Harakat al-Nujaba urges Iraq to expel US forces after strikes on PMF

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Harakatal-Nujaba, one of Iraq's most hardline Iran-backed factions, called on thegovernment on Wednesday to expel US forces and cut all ties with Saudi Arabia,hours after American and Saudi jets struck Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)sites across several provinces and killed at least 20.

In a statement,the group condemned the US-Saudi assault on Iraqi cities that “proved that thetwo governments respect neither Iraq's sovereignty nor any prior commitments,”and vowed that Washington and Riyadh would pay a heavy price.

Harakatal-Nujaba is led by Akram al-Kaabi, a US-designated figure, and belongs to theIslamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose coalition of Iran-aligned factions centeredon driving American forces out of the country. Unlike allied groups — such asAsaib Ahl al-Haq, whose al-Sadiqoun bloc holds 27 seats in parliament, orKataib Hezbollah, which runs the six-seat Hoqooq bloc — al-Nujaba has noregistered political wing of its own and holds no seats in the Council ofRepresentatives.

The group directedfive demands at the Iraqi government and official bodies:

- Expel USforces and shut down the bases and headquarters tied to what it called theAmerican occupation, arguing their presence threatens Iraq's security andstability.

- End everyform of cooperation with the Saudi government, which it accused of fundingterrorism against Iraq.

- Move beyondstatements of condemnation, which it said only embolden the attackers, andrespond directly.

- Acquireadvanced air-defense systems to protect Iraqi airspace, and hold accountablethose it blamed for leaving the country's skies exposed.

- Warned thatit would not allow Iraqi territory to be targeted without imposing a high coston the interests and security of the United States and Saudi Arabia.

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