Call for Expulsion of American Forces

Iraqis Mourn ‘Heroes of Fight Against Daesh’

Date: 03 January 2020 - 23:00

News ID: ۷۴۷۰۴

BAGHDAD (Dispatches) -- Iraq’s top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Friday strongly condemned the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and his comrades, calling them the "heroes of fight against Daesh”.
In a message delivered by his representative during a sermon in the holy city of Karbala, Ayatollah Sistani denounced as "cruel” the overnight attack which martyred IRGC Quds Force commander Major General Soleimani and top Hashd al-Sha’abi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis along with several other fighters.
The top cleric described the attack as a violation of Iraq’s national sovereignty and international charters, and called the martyrs "heroes of the battles for victory against Daesh terrorists.”
Earlier Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi condemned the U.S. attack, warning of devastating consequences for Iraq as senior Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr put all his forces on alert.
Abdul-Mahdi blasted the U.S. strike as a blatant act of "aggression” that would "spark a devastating war."
He described General Soleimani and al-Muhandis as the icons of Iraq’s victory over Western-backed Daesh terrorists.
"The assassination of an Iraqi military commander in an official post is an aggression against the country of Iraq, its state, its government and its people," the Iran premier said, referring to al-Muhandis.
Abdul-Mahdi called on the Iraqi parliament to convene an extraordinary session. The parliament said it will reconvene on Saturday to decide the future of America's military presence.
In his Friday message, Ayatollah Sistani warned about the deterioration of crises in Iraq, saying the Arab country is at some of the most dangerous junctures.
"From the criminal aggression against Iraqi forces’ positions in the city of al-Qaim, which killed and wounded tens of our combatant children to the regrettable events Baghdad witnessed during the past few days and the Thursday night’s cruel aggression near the Baghdad International Airport … all serve as a warning that the country is at very difficult conditions,” he said.
The top cleric was referring to the recent U.S. airstrikes on a number of Kata’ib Hezbollah bases in Qaim in the western province of Anbar, killing as many as 31 fighters and wounding almost twice as many.
The targeted Kata’ib Hezbollah forces belonged to Brigades 45 and 46 of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha’abi.
The raids drew a wave of condemnation from officials and movements across the region, and triggered furious public protests outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
Sadr sent his condolences to the Iranian nation and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamanei.
He said the assassination was an attempt by Washington to stifle anti-U.S. sentiments in Iraq and the nation's resolve to uproot foreign-backed terrorism.
The cleric also ordered all his forces to maintain readiness to defend the Arab country against further violations by American forces.
"As the patron of the patriotic Iraqi resistance I give the order for all mujahideen, specially the Mehdi Army, Promised Day Brigade, and all patriotic and disciplined groups to be ready to protect Iraq," he said in a statement.
Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Iraq’s Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, ordered his fighters to be on high alert and said the strike would spell the end of the U.S. military presence in Iraq.
"All fighters should be on high alert for upcoming battle and great victory. The price for the blood for the martyred commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is the complete end to American military presence in Iraq," local TV channel al-Ahd quoted Khazali as saying.
Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's National Wisdom Movement, also condemned the assassination of Gen. Soleimani and al-Muhandis, calling on the government to take necessary action in response.
He said the two commanders had dedicated their lives to fighting terrorism and their assassination would bring about harsh consequences.