Yesterday, the Supreme Shiite authority in Iraq led by Ali al-Sistani affirmed respect for the sovereignty, political decision, and territorial integrity of Iraq, and urged the formation of a new government as soon as possible to demand that the authorities respect the right of the protesters to express themselves.

In the meantime, thousands of supporters of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, participated in a demonstration demanding the expulsion of American forces from Iraq, while six people were shot dead by the security forces.

In detail, the Commissioner of Marjaiya Ahmad Al-Safi said during his Friday sermon before thousands of worshipers in the center of Karbala, “The religious authority confirms its principled position on the need to respect the sovereignty of Iraq, the independence of its political decision, and its territorial and people’s unity, and its categorical rejection of what affects these national constants from any party and under That is, an excuse, and citizens are completely free to express - by peaceful means - their orientations in this regard and to demand what they find necessary to maintain national sovereignty away from external dictates. ”

He added, "The religious authority also stresses the necessity of implementing the real reforms that the people have long demanded and many sacrifices were made in order to achieve, and considers that procrastination and procrastination in this matter will only lead to more suffering of citizens and prolong the security and political instability in the country."

He emphasized, "The formation of the new government is long overdue by the constitutionally specified period, so it is necessary for the various parties concerned to cooperate to end this file according to the foundations referred to previously, and this is an important step in the way of resolving the current crisis."

Al-Safi stressed that "the religious authority calls once again for all Iraqi parties to be aware of the risks that surround their homeland in this difficult period, and to unite them on a unified position on the main issues and the crucial challenges facing them, taking into account the higher interest of the Iraqi people present and future."

On the other hand, thousands of Muqtada Al-Sadr supporters participated in a demonstration demanding the expulsion of American forces from Iraq.

In the early morning hours yesterday, thousands of men, women and children of all ages gathered in the Al-Jadiriya neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, despite the cold weather.

Some of them chanted "Get out, get out, occupier" and "Yes, yes to sovereignty."

A representative of al-Sadr read out on the platform set up at the site of the demonstration, a statement from the leader of the Sadrist movement, in which he called on all foreign forces to leave Iraq, cancel Iraqi security agreements with the United States and close Iraqi airspace to military aircraft and the American march, and that US President Donald Trump not deal with “ Supremacy and transcendence »when addressing Iraqi officials.

The statement added, "If the above is not implemented, then we will deal on the basis that it is a country hostile to Iraq."

The demanding demonstrators sought to regain the momentum and increase the pressure on the authorities, and since the beginning of the week they started cutting roads in the capital and southern cities.

In connection, Iraqi medical sources announced, yesterday evening, that the death toll in Baghdad has risen to six, including two who were killed in central Baghdad, and 54 wounded.

Earlier, two protesters had been killed, after clashes between protesters and the Iraqi security forces, in the center of the capital, Baghdad.

Reuters quoted security sources as saying that the security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse a protest against the Muhammad al-Qasim Highway in the capital.

A security source reported to the Al-Sumaria site that the clashes had returned to Muhammad al-Qasim Road in Baghdad, while he indicated that eight cases of suffocation as a result of gas bombs had been recorded.

Violence in demonstrations across the country has resulted in the death of about 470 people, the majority of whom are protesters, and injured more than 25,000, according to a toll compiled by Agence France-Presse based on paramedics, security sources and the Iraqi Human Rights Commission.

The street spoke about several scenarios. And many expressed their concern that the demonstrators be dragged to the American embassy, ​​and the repetition of the same series that happened last month and sparked tension between the United States and Iran, and made Iraq an arena for settling scores.

Barham Salih: The Iraqis insist on a full sovereign state

Yesterday, Iraqi President Barham Salih stated that the Iraqis are insisting on a non-violating, sovereign state.

Saleh said in a tweet on his account on Twitter: “The Iraqis insist on a sovereign state that is not violated, serving its people and expressing their independent national will, away from interference and dictates from abroad, a state that guarantees their security and their rights to a free and dignified life, a state in security and peace with Its neighbors. ”

The country is witnessing popular demonstrations, the first being demanding reforms in the political process that have been going on for four months in Baghdad and nine Shiite governorates, and the second came out yesterday for several hours calling for the removal of American and foreign forces from Iraq against the background of the killing of the deputy head of the popular crowd, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, with an American air strike on the road to Baghdad International Airport early this month. Baghdad ■ d

Thousands of ISIS militants are active in Syria and Iraq

James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for the anti-ISIS coalition, warned against the terrorist organization regaining its capabilities in Syria and Iraq.

Jeffrey, the day before yesterday, at the State Department headquarters that there are between 14 and 18 thousand fighters are ready to fight.

Geoffrey added that northeastern Syria is actually under control, but militants are active south of the Euphrates, as the Syrian government should be in control of the region.

Jeffrey explained that there are indications that the organization's fighters are reshaping themselves in Iraq as well, especially the provinces of Diyala and Kirkuk, adding: "We are concerned about the number of these fighters and how they coordinate their positions with each other."

Jeffrey said that the operations of the US-led anti-terrorist coalition have largely ceased for the time being in Iraq, as efforts are focused on protecting the soldiers working there.

He pointed out that the Iraqi forces are still carrying out operations in the region, where they carried out six important operations within 24 hours, continuing, "Of course there is a dialogue between our men in the coalition and between the Iraqi forces and we exchange information at different levels."

The American General, Alexas Greenwich, the deputy director of Operation "Solid Torque," said on Wednesday in Washington that the coalition had re-used reconnaissance planes and combat aircraft in Iraq, but he made clear that the training of Iraqi forces had stopped.

The anti-ISIS coalition has suspended since the beginning of this month the operations to support the fight against the organization, due to the tense security situation in the region. Washington ■ D.A.

The reference called on the Iraqi parties to be aware of the magnitude of the risks at this stage, and to unite them on a unified position on the main issues and crucial challenges.