‘Israeli’ Attacks Declaration of War on Iraq - PMU

By Staff, Agencies

An Iraqi parliamentary bloc representing the country’s Popular Mobilization Units [PMU], also known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, said the recent ‘Israeli’ acts of aggression targeting the pro-government military force amount to “a declaration of war” on the Arab country.

In a statement released on Monday, the Fatah [Conquest] alliance held the United States accountable for the drone strikes on PMU bases over the past few weeks, which are widely reported to have been carried out by the Tel Aviv regime.

“While we reserve the right to respond to these Zionist attacks, we hold the international coalition, particularly the United States, fully responsible for this aggression, which we consider a declaration of war on Iraq and its people,” the statement read.

It also called for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, stressing that they are no longer needed there.

The latest such drone attacks struck Sunday a PMU convoy near the Iraqi town of al-Qaim close to the Syrian border.

The PMU said that the deadly strike was launched under “air cover over the area from American planes.”

Separately on Monday, Iraqi President Barham Saleh hosted a meeting with Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi and PMU leaders regarding the aerial assaults.

A statement issued after the meeting described the attacks as a “blatant act of aggression” meant to drag the PMU away from its role of eradicating remnants of the Daesh [the Arabic acronym for ‘ISIS/ISIL’] Takfiri terrorist group.

“These attacks are a blatant, hostile act that target Iraq,” it said, adding, “Iraqi sovereignty and the well-being of its people are a red line.”

It further stressed that the Iraqi government would take all necessary steps to “deter aggressors and defend Iraq.”