Iraq’s Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al Halbousi vowed to "put an end to U.S. presence" in Iraq after President Trump ordered airstrikes that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces boss Mahdi al Muhandis in Baghdad on Thursday.
“Yesterday’s targeting of a military commander in Iraq’s armed forces near Baghdad International Airport is a flagrant breach of sovereignty and violation of international agreements,” a statement from Halbousi read.
Halbousi added that Iraq “must avoid becoming a battlefield or a side in any regional or international conflict."
Tensions between Iranian-backed militants and U.S. forces in Iraq boiled over on New Year's Day as hundred circled the U.S. Embassy, setting fires and chanting "death to America."
“The assassination of an Iraqi military commander is an aggression on Iraq as a state, government and people,” Shiite politician Abdul Mahdi said of Muhandis's death.
BREAKING: Iraq’s Parliament vows to eliminate the US presence in #Iraq — deputy parliament speaker says they’ll hold an emergency meeting & make "decisive decisions that put an end to US presence inside Iraq"
— Gillian Turner (@GillianHTurner) January 3, 2020
