Al-Saadi’s car after being targeted by a missile from an American drone (Reuters)

Iraq denounced the United States' targeting of a commander in the Popular Mobilization Forces, describing it as "a clear aggression and violation of Iraqi sovereignty," and stressed that "this path pushes the Iraqi government to end the mission of the international coalition, which has become a factor of instability for the country."

The military spokesman for the Iraqi Armed Forces, Yahya Rasool, said that the American forces irresponsibly repeatedly commit everything that undermines the understandings and bilateral dialogue between the two countries.

He added that American forces do not care about the lives of civilians or international laws, and thus they threaten civil peace, violate Iraqi sovereignty, and belittle and risk people's lives.

On Wednesday evening, the US Central Command (Centcom) announced that its forces had carried out a strike in Iraq that led to the killing of the leader of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades, Abu Baqir al-Saadi. It said that he was responsible for “planning and participating directly in attacks on American forces in the region.”

In turn, the head of the Security Media Cell in Iraq, Major General Tahseen Al-Khafaji, confirmed that targeting a vehicle belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces is considered an undermining of the understandings with the United States, and described the bombing, in a statement, as “a clear aggression and violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”

Al-Khafaji also added that the Iraqi authorities hold the American and coalition forces responsible for the repercussions that threaten the security and safety of the country.

Direct targeting

For its part, the Popular Mobilization Forces confirmed the killing of one of its leaders, Abu Baqir al-Saadi, in a march that targeted his car in Baghdad.

Iraqi security sources said that 3 people were killed in a bombing carried out by a march that targeted a civilian four-wheel drive vehicle in the Al-Mashtal area, northeast of Baghdad.

Media outlets close to the Iraqi factions said that among the dead were two leaders of the Iraqi Hezbollah, Abu Baqir al-Saadi and Arkan al-Alaywi, while media outlets close to the armed factions said that a second attack occurred in the Jamila area, east of Baghdad.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Baghdad said that 4 powerful explosions sounded yesterday evening, Wednesday, east of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The security forces closed all roads leading to the Green Zone, which includes government and diplomatic headquarters, including the American embassy.

For its part, the Al-Nujaba Movement in Iraq announced that the response to the bombing that targeted the leader Abu Baqir Al-Saadi will be focused, and the matter will not go unpunished.

The Secretary-General of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, said that Iraq must submit a formal request to the Security Council to demand the immediate withdrawal of foreign forces. He added that the American attacks did not stop, despite the Iraqi government's steps and the factions' commitment to calm.

On the other hand, the US Central Command announced the killing of what it described as a senior commander in the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades through a raid on Baghdad, noting that the operation was a response to the attacks targeting American soldiers in Jordan.

The US Central Command affirmed that the United States "will continue to take the necessary measures to protect the American people, and will not hesitate to hold accountable all those who threaten the safety of US forces in the Middle East."

American strikes

It is noteworthy that last Friday, the United States launched strikes in Syria and Iraq against targets belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Quds Force, in response to an attack on a logistical base where American forces are stationed in Jordan, close to the borders with Syria and Iraq, on January 28. Which led to the death of 3 American soldiers.

Since mid-October, American forces and international coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have been subjected to more than 165 attacks, a direct reflection of the war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip.

Most of these attacks were claimed by the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq", which includes armed factions close to Iran.

Washington classifies the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades as a “terrorist” organization, and has previously targeted the organization with raids in Iraq. Officials in Washington also said that the attack in Jordan bears the imprint of the organization itself.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies