BAGHDAD: Hadi Al-Amiri, a prominent Iraqi politician and a key figure in the cross-party alliance supporting Iraq’s government, has issued a stern warning, threatening to target US interests if Washington intervenes to support Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Al-Amiri leads the Badr Organization, that holds significant influence within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the state paramilitary organization.
During a tribal gathering in Baghdad on Monday night, Al-Amiri stated, “If they intervene, we would intervene… if the Americans intervened openly in this conflict… we will consider all American targets legitimate… and we will not hesitate to target them.”
This statement followed the United States’ announcement that it would swiftly provide additional munitions to Israel and deploy a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean.
US Forces in Iraq and Syria
The United States currently maintains 2,500 troops in Iraq, with an additional 900 stationed in Syria, on a mission to advise and assist local forces in combating the Islamic State.
On Saturday, the PMF expressed its “unequivocal support” for the Palestinian factions engaged in the conflict with Israel. The Iraqi government has characterized the Palestinian operations as a natural response to Israel’s oppressive policies.
