Hashd al-Shaabi and Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq threaten the US

The pro-Iran Hashd al-Shaabi and Hezbollah Brigades officials in Iraq threatened the US.

Last month, Shia groups had announced that they were preparing a proposal for US forces to leave Iraq.

Some Hashd al -haabi officials threatened that if the US doesn’t leave, they will use force.

In an interview to CBS last week, US President Donald Trump said they would remain in the Ayn Al-Asad airbase in Iraq to monitor Iran. Trump said, “This way, if somebody starts looking for nuclear weapons, we will know of it before they do it.”

Iraqi President Barham Salih protested this comment and said, “The Iraqi Constitution doesn’t let Iraq be used as a base to hit a neighboring country or to launch attacks.” Salih added: “American forces are present as part of bilateral agreements between the two countries in accordance with the law. Anything outside of this framework is unacceptable.”

Spokesperson for Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades Muhammed Mohyi, who fight on the same side as the regime forces in Syria and who have a close relationship with Iran, said if the US stays, “every Iraqi will have the legitimate right to resist American soldiers with any and all tools at their disposal”.

Mohyi said they want to give Iraqi MPs a chance to draw up a timeline for the US to withdraw before they launch armed resistance against US soldiers.

Mohyi spoke about the initiative to push a proposal in the Iraqi Parliament for US soldiers to leave the country and said the proposal will be “a first step” but they estimate that the US “will stand against the will of the people again” and try to remain in Iraq.

Mohyi said in such a case, both the Hezbollah Brigades and other forces would “go into the second phase” and pick up arms against the US.

Ashab al-Ahlul Haq Leader Kays al Hazali, who had issued threatening statements before regarding US forces to leave Iraq, spoke after Mohyi’s statements and said, “If there is a need for us, we are ready.”

Hazali said, “Trump doesn’t understand that Iraq is a strong country now. But if he insists, he can be sure that this will cost him dearly,” in a continuation of his threats.

US soldiers had withdrawn from Iraq in 2011, but returned as part of the coalition against ISIS in 2014.