Iran-backed Iraq militias agree on ‘conditional ceasefire’ to halt US attacks
An array of Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups have agreed to suspend rocket attacks on US forces on condition that Iraq's government presents a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops, one of the groups said on Sunday.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“The factions have presented a conditional ceasefire,” said Mohammed Mohi, spokesman for the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah group.
“It includes all factions of the (anti-US) resistance, including those who have been targeting US forces,” he told Reuters.
Mohi said the Iraqi government must implement a parliamentary resolution in January that called for the withdrawal from Iraq of foreign troops.
The parliament's decision came after a US drone strike at Baghdad airport killed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraq's top Shia paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, raising fears of a full-scale Iran-US confrontation on Iraqi soil.
Mohi said there was no deadline for the government to implement the decision but warned: “If America insists on staying and doesn't respect the parliament's decision then the factions will use all the weapons at their disposal.”
He said the firing of Katyusha rockets at US forces and diplomatic compounds had been merely “a message that you're not welcome in the country” and that worse attacks could follow.
US officials blame Kata'ib Hezbollah for dozens of rocket attacks against US installations in Iraq.
Kata'ib Hezbollah denies carrying them out. Smaller and previously unknown militias have claimed some of the attacks. Iraqi security sources believe those groups are linked to Kata'ib Hezbollah and other larger Iran-aligned militias.
Read more:
Iraqi security forces raid Iran-backed militia's headquarters south of Baghdad
Iran-backed leaders in Iraq call for terrorist operations in Saudi Arabia: Statements
Iran-backed Katai'b Hezbollah spokesman threatens Iraqi PM following overnight raids
Also Read
-
Torture, abduction, murder: Inside Kata’ib Hezbollah, Iran’s terrorist proxy in Iraq
Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, issued a statement last week calling for terrorist attacks to be launched against Saudi Arabia.The ... Features -
Pentagon orders preparations to ‘destroy’ pro-Iran Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq: Report
The US Department of Defense has ordered its military commanders in Iraq to prepare for potential operations to destroy the pro-Iranian Kata’ib ... Middle East -
Iraq protests one year on: Demands, Iran’s role, al-Kadhimi and the future
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of protests in Iraq known as the “October Revolution.”Throughout the year, Iraqis have taken ... Features
