Iraqi militants threaten to attack US citizens if Iranian leader targeted
Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq, threatened to attack U.S. citizens in the event that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is targeted in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
Iraqi militias have thus far largely held their fire in the conflict, although three drones launched at the Ain al-Asad base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq were reportedly shot down on Friday, after Israel’s began its barrage of strikes on Iran. No group claimed responsibility for the attack on the base.
With warnings of all-out regional war intensifying, fears are growing over an intervention by Iran-backed Iraqi factions, mostly against American interests in the region.
- 'Destruction' -
Akram al-Kaabi, the leader of the pro-Iran group, Al-Nujaba, warned the United States against going after Khamenei.
"If you harm a hair" of Khamenei's head "you and your allies will be under our fire," Kaabi said in a statement.
"No soldier or diplomat will be spared," Kaabi said.
"Every person holding your nationality in our region, as well as all your direct or indirect interest will be a legitimate target," he added.
The powerful faction Kataeb Hezbollah said that Trump "made a mistake" when he spoke of Khamenei and warned the U.S. president of "unprecedented calamities and destruction" if he goes into war in support of Israel.
Source: Associated Press
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