Analysis: Iraqis tightening noose on American occupation forces

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): As comes second anniversary of assassination of Iran's General Qassem Soleimani and Iraq's Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, as well as forces of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) who were killed in an American airstrike on Qaem border crossing in 2020, Iraqi groups arrange commemoration ceremonies across the country and online.

The distinctive point this year is that end of 2021 marks the end of an ultimatm to the American occupation forces to leave Iraq. Now Iraqi people and political parties are united in voice highlighting the need for the US to end occupation of their country.

Just a day to January 3, when the US assassinated at Baghdad International Airport IRGC Quds Force's commander General Soleimani and his Iraqi comrade and deputy commander of the PMF al-Muhandis, the noose is being tightened on the Americans to leave the Arab country.

Calls for vehicle parade

With the anniversary coming, several calls in Iraq over the past few days invited for a massive vehicle parade in Baghdad.

On December 29, Baghdad's Al-Tahrir Square witnessed a "million" march marking the anniversary of the two anti-terror commanders.

The PMF, or Hashd al-Shabbi in Arabic, called on the Iraqi people to hold a rally in Baghdad to mark the second anniversary of the martyrdom of Generals Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes and its martyrs. The car march started on Saturday from Palestine Street in Baghdad to Tahrir Square, and then a massive gathering was arranged in this place.

The Iraqis also on Friday made a Twitter storm with hashtags like "we are Soleimani" and "occupiers exit a national demand." Their message was clear: the occupation must end.

Torching the US embassy model

Another attention-grabbing point was setting fire in a model of the US embassy. Reuters reported that demonstrators also set fire in the US flag in Baghdad's Green Zone, a protected neighborhood hosting foreign embassies and government buildings. The Iraqis also torched for the second time a checkpoint set up by the US embassy.

The December 2019 protests resulted in clashes with the guards of the embassy. The US, consequently, deployed more forces to the region.

Trump, ordered the attack under the excuse the General Soleimani had arranged the protests around the US diplomatic complex.

Embassy on high alert as rocket attacks likely

Coinciding with the start of 2022, news sources report that the US Embassy in Baghdad is on high alert. Al-Sharq news website also reported the activation of the air defense systems of the embassy. Iraqi security forces are also widely deployed around the complex.

On December 28, the Iraqi resistance forces in a statement said: "Every day it becomes more certain to us that the American occupation forces are not serious in implementation of the demands of our dear nation about adoption of the parliament's bill about foreign forces withdrawal from the country."

These forces actually made it clear that after the deadline the attacks on the American forces would begin until the Americans decide to withdraw.

Also, intelligence sources warned about attacks on the embassy on the anniversary of the assassination.

The sources said that verified intelligence data had reached security commanders indicating that elements intend to target the US embassy at the same time as the US attack on the two commanders, namely around 2:00 a.m, January 3.

They added the attack could be carried out from Palestine Street or Al-Sholaa Street in downtown Baghdad.

Attacks on the US positions in Syria's Deir ez-Zor

According to news sources, a US military base in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor has been hit by a missile.

According to Al-Ahd news network, a US military base in the Koniko oilfield on the northern outskirts of Deir ez-Zor came under a rocket strike.

At least three Katyusha rockets were fired near the Iraqi border, targeting a US base on Syrian soil. Eyewitnesses also reported the sound of an explosion in the area, according to local sources.

This comes as the Syrian state news agency (SANA) reported on Friday the arrival of heavy US military equipment from Iraq to the northern regions of the Syria. According to the report, regional sources told SANA that 40 trucks carrying logistics equipment and several US tankers had entered Syria through the illegal Al-Waleed border crossing from Iraq.

In the middle of these circumstances, the rocket attacks are warning messages to the American occupation, telling Washington that, first, General Soleimani and al-Muhandis would not remain unrevenged and, second, the Americans have a fate in Syria similar to that of  their fellows in Iraq and they must go out at the end of the road.




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