Air raids over eastern Syria near Iraqi border kill 6 Iran-backed militants
Associated PressDec 30, 2023
US Drone Strike Kills Iran-Backed Militia Leader in Baghdad
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Image copyright: Fars Media Corporation [via Wikimedia Commons] (2016)
The Facts
US officials confirmed that a precision airstrike against a vehicle in Baghdad on Tuesday killed a leader of the Iran-backed, US-designated terrorist Harakat al-Nujaba group who was targeted for allegedly having "American blood on his hands."
This comes as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of primarily Shia militias officially integrated into the Iraqi military, announced that its deputy head of operations in the capital, Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, alias "Abu Taqwa," had been killed due to a "brutal American aggression."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Given the fact that Abu Taqwa and his al-Nujaba militia have been responsible for several attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria, this airstrike sought to neutralize him and is fully legitimate. Washington can't and won't refrain from taking action to protect its personnel from any threat they face.
Establishment-critical narrative
US-led Global Coalition Forces have outrageously violated their mandate and mission as well as the sovereignty and security of Iraq. This was an unwarranted deadly drone strike against one of the security headquarters in Baghdad. Such an act on par with terrorism can only escalate tensions and undermine understanding between Iraq and the Coalition.
