AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Kataib Hezbollah on Saturday warned the Iraqi security forces to keep a distance of one Kilometer from the US bases from Sunday evening, after the Pentagon's recent assault hit five targets of the popular forces in Iraq and Syria which resulted in the death of dozens of fighters.
The popular forces urged the Iraqi security forces in a written statement on Saturday to avoid getting close to the areas where the US military bases are located.
Abu Ali al-Askari, security leader of the KH tweeted that "brothers in the Iraqi security services must stay away from the bases of the American enemy for a distance of no less than a thousand meters, starting from Sunday evening".
"The leaders of the security services must abide by the safety rules of their fighters and not allow them to be a human shield," al-Askari warned.
Meanwhile, the US-led coalition confirmed that rockets fell near two Iraqi army bases in Baghdad and Balad, used by American troops, on Saturday. No US military casualties resulted from the shelling, it added.
Earlier this week, Washington Embassy in Baghdad barely escaped a takeover by Iraqi protesters following a series of US airstrikes that killed 28 popular forces a week ago. The demonstrators chanted “Death to America” and even managed to set checkpoints on fire, calling for the expulsion of the US ambassador and American military servicemen from the Arab country. Washington blamed the Kirkuk's attack on the Iran-allied forces, but Tehran has denied any involvement.
But on Friday, Washington assassination of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani prompted fears in the Middle East and across the globe that US President Donald Trump's reportedly spontaneous decision could ultimately spawn a full-scale military conflict which could affect the entire world.
The Pentagon has announced that President Donald Trump authorized a US military strike near Baghdad's airport which resulted in the martyrdom of General Soleimani.
Iranian officials branded the airstrike an “act of international terrorism” and promised retaliation. Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has stated that the Unites States must await a tough revenge.
Iran has time and again warned that it will not be the initiator of any war, but reserves the right to self defense and will give a crushing response to any act of aggression by the United States.
As the terror attack on General Soleimani has been interpreted even by many politicians and experts in the US as a declaration of war, Iran is expected to unleash the crushing second strike that it had long vowed to come after any US first strike.
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source : FNA
Sunday
5 January 2020
2:08:03 PM
999533
Iraqi Hezbollah warns security forces to avoid approching US bases
The Kataib Hezbollah on Saturday warned the Iraqi security forces to keep a distance of one Kilometer from the US bases from Sunday evening, after the Pentagon's recent assault hit five targets of the popular forces in Iraq and Syria which resulted in the death of dozens of fighters.