Iraqi Hezbollah threatens President Barham Salih

The Iran-backed Iraqi Hezbollah is threatening Iraqi President Barham Salih not to meet with US President Trump, saying that otherwise he would be chased out of Baghdad.

The conflict in Iraq is reaching a new level. After the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and the deputy commander of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, groups close to Iran are now threatening Iraqi President Barham Salih. Hashd al-Shaabi is officially part of the Iraqi military.

"Meeting with Trump"

The Hezbollah Brigades (Kataib Hezbollah) are part of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia alliance. Their security officer Abu Ali Askeri has now threatened Salih that he would be chased out of Baghdad if he met with US President Donald Trump.

Is Iran behind this threat?

Political analyses from Iraq warn that this threat from a group belonging to the Iraqi military shows how serious the crisis in Iraq is and that this warning should actually be understood as a threat from Iran.

Al-Sadr calls for protests against foreign troops

In the wake of the US attacks, the Iraqi parliament had decided for the leave of all foreign troops from the country. However, both the USA and the anti-ISIS coalition had declared that they would not withdraw. The Shiite groups in Iraq, however, insist on the withdrawal. Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr has called for mass demonstrations against the US presence for January 24.