US ‘strongly condemns’ attack on civilians in Iraq: State Department 

The United States “strongly condemns” the killing of innocent civilians by Iran-backed militias in the Salah al-Din governorate in Iraq, according to a statement from the State Department.

The killings occurred within hours of an attack by the militias on the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s branch office in Baghdad, the statement said.

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Supporters of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) militias on Saturday burned down the main Kurdish party’s headquarters in Baghdad after criticism from a Kurdish ex-minister.

Hundreds of PMU demonstrators swept past a security detail and stormed into the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which runs the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, and torched them.

A supporter of an Iran-backed militia holds a poster of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis during a protest by pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters in Baghdad on Oct. 17, 2020. (AP)

“The Government of Iraq needs to immediately exert control over the Iran-backed militias who are lawlessly attacking religious and ethnic minorities, peaceful protesters and activists, political party headquarters, and diplomatic missions,” the statement said.

“The actions of these groups are preventing the international community from helping Iraq and are leading Iraq towards sectarian violence and instability. We urge all parties to act responsibly and work together to help Iraq overcome its economic challenges, security challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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(With AFP)