Once again the US has targeted Iraq but now they are claiming they have killed a top Kataib Hezbollah leader. This is the militia group that hit the Jordanian base. Kataib Hezbollah said they would not bomb US bases out of respect to the Iraqi government who intervened after the death of three US soldiers stationed on the Jordanian base. On their vengeance streak, the US struck Iraq again and hit the car of the leader for the Kataib Hezbollah and the occupants while driving through a busy city center in Baghdad. Has the US informed Iraq of this latest attack? It does not appear like they have based on Iraqi officials reactions, but not much can be trusted with information and reports the US government releases because US officials stated firmly that Iraq knew of these airstrikes on their soil, while Iraq countered with the truth, that they had no notice of the airstrikes. Now the US has backtracked and corrected this fact, that Iraqi officials had no notification of upcoming airstrikes. It only demonstrates why the word of the US cannot be trusted.
These multiple attacks on Iraq, along with the Kataib Hezbollah group had ensured they would not attack again, has considerably altered relations with the US and Iraq. In the same breathe that the US has not killed any innocent civilians in Iraq, we are reminded that the Iraqi government has allowed for the US presence in their country, very much in the same vein of the US repetitively repeating that Israel has the right to defend itself as a way to justify the genocide in Gaza. The deal between the US and Iraq is a bit more layered than that, more than likely oil contracts and business development were attached to the US military presence in Iraq.
What these militias are fighting against is the existence of US military bases that are destabilizing their country. If the US military left, these militias would not need to fight based on the statements from these groups that their sole purpose is to pressure the US to leave Iraq. Militias in Iraq have increased their attacks on US bases since the war in Gaza began as a way of fighting the US involvement in Israel’s war.
There are 2,500 US troops stationed in Iraq. Iraq has already begun talks with the US over the removal of US troops from Iraq to the chagrin of the US who wants to have a presence in Iraq even if smaller. These multiple attacks have put the US on the fast track for removal. First, the US has killed innocent Iraqi civilians in both airstrikes. Second, the US called Iraqi leaders liars when it was the US who lied about informing Iraqi officials of the bombing. Third, there have been multiple attacks on Iraqi soil which disregards the respect for Iraqi sovereignty especially without the beforehand information from the US. It shows that the US does not care about or hears the input of Iraqi officials. Why have the US in Iraq if the US thumbs their nose at the Iraq government? It is utterly disrespectful of the US to not involve Iraq in the attacks on their own land.
Members of Iraq’s parliament are loudly calling for the exit after the latest attack in a crowded neighborhood, saying these bombings are all the more reason the US military must permanently leave Iraq. An Iraqi spokesperson has said the Iraqi government holds the US responsible for these bombings which threaten to destabilize Iraq. That is very true and it will only persist in upsetting the power balance in Iraq as the US has said that they plan on further airstrikes on Iraq and Syria as retaliation for the death of the three US soldiers in Jordan. The Prime Minister of Iraq has condemned the last attack and stated that Iraq would not be the stage for the US to attack Iran.
It’s obvious that the US military presence is a threat and a huge liability for the government of Iraq. While countries like Jordan completely bow down to the US military and attack Jordanian’s who oppose the US presence in Jordan and involvement in Israel’s war on Gaza, Iraq is taking a totally different route and ousting the US. The difference between the two approaches is one government that listens to their people and another government that is oppressing their people for raising their voices in opposition.
Now that Israel has refused the truce and hostage deal with Hamas, the escalation to other wars spreading in the Middle East is at a critical level. Israel and the US are aggressively attempting to expand the war zone throughout the Middle East, but no one has taken that bait despite the increased airstrikes from both aggressors on multiple countries throughout the region. The question remains will the US and Israel cross a line that neither can come back from? Will world leaders respect countries that are attacked by the US or Israel and responding in self defense as Israel has claimed or is that only applicable to Israel?
The US government has jeopardized their role in Iraq over retribution, and this is all unraveling at their own doing.
War is on the horizon because no world leaders are checking either Israel of the US and until they do so through sanctions and embargoes, both will continue to escalate until Israel has annexed all of Gaza and the US has pushed another country to a war. Their goals are clear and both must be stopped. Iraq is being both prudent and also taking a moral high ground in pushing for the removal of the US military. Other countries around the world with US military bases should be taking notes right now.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
What we need to do to keep the pressure on:
Protest
Boycott
Donate
Vote 3rd party
Demand sanctions and embargoes for- Israel, US, UK, France, Canada, and Germany.
Please extend the same energy to people and countries facing atrocities and genocide- Sudan, Congo, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.
Article for reference, please read and share:
Washington Post: U.S. strikes in Baghdad kills key militia commander, officials say
NPR: U.S. drone strike in Iraq kills head of Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah
HRW: Jordan: Arrests, Harassment of Pro-Palestine Protesters
New Arab: Calls grow for US military to exit Jordan after drone strike