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The leader of an Iraqi militia has threatened retaliation after US-Saudi strikes killed and injured PMF members. Meanwhile, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are holding talks to reduce tensions and prevent attacks from Iraqi territory.
Mariyam Adheela
The leader of Iraq’s Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba militia has threatened a military response following recent US-Saudi airstrikes on sites linked to Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
Akram al-Kaabi said diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia would not resolve the issue and called for retaliation against the strikes. He said his group would respond with military force.
The US and Saudi Arabia have said their joint strikes targeted Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq that they accuse of carrying out attacks against US forces and Saudi energy facilities.
The PMF said the strikes killed at least 20 of its members and injured 32 others.
The threats come as Iraq seeks to ease tensions with Saudi Arabia. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met Saudi Intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan in Baghdad on Friday.
During the meeting, al-Zaidi repeated Iraq’s position that its territory should not be used to launch attacks against other countries. The Saudi official also renewed an invitation for the Iraqi prime minister to visit Riyadh.
