Iran affiliated groups in Iraq threaten to retaliate against US and Israel -

Baghdad: ‘Popular Mobilisation Forces’ (PMF) an influential Iran affiliated group in Iraq, has held the United States and Israel responsible for the attacks on its military bases in Iraq. Senior PMF leader, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis threatened, ‘If any aircraft enters the airspace of our military base it will be considered an enemy aircraft and will be shot down. Mahdi is a close associate of General Qassem Soleimani, the chief of Iranian Quds Force, operational in Iraq.

Last month, four major attacks were carried out on different military bases in Iraq. Along with the most significant military camp at Camp Ashraf, situated in the north of capital Baghdad, an attack was carried out on the airbase at Balad, in the Salaheddin province, two days ago. All the four locations had bases and arms depotsof the Iran affiliated groups. Therefore, it was being suspected that Israel was behind these attacks. On Wednesday, PMF, the Iran affiliated extremist group, accused that even the United States was responsible for these attacks.

Senior PMF leader Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis threatened the United States and Israel through a pamphlet. Mahdi claimed that Israeli drones attacked their military bases and arms depots, in the last month. Mahdi accused the United States of allowing Israel to use its bases in Iraq to launch these drones.

Commander of the Iran affiliated group warned, ‘We have informed Iraq government regarding the stand of the PMF. In future, if we find any aircraft or drone, of any country, passing through the airspace of the military base, it will be considered as an enemy aircraft and action will be taken.’ Mahdi also warned that the United States would be wholly responsible for all the future events in Iraq. Mahdi is a close associate of General Qassem Soleimani, the chief of Iranian Quds force, responsible for creating a network of Iran affiliated groups in Iraq.

The United States has said that it has nothing to do with the attacks on the military bases of the Iran affiliated groups. But, two days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to attack all the Iran connected military bases around the world. Prime Minister Netanyahu gave indications regarding the action in Syria-Iraq, saying that the Israeli action against Iran is going on and will continue.

Meanwhile, the Iraq government had announced that it would not allow Iraq, to be used as a launchpad against Iran. But the attacks on the Iranian bases in Iraq and the reaction of the Iran affiliated group, clearly indicate that the Iraq government does not hold the reins of the country.