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| Iraq’s prime minister says ‘urgent measures’ should be taken to remove foreign forces | Iraq’s prime minister says ‘urgent measures’ should be taken to remove foreign forces |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister urged parliament on Sunday to take "urgent measures" to force the withdrawal of foreign forces following a U.S. drone strike that killed a senior Iranian commander and key Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad last week. | |
| In an address to the legislature, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi recommended that the government establish a timetable for the departure of foreign troops, including the members of the U.S.-led coalition to fight the Islamic State, "for the sake of our national sovereignty." | |
| "What happened was a political assassination," Abdul Mahdi said of the U.S. strike that targeted Iran's elite Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, as he traveled in a convoy near the Baghdad airport. | |
| He said that foreign troops were in Iraq to train its forces and help target remnants of the Islamic State "under the supervision and approval of the Iraqi government." | He said that foreign troops were in Iraq to train its forces and help target remnants of the Islamic State "under the supervision and approval of the Iraqi government." |
| Lawmakers responded by passing a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to the foreign troop presence in Iraq. To cancel the agreement that grants U.S. and foreign troops access to Iraqi territory, however, parliament must pass binding legislation. | |
| Iraqi legal expert Ali Tamimi said Sunday that Iraq's current caretaker government is not legally authorized to sign such a law. Abdul Mahdi resigned in November amid widespread anti-government protests. | |
| "The caretaker government can't do anything. Before starting these procedures, a new government should be formed," Tamimi said. | |
| Earlier Sunday, the U.S.-led coalition said it had paused its training mission in Iraq because of "repeated rocket attacks over the last two months" by the Iran-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah. It would now focus on protecting its bases from attack, the coalition said in a statement. NATO announced Saturday its own suspension of training programs. | |
| Iran, meanwhile, said Sunday it would limit its response to the attack to U.S. military targets. | |
| "The response for sure will be military and against military sites," Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN. "The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted." | "The response for sure will be military and against military sites," Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN. "The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted." |
| Iran has vowed revenge against the U.S. But it seems to be in no hurry. | Iran has vowed revenge against the U.S. But it seems to be in no hurry. |
| Deghan’s remarks came as President Trump on Twitter Saturday threatened to strike “52 Iranian sites … some at a very high level & important to Iran and the Iranian culture” should Tehran retaliate against Americans or U.S. interests in the region. Iran has 24 locations on the U.N. list of cultural world heritage sites. | |
| If Trump were to carry out his threats, Dehghan said, “no American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe.” | If Trump were to carry out his threats, Dehghan said, “no American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe.” |
| In a sign that concern about the consequences of Soleimani’s death is shared widely by U.S. allies, NATO is convening an emergency meeting of its ambassadors Monday to discuss the situation in Iraq and security more broadly. In addition to the suspension of alliance training programs in the country, several NATO nations have scrambled to protect troops and citizens there. | |
| In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy released a security alert Sunday advising Americans of “the heightened risk of missile and drone attacks” against both civilian and military targets. | In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy released a security alert Sunday advising Americans of “the heightened risk of missile and drone attacks” against both civilian and military targets. |
| The United States blamed Iran for a brazen drone and cruise missile attack on Saudi state oil facilities in September, a strike that knocked half of the nation’s oil production offline. | The United States blamed Iran for a brazen drone and cruise missile attack on Saudi state oil facilities in September, a strike that knocked half of the nation’s oil production offline. |
| In Iran, Soleimani’s body was flown in a flag-draped coffin to the southwestern city of Ahvaz, following a funeral procession in Baghdad and Iraq’s twin Shiite shrine cities, Karbala and Najaf. It was later carried to the northeastern city of Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy. | In Iran, Soleimani’s body was flown in a flag-draped coffin to the southwestern city of Ahvaz, following a funeral procession in Baghdad and Iraq’s twin Shiite shrine cities, Karbala and Najaf. It was later carried to the northeastern city of Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy. |
| Iran’s new Quds Force commander brings continuity to the post held by his slain predecessor | Iran’s new Quds Force commander brings continuity to the post held by his slain predecessor |
| Footage from Ahvaz broadcast on Iranian state television showed tens of thousands of black-clad mourners waving flags and chanting religious slogans. The channel also juxtaposed the images of the crowds with a video of a younger Soleimani reciting Persian poetry and Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency described the scene as “glorious.” | Footage from Ahvaz broadcast on Iranian state television showed tens of thousands of black-clad mourners waving flags and chanting religious slogans. The channel also juxtaposed the images of the crowds with a video of a younger Soleimani reciting Persian poetry and Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency described the scene as “glorious.” |
| “All schools and businesses are closed today — he was popular here and even more popular now,” said Farnaz, 33, a computer engineer and resident of Ahvaz. Like other Iranians contacted Sunday, she spoke on the condition that her full name not be used so she could talk freely about the death of a senior military commander. | “All schools and businesses are closed today — he was popular here and even more popular now,” said Farnaz, 33, a computer engineer and resident of Ahvaz. Like other Iranians contacted Sunday, she spoke on the condition that her full name not be used so she could talk freely about the death of a senior military commander. |
| “People here have felt insecure and threatened by other countries for decades, so they saw Soleimani as an important and charismatic commander who was protecting their security,” she said. | “People here have felt insecure and threatened by other countries for decades, so they saw Soleimani as an important and charismatic commander who was protecting their security,” she said. |
| Still, Ahvaz and other cities in oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to a large ethnic Arab minority, have a history of anti-government unrest. In November, when protests over cuts to fuel subsidies gripped Iranian cities, security forces launched a brutal crackdown and gunned down scores of demonstrators in Mahshahr, some 70 miles south of Ahvaz. On Sunday, an unverified video posted online showed masked youth setting fire to a billboard commemorating Soleimani. | Still, Ahvaz and other cities in oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to a large ethnic Arab minority, have a history of anti-government unrest. In November, when protests over cuts to fuel subsidies gripped Iranian cities, security forces launched a brutal crackdown and gunned down scores of demonstrators in Mahshahr, some 70 miles south of Ahvaz. On Sunday, an unverified video posted online showed masked youth setting fire to a billboard commemorating Soleimani. |
| The slain commander’s procession will continue Monday to the holy city of Qom and the capital, Tehran, where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will lead prayers at the ceremony. Soleimani will be buried in his hometown, Kerman, on Tuesday. | The slain commander’s procession will continue Monday to the holy city of Qom and the capital, Tehran, where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will lead prayers at the ceremony. Soleimani will be buried in his hometown, Kerman, on Tuesday. |
| [Trump threatens reprisals against Iran should U.S. assets or Americans come under attack] | |
| In Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam, residents described a city paralyzed by preparations for the funeral. Many of those in the streets hailed from Liwa al-Fatemiyoun, a military brigade of mostly Afghan Shiite Hazaras recruited and equipped by the Revolutionary Guard, according to residents. | In Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam, residents described a city paralyzed by preparations for the funeral. Many of those in the streets hailed from Liwa al-Fatemiyoun, a military brigade of mostly Afghan Shiite Hazaras recruited and equipped by the Revolutionary Guard, according to residents. |
| “All the roads are closed and if there is an emergency, there is no way to move,” said 27-year-old Moen, a construction worker. | “All the roads are closed and if there is an emergency, there is no way to move,” said 27-year-old Moen, a construction worker. |
| “People have mixed feelings about his death,” he said. “Most of the people around me are sad, but also afraid that the recent [anti-government] protests and hundreds of people killed were in vain.” | “People have mixed feelings about his death,” he said. “Most of the people around me are sad, but also afraid that the recent [anti-government] protests and hundreds of people killed were in vain.” |
| In Europe, meanwhile, leaders continued to try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, whose already limited chances of survival have likely been dealt a grievous blow by Soleimani’s killing. | In Europe, meanwhile, leaders continued to try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, whose already limited chances of survival have likely been dealt a grievous blow by Soleimani’s killing. |
| On Sunday, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced he had invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif to Brussels to discuss the future of the accord even as Iran indicated plans to further reduce its commitments to the deal. | On Sunday, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced he had invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif to Brussels to discuss the future of the accord even as Iran indicated plans to further reduce its commitments to the deal. |
| Borrell intends to “keep the unity of the remaining participants in support of the agreement and its full implementation by all parties,” his office said in a statement. | Borrell intends to “keep the unity of the remaining participants in support of the agreement and its full implementation by all parties,” his office said in a statement. |
| Kareem Fahim in Istanbul and Michael Birnbaum in Antwerp contributed to this report. | Kareem Fahim in Istanbul and Michael Birnbaum in Antwerp contributed to this report. |
| How Trump decided to kill a top Iranian general | How Trump decided to kill a top Iranian general |
| Iranians demonstrate in support of slain military commander | Iranians demonstrate in support of slain military commander |
| Why Soleimani’s killing is different from other targeted attacks by U.S. | Why Soleimani’s killing is different from other targeted attacks by U.S. |
| Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world |
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