.

The commander of the Quds Force, arrived in Baghdad, from Syria, where Iran also intervenes greatly and plays a role in determining the course of events on the ground.

Follow the obelisk

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/185320/أنباء-عن-اعتقال-السلطات-العراقية-طاقم-الطائرة-التي-استقلها-سليماني

 

 

[yota691]

A source reveals accurate details of Soleimani's arrival in Iraq and the last moments before his assassination

Political | 02:26 - 04/01/2020

 

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - Mawazine News
An informed source revealed, on Saturday, some details of the recent visit of the Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani to Iraq, during which he was assassinated while on the way after leaving Baghdad International Airport.
And the sources said, according to "RT", that "the plane that was carrying Qasim Soleimani was belonging to the company" Wings of the Levant ", and the Iraqi authorities had no knowledge of the presence of a senior or important figure on the plane."
The source said, "The time of the plane's arrival was at 11:30 pm last Thursday, but it arrived an hour after the due date due to a delay from its take-off in Syria."
He added that "the plane stopped at Gate No. 21 at Baghdad International Airport, and Soleimani did not pass through the official outlets at the airport, but was waiting for him at the plane, two cars, the first type (Starex) and the second (Avilon), and one of them went up and set out before the travelers."
He stated that, "When the bombing occurred, the security authorities at the airport asked the passengers informally, is there an important figure in the plane, and some of them answered yes, we saw Qassem Soleimani," noting that "the security authorities at the airport started investigating some travelers at the same hour and with a representative The company that said I cannot know the travelers, they are traveling just like everyone else. "
"After returning to Baghdad airport cameras, the two cars that were waiting for Soleimani appeared," he added, stressing, "No one has been arrested against the background of the incident, but there are investigations at a high level."

[Pitcher]

Thank you Butifldrm and Yota for your diligent hard work digging up all the news stories the last few days.  I don’t need to go to any news website or watch our National Networks. You guys along with Thugs and a few others have given us the story from numerous angles and sources.  I appreciate your dedication and willingness to give us the news in real time. Great job guys and gals👏

[yota691]

Alnujaba: Our missiles are ready and we will create hell for the Americans

Political | 03:03 - 04/01/2020

 

 

 

 

Baghdad - Mawazine News
The military official of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Al-Najaba Movement, vowed to avenge the blood of the two martyrs, Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.
The military official of the movement addressed the terrorist United States in a speech to him, saying: that the convoy of jihad led by the two great martyrs will not stop their departure because its constant link towards the disappearance of your malicious bases and your bite Israel.
He added, that the blood of the two great martyrs has burnt our hearts with fire that will not subside and will not be extinguished until after we soak your noses with dust.
The military official of the Islamic Resistance, Al-Nujaba Movement, stressed that "we are the one who determines the time and type of response." the above.
And he continued, that the martyr Soleimani was between us and we failed all your malicious plans. Today, while he is a martyr, we say the time for foiling the plans has ended and the time for erasing the plan itself has begun.
He stressed that the blood of the two great martyrs will remain a nightmare for you, explaining, you made a mistake and your mistake will cost you a lot, so you chose a war whose end will not be in your hands but your end will start with it. Ended 29 / h

[Butifldrm]

Amidst the news of the escape ... the absence of Khazali and militia leaders from the funeral of Soleimani and the engineer

January 04, 2020

Deputy Khazali came in his place

 

The absence of Iraqi militia leaders loyal to Iran, including the leader of the “Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq” militia, Qais Khazali, for the funeral of the commander of the “Quds Force” Qassem Soleimani and the deputy chief of the popular crowd Abu al-Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad on Saturday raised questions, especially since previous reports indicated that they had fled to Iran after Soleimani and the engineer were killed Thursday in an American air strike.

ON THE LINK

Why is Iranian Soleimani popular in Baghdad?

Many activists on social media have noticed the absence of Khazali, as well as the leader of "Saraya al-Khursani" Hamid al-Jaza'iri, who spread news about his death and was subsequently denied in an audio recording, and also missed the funeral ceremony of Shibl al-Zaidi, leader of the "Imam Ali Brigades" loyal to Tehran.

 

 

 

INP+

 

· 4 hrs · 

 

 

 

غياب قيس الخزعلي وحامد الجزائري عن مراسم تشييع المهندس وسليماني، وحضور محمد الطبطبائي نائب الخزعلي

The absence of qais al-ạlkẖzʿly and Ahmed Algerian about the funeral ceremony of engineer and Lyman, and the presence of mohamed alloush deputy

 

 · 

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3:11 AM - Jan 4, 2020

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في كل الأحوال ( قيس الخزعلي) غير موجود، لا في التشييع، ولا في أي فعالية أخرى!#عجائب_العراق

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Activists circulated a photo showing a person named Mohammed Al-Tabtabaei, who is Khazali's deputy, who attended the funeral while the top leaders were absent:

The Iraqi News Agency (NINA) said that the leaders who participated in the funeral of Sulaymani’s body and the engineer in the Jadriya area in central Baghdad are the resigned Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, the Shi’ite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Faleh al-Fayyad, and the leader of the Fatah Alliance Hadi al-Amiri The parliamentarian and head of the Islamic Supreme Council, Humam Hammoudi, and a number of ministers, army and police leaders.

On Twitter, some people named the characters that appeared, among them Khazali, Zaidi, and Algeria:

 

And informed Iraqi sources had told Al-Hurra Friday that pro-Iranian militia leaders had fled out of Iraq as soon as they heard the news of Soleimani's death at the hands of the American forces.

ON THE LINK

Sources for Al-Hurra: Three Iraqi militia leaders flee outside the country

The sources said that Khazali went Friday morning with his family to his old house in the city of Najaf, after which he fled to Iran.

Before that, Khazali had published a message on sites close to "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" in which he spoke about the killing of Soleimani and the engineer, and it is noteworthy in the letter that it was written by hand and was used from the other side.

On Friday, the United States listed Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, its leaders Khazali and his brother Laith on the list of terrorist organizations.

ON THE LINK

 

Washington lists "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" on the terrorism list

The sources added that Shibl al-Zaidi also left Iraq and fled to Beirut.

The sources spoke that Falih al-Fayyad disappeared simultaneously with the American forces targeting Soleimani, and he was on his way to a house in the Ghazaliya area where he was scheduled to meet Soleimani and the engineer, but he got off his motorcade upon hearing the news of Soleimani's death.

The sources added that "Al-Fayadh then ran towards a nearby residential area and asked his protection not to catch up with him, and he disappeared after that."

But the Iraqi News Agency report indicated that al-Fayyad was also present at the funeral, and it appears that Abu Alaa al-Wailai was seen at the ceremony, according to activists:

Steven nabil✔@thestevennabil

https://www.alhurra.com/a/وسط-أنباء-الهروب-غياب-الخزعلي-وقادة-ميليشيات-عن-تشييع-سليماني/527852.html

Edited January 4, 2020 by Butifldrm

[Pitcher]

3 minutes ago, Butifldrm said:

The sources said that Khazali went Friday morning with his family to his old house in the city of Najaf, after which he fled to Iran.

 

3 minutes ago, Butifldrm said:

Washington lists "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" on the terrorism list

The sources added that Shibl al-Zaidi also left Iraq and fled to Beirut.

 

6 minutes ago, Butifldrm said:

The sources spoke that Falih al-Fayyad disappeared simultaneously with the American forces targeting Soleimani, and he was on his way to a house in the Ghazaliya area where he was scheduled to meet Soleimani and the engineer, but he got off his motorcade upon hearing the news of Soleimani's death.

 

 

Run you cowards.  Now you are fugitives and you will get caught and destroyed just like Soleimani.  Out of Iraq, good riddance.  The rats are running for the hills.  

[yota691]

The US Security Advisor Reveals New Details About The Soleimani Operation

On January 4, 2020

 

 

(Independent) ... National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien confirmed that Qassem Soleimani was returning from Damascus and was planning operations against the Marines and American diplomats, and that President Trump ordered the operation against the terrorist leader, and the operation is defensive and intended to prevent other operations, adding that the intention of the operation is to prevent war and not To wage war.

 

He said that the United States wants a peaceful solution with Iran, but the president's efforts have so far been rejected by the Iranians.

He said that Iran has two options, namely escalation, but the United States will not be afraid of threats, and if Iran responds, the Iranians know that this will be a bad decision for them. The second option is to stop interfering, proxy wars, behaving like a normal country, and stopping the nuclear program, and “we hope they choose the right path.”

O'Brien also said there is always a risk in taking action, but there is a greater risk that no action will be taken.

Robert O'Brien revealed that he was with the president when the operation was carried out and she was under preparation for several days, and that Trump had received confirmation that it had been carried out at the time.
On the Iraqi parliament meeting tomorrow, O'Brien said that the United States would be upset if he made a negative decision about the presence of American forces there.

He pointed out that the Iraqis went out in festive demonstrations after the killing of Qasim Soleimani, and that the United States has done a lot for the sake of the Iraqis during the past years. (End)

[yota691]

Al-Amiri from the funeral of Engineer and Soleimani: We will get the American forces out and achieve full sovereignty

Political | 03:34 - 04/01/2020

 

 

 

Al-Amiri from the funeral of Engineer and Soleimani: We will get the American forces out and achieve full sovereignty

69 views•Jan 4, 2020

 

[Butifldrm]

 

[Butifldrm]

 

[WheresmyRV?]

I really hope they capture Ameri, he is one of the top Iranian loyalists along with Malaki and Sadr.

[Butifldrm]

 

Baghdad Villa" meeting .. Details of Soleimani's plan against the American forces

January 04, 2020

Soleimani and the engineer were killed by an American air strike

 

Reuters revealed new details about the plan of the commander of the "Quds Force" Qassem Soleimani to attack American forces in Iraq.

Reuters quoted militia leaders and security sources as saying that Soleimani, who was killed in an American raid on Thursday, met with Deputy Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and other Iraqi militia leaders loyal to Iran and ordered them to launch attacks against American targets in Iraq using sophisticated Iranian weapons.

This meeting was held in mid-October in a villa on the Tigris River overlooking the compound of the American embassy in Baghdad, at a time when the protests against Iranian influence in the country were taking more momentum.

Soleimani's plan in this "strategic" session, which had not been announced before, was to provoke a US military response that was redirecting increased anger toward the United States, according to sources familiar with the details of the meeting, Iraqi Shiite politicians and government officials close to the future Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. .

Two weeks before the October meeting, according to IAEA sources, Soleimani ordered the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to transport advanced weapons to Iraq through two border crossings, including Katyusha and shoulder-fired missiles that are able to shoot down helicopters.

In Villa Baghdad, Soleimani asked the leaders of the assembled to form a new group of militias unknown to the United States, to carry out missile attacks on Americans at Iraqi military bases, and ordered the "Hezbollah Brigades", which is part of the PMF, to oversee the new plan.

Reuters said that before the recent attacks, US intelligence believed that Soleimani was in an "advanced stage" of planning attacks against Americans in several countries, such as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, US officials told Reuters on Friday on condition of anonymity. A senior US official said Soleimani supplied weapons to the Hezbollah Brigades.

And White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said Friday that Soleimani was before his death in Damascus "as he was planning attacks on American soldiers, pilots, marines, sailors, and diplomats."

A militia commander told Reuters that Soleimani had chosen "Hezbollah Brigades" to oversee attacks against US forces in the area because this faction has the ability to use drones to explore possible targets of Katyusha rocket attacks.

Among the weapons that Soleimani sent last fall is a drone that Iran has developed that can evade radar systems. Hezbollah Brigades used these drones to take aerial photos of the locations of the American forces.

On December 11th, a senior US military official stated that Iranian-backed militia attacks against bases in Iraq that include American forces have increased and become more sophisticated, and his comment came in the wake of the four Katyusha rockets that landed on a base near Baghdad International Airport, wounding five soldiers .

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but a US military official said intelligence and forensic analyzes of rockets and missile launchers have pointed fingers at Shi’ite militias loyal to Iran, especially Hezbollah and Brigades of the People of Righteousness.

On December 27, militias fired more than 30 missiles at an Iraqi military base near Kirkuk, killing an American civilian contractor and wounding four American soldiers and two Iraqi soldiers.

The United States accused the Hezbollah Brigades of carrying out the attack and American aircraft launched air strikes targeting elements in this faction, killing 25 people and wounding 55 others, followed by the storming of the American embassy in Baghdad by Iranian-backed groups, which prompted Washington to send additional forces. To the region and its threat of revenge against Tehran.

Hours before the killing of Soleimani and the engineer, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had warned of "preemptive measures" to protect Americans from Iranian attacks, and said, "The game has changed."

https://www.alhurra.com/a/اجتماع-فيلا-بغداد-تفاصيل-خطة-سليماني-وأوامره-لقادة-الميليشيات/527838.html

Edited January 4, 2020 by Butifldrm

[Pitcher]

25 minutes ago, yota691 said:

Al-Amiri from the funeral of Engineer and Soleimani: We will get the American forces out and achieve full sovereignty

 

I believe it’s going to work out the other way Al-Amiri.  The US isn’t going away but you and all you Iranian henchmen who have destroyed, looted and corrupted Iraqi’s USA given Freedon, will be gone very soon. Forever!!!!!

[yota691]

Iraq issues a decision restricting the work of the American forces in the country

© REUTERS / AZAD LASHKARI

ARAB WORLD

15:20 04.01.2020(Updated 15:40 04.01.2020)

Follow us through

A spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces said today, Saturday, that Iraq issued a decision to restrict the work of the American forces in the country after the killing of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.

Speaking to Sputnik , the spokesman described the killing of Soleimani and the engineer with an American air raid, as "a stab in the back and the operations must be carried out with the consent of Iraq," adding that "the investigation began with the crew of the plane that transported Qasim Soleimani to Baghdad before his death."

 

 

© SPUTNIK /

Specifications of the plane that targeted Qassem Soleimani

 

On Friday morning, the American Ministry of Defense (the Pentagon) announced that it carried out a strike near Baghdad airport in Iraq, in which the commander of the Iranian Quds Force , Major General Qassim Soleimani, was killed , in addition to leaders of the Iraqi popular crowd headed by Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, while Tehran announced for its part. It will respond harshly to the assassination.

And accuses Washington Soleimani responsibility for "covert military operations" throughout the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria; rated by it as a "supporter of terrorism".

And the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, is experiencing a state of tension, as thousands demonstrated, since last Tuesday morning, in protest against an American bombing that targeted crowd positions on Sunday, December 29, killing at least 27 people and wounding 62 others. The popular crowd.

 

[siberian_shaddow]

I agree Pitcher, I also cant help to think what Maliki's thinking right now.  Probably something like oh shite that could have been me, ir i could be next.

[DinarThug]

Saturday, January 04, 2020 12:56 PM

 

Observers: Qassem Soleimani liquidation is the beginning of the end for the Iranian project in the Arab region

 

Observers said that the killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force in Iraq, and his liquidation confirm that the United States of America has ended the stage of proxy Iran in Iraq and the Arab world.

And the Iraqi political leader, Salah Al-Mukhtar, added in his statements that the timing of the assassination of the Iranian Qassem Soleimani confirms the continuation of the liquidation process that invades Iran in Iraq first, and after that it will be liquidated in the region, because the United States of America realizes that whoever hits the tail of the snake should not leave it Except when she is dead if he wants to prevent her fierce revenge.

He explained, that the popular uprising that erupted in Iraq and the recent events that took place on the Iraqi scene made the eastern Israeli militia (Iran) start to fragment after the popular uprising, as about 90% of its employees and some of them joined the popular uprising, while others moved away in fear, and only a number remained Few are not enough even to occupy and maintain a Baghdad neighborhood.

Al-Mukhtar pointed out that, despite the issuance of orders to the militias loyal to Iran to liquidate the uprising more than once, the rebels attacked only a small number, pointing to the small number of militia members who were besieging the American embassy in Baghdad, despite incitement to besiege the embassy in exchange for financial support.

He said, that the current battle of Iraq is a battle of existence in relation to the Persian national project, just as it is a battle of existence for Arabs in the Maghreb and East, indicating that whoever wins the Iraq battle decides the shape of the whole region.

He added: “Now Iran has lost the symbol of Persian nationalism, Qasim Soleimani, and Washington has dealt a catastrophic blow to the Mongols in Iraq, and that is the beginning of the end of the Iranian-Iranian national project, a transformation that will open the doors, and whatever attempts to stifle the Arab Renaissance project are strong, a huge start for the Arab liberation movement. Especially since Iraq is the main lever of the Arab struggle at this historical stage.

LINK

[Pitcher]

 

26 minutes ago, DinarThug said:

Observers said that the killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force in Iraq, and his liquidation confirm that the United States of America has ended the stage of proxy Iran in Iraq and the Arab world.

And the Iraqi political leader, Salah Al-Mukhtar, added in his statements that the timing of the assassination of the Iranian Qassem Soleimani confirms the continuation of the liquidation process that invades Iran in Iraq first, and after that it will be liquidated in the region, because the United States of America realizes that whoever hits the tail of the snake should not leave it Except when she is dead if he wants to prevent her fierce revenge.

He explained, that the popular uprising that erupted in Iraq and the recent events that took place on the Iraqi scene made the eastern Israeli militia (Iran) start to fragment after the popular uprising, as about 90% of its employees and some of them joined the popular uprising, while others moved away in fear, and only a number remained Few are not enough even to occupy and maintain a Baghdad neighborhood.

Al-Mukhtar pointed out that, despite the issuance of orders to the militias loyal to Iran to liquidate the uprising more than once, the rebels attacked only a small number, pointing to the small number of militia members who were besieging the American embassy in Baghdad, despite incitement to besiege the embassy in exchange for financial support system">support.

He said, that the current battle of Iraq is a battle of existence in relation to the Persian national project, just as it is a battle of existence for Arabs in the Maghreb and East, indicating that whoever wins the Iraq battle decides the shape of the whole region.

He added: “Now Iran has lost the symbol of Persian nationalism, Qasim Soleimani, and Washington has dealt a catastrophic blow to the Mongols in Iraq, and that is the beginning of the end of the Iranian-Iranian national project, a transformation that will open the doors, and whatever attempts to stifle the Arab Renaissance project are strong, a huge start for the Arab liberation movement. Especially since Iraq is the main lever of the Arab struggle at this historical stage.

LINK

 

 

Blah blah blah.  

 

Let me translate.  Hey Iran, GET THE HELL OUT OF IRAQ!!!  IMMEDIATELY!!!!

 

If you don’t the US will be forced to unleash it’s newest weapon upon you.

 

The Killer Kangaroo 

 

 

 

                       

[siberian_shaddow]

He's a beast lol, he would tear you apart.

Edited January 4, 2020 by siberian_shaddow

[yota691]

How might Iran seek revenge for US killing of top general Qasem Soleimani? | ITV News
34,382 views•Jan 4, 2020

 

[yota691]

Iran’s Economy And Evolving Culture Could Impact Response To Death Of Soleimani | NBC News NOW
40,689 views•Jan 3, 2020

 

[yota691]

 

Informative Video...

Iran's Power Over Iraq | VICE on HBO
365,456 views•Jan 3, 2020

 

VICE News
4.89M subscribers
Iranian leaders erupted with rage and threats of revenge after a U.S. drone strike killed the country’s second most powerful figure in a surprise missile attack at Baghdad’s main airport Thursday night. 

The death of General Qassem Soleimani, the high-profile leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force, now threatens to unleash a fresh wave of instability and conflict throughout the Middle East. 

Iran and Iraq fought one of the longest and bloodiest wars of the 20th century, which cost the lives of more than a million people and cemented the two countries’ rivalry in the decades that followed.But after ISIS took over wide swaths of Iraq, Iran came to Iraq's aid. 

After the defeat of ISIS, VICE correspondent Isobel Yeung travels to Iraq to see how Iran is exerting its growing influence over the war-torn country ahead of parliamentary elections.

[umbertino]

Tears mix with vows of vengeance at Suleimani funeral march

 

Mourners weep and beat chests as coffins of those killed in US drone strike pass through Baghdad’s streets

 

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad in Baghdad

Sat 4 Jan 2020 15.03 GMT

 

 

Iraqi militiamen march and chant anti US slogans while carrying a picture of Soleimani, left and Muhandis

Photograph: Nasser Nasser/AP

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/04/tears-mix-with-vows-of-vengeance-at-suleimani-funeral-march-baghdad

[yota691]

Tehran Promises 'Forceful Revenge' After U.S. Killing of Iranian Commander
618,650 views•Jan 3, 2020

 

[yota691]

Sources for Reuters: A secret meeting with a villa on the river ... revealed the attacks that Qasim Soleimani had ordered

- 4 Minutes Past

Reuters quoted informed sources that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani met with his allies from the armed Shiite factions in Iraq in a villa in the Rusafa area on the eastern side of the Tigris River, in mid-October last, to plan attacks against the United States.

In the Karkh area on the west side of the river, the US embassy complex is located inside the heavily fortified Green Zone.

According to security officials and faction leaders, Soleimani instructed his biggest ally in Iraq to intensify attacks on American targets using new advanced weapons supplied to them by Iran.

The leaders of the powerful factions attended the meeting, along with the deputy head of the popular crowd, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, who was killed alongside Soleimani in the American raid on Friday.

The strategic meeting - which media reports did not talk about before - came as massive protests against Iran's growing influence in Iraq were gaining momentum.

According to sources familiar with the meeting and close to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Soleimani's plans to attack American forces were aimed at provoking a military response that would divert this growing anger towards the United States.

Through interviews with Iraqi security sources and leaders of Shiite armed factions, Reuters highlights how Soleimani works in Iraq.

Soleimani once told Reuters that he knew Iraq by heart.

Diplomats, Soldiers, and Pilots
Two weeks before the villa meeting on the Tigris River, Soleimani ordered the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to transfer more sophisticated weapons to Iraq, including Katyusha rockets and shoulder-fired missiles that could land helicopters through two border crossings.

At the villa meeting, Soleimani asked the assembled military leaders to form a new armed faction unknown to the United States, and that could carry out missile attacks on Americans on Iraqi military bases.

Sources familiar with what happened in the meetings stated that he ordered the Hezbollah Brigades - which was founded by the engineer and trained in Iran - to take over the implementation of the new plan.

Soleimani told the assembled that such a "new" group would "be difficult for the Americans to monitor."

And yesterday, Friday, American officials revealed that before the attacks, the American intelligence services had what they believed that Soleimani was involved in an "advanced stage" in planning to attack Americans in several countries, including Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

A senior US official said Soleimani supplied sophisticated weapons to the Hezbollah Brigades. US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters that Soleimani had just returned from Damascus "where he was planning attacks on American soldiers, pilots, marines, sailors, and diplomats."

An official at the Iranian Revolutionary Guards headquarters declined to comment on these leaks, and it was not possible to obtain a comment from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

It is noteworthy that Soleimani played a key role in expanding Iran's military influence in the Middle East as the director of covert operations outside Iran.

Soleimani, 62, was considered the second most powerful figure in the Islamic Republic after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As for the engineer, he supervised the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, which are an umbrella for the Shiite armed factions, mostly supported by Iran, and formally integrated into the Iraqi armed forces.

Like Soleimani, the engineer has long been on the radar of the United States, which has designated him a terrorist.

Iranian plane to photograph American soldiers
A leader of the armed factions said that Soleimani chose Hezbollah Brigades to lead the attacks on American forces in the region, because it had the ability to use drones to explore targets to attack them with Katyusha rockets.

Among the weapons, faction leaders said, among the weapons that Soleimani had supplied to his allies was a drone developed by Iran that was able to hide from the radar systems.

According to Iraqi security officials, the Hezbollah brigades used drones to take aerial photographs of locations where American forces are deployed.

On December 27, more than thirty rockets were fired at an Iraqi military base near the city of Kirkuk in the north of the country in an attack that killed an American civilian contractor and wounded four Americans and two Iraqi soldiers.

Washington accused the Hezbollah Brigades of carrying out the attack, and the group denied this. Two days later, the United States launched air strikes targeting the group, killing at least 25 fighters and wounding 55.

The strikes sparked violent protests over the past two days by supporters of armed factions backed by Iran who stormed a security point in the vicinity of the US embassy and threw stones at the security forces.

This prompted Washington to send additional forces to the region and threaten revenge against Tehran.

Yesterday, Thursday, the US Secretary of Defense warned that his country might have to take pre-emptive action to protect the lives of Americans from expected attacks by factions backed by Iran, stressing that "the rules of the game have changed."

Just hours after this threat, the US military carried out a raid on two vehicles near Baghdad International Airport, killing Soleimani, the engineer, and other Iranian and Iraqi personalities.

Source: Reuters

 

[Butifldrm]

 

Representative of Khamenei in Iraq: The Iraqi people are jealous and will cleanse the country of the occupier

Policy

03-01-2020 | 09:50

Source:

Alsumaria news

 

Mojtaba Al-Husseini, the representative of the Iranian guide in Iraq, considered Friday the Iraqi people that he is jealous and will purify the homeland from the occupier who wants to steal his oil.

Al-Husseini said in a press conference held in Najaf governorate and attended by Alsumaria News, "The enemy won nothing and will not take anything and appreciate all Iraqi movements and those who reject and denounce the Americans' actions."

He added that "the Americans, if they wanted to extinguish the flame of resistance and arrogance, do not issue from them except every act of condemnation and we have great hope in the future."

Al-Husseini stressed: "We are reassured that the Iraqi people are a jealous people and the country will be cleansed of these occupiers who want to rob their oil."

The popular crowd announced early today, Friday, the martyrdom of the deputy head of the crowd, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and the commander of the Quds Force, Major General Qasim Soleimani, in a US raid in Baghdad.

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