Pompeo Orders PM-Designate to Protect Americans
U.S. Troops Kidnap Anti-Terror Tribal Leader in Iraq
BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – U.S. military forces have arrested a leader of tribal fighters affiliated to the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by the Arabic name Hashad al-Sha’abi, in the country’s western province of Anbar.
An unnamed security source said U.S. troops carried out an airdrop operation in Al-Shuhada neighborhood of Al-Baghdadi district west of Hit on Monday and detained Sheikh Mu’di Karab al-Samarmad al-Ubaidi, Al-Forat television reported.
The source added that Ubaidi is a prominent figure within the PMU, and that the Americans have not given any reason for the arrest or charges against him.
Last December, U.S. military forces detained Naseer al-Ubaidi, a leader of tribal fighters linked to Hashd al-Sha’abi forces in Anbar province.
Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters played a major role in liberating Daesh-held areas in Iraq. In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate Hashd al-Sha’abi into the army.
In December 2019, Washington imposed sanctions targeting leaders of Iraq’s Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib Hezbollah groups which operate as part of Hashd al-Sha’abi.
The U.S. also conducted airstrikes targeting the anti-terror fighters, killing 25 people in one attack.
The arrest came as the U.S. said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged Muhammad Allawi, Iraq’s designated prime minister, to protect American troops even though the Arab country’s parliament has voted in favor of expelling them.
During a phone call with Allawi on Sunday, Pompeo "stressed Iraq’s obligation to protect US and coalition diplomats, forces and facilities,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
The Iraqi parliament voted on January 5 to oust all U.S. forces following Washington’s assassination of Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani and Iraq’s Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Angered by the Iraqi parliament’s decision, Washington threatened to cut off Iraq’s access to a U.S.-based key bank account where the Arab country’s oil revenues are kept.
President Donald Trump also threatened Iraqis with "sanctions like they’ve never seen before” if US troops were asked to leave. He suggested blocking some $35 billion of Iraqi money "right now sitting in an account” in the United States.
Washington’s insistence to stay in Iraq comes amid its attempts to end the presence of Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters, a move that has been condemned as interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.
An unnamed security source said U.S. troops carried out an airdrop operation in Al-Shuhada neighborhood of Al-Baghdadi district west of Hit on Monday and detained Sheikh Mu’di Karab al-Samarmad al-Ubaidi, Al-Forat television reported.
The source added that Ubaidi is a prominent figure within the PMU, and that the Americans have not given any reason for the arrest or charges against him.
Last December, U.S. military forces detained Naseer al-Ubaidi, a leader of tribal fighters linked to Hashd al-Sha’abi forces in Anbar province.
Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters played a major role in liberating Daesh-held areas in Iraq. In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate Hashd al-Sha’abi into the army.
In December 2019, Washington imposed sanctions targeting leaders of Iraq’s Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib Hezbollah groups which operate as part of Hashd al-Sha’abi.
The U.S. also conducted airstrikes targeting the anti-terror fighters, killing 25 people in one attack.
The arrest came as the U.S. said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged Muhammad Allawi, Iraq’s designated prime minister, to protect American troops even though the Arab country’s parliament has voted in favor of expelling them.
During a phone call with Allawi on Sunday, Pompeo "stressed Iraq’s obligation to protect US and coalition diplomats, forces and facilities,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
The Iraqi parliament voted on January 5 to oust all U.S. forces following Washington’s assassination of Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani and Iraq’s Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Angered by the Iraqi parliament’s decision, Washington threatened to cut off Iraq’s access to a U.S.-based key bank account where the Arab country’s oil revenues are kept.
President Donald Trump also threatened Iraqis with "sanctions like they’ve never seen before” if US troops were asked to leave. He suggested blocking some $35 billion of Iraqi money "right now sitting in an account” in the United States.
Washington’s insistence to stay in Iraq comes amid its attempts to end the presence of Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters, a move that has been condemned as interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.