Security forces opened fire on protesters in central Baghdad on Oct. 1, with some witnesses reporting more than 10 killed and over 250 wounded. Hundreds had gathered at the city’s Tahrir Square to protest lack of services, rampant corruption, and high unemployment. Several Iraqi provinces have seen mass protests in response to online campaigns to express anger over the deteriorating situation in the country, despite the defeat of ISIS. At least three protesters and one police officer were also killed in Iraq’s southern city of Nasiriya. (IraqNews, IraqNews, The Independent, Al Jazeera)
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Iraq protests escalate
At least seven were killed and dozens wounded in clashes that spread across several Iraqi provinces Oct. 3, as security forces fired live rounds and tear-gas for a second day to disperse anti-government protesters. (AP)
Iraq protests continue to escalate
The death toll in anti-government protests that have swept Iraq the past four days has soared to at least 60, security and medical sources say. The figure has more than doubled in the past 24 hours, as clashes between protesters and police intensified. The military said “unidentified snipers” killed four people in Baghdad, including two police officers. Protesters have now taken up the Arab Revolution slogan, calling for the “fall of the regime.” (BBC News, IraqNews)
Death toll in Iraq unrest tops 100
Iraqi authorities say at least seven more were killed in clashes between protesters and police in Baghdad Oct. 6, bringing the death toll from nearly a week of anti-government rallies throughout Iraq to more than 100 with thousands of others injured. (NPR)
Iran-backed militia fires on Iraqi protesters
At least 40 protesters were killed in Iraq on Oct. 25 when security forces used tear-gas and an Iranian-backed militia opened fire to try to quell renewed demonstrations. At least six protesters were killed when the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia opened fire on protesters who tried to set fire to the group’s office in the city of Nasiriya. (Radio Farda, The New Arab) The Asaib Ahl al-Haq is one of several paramilitary militias now operating in collaboration with Iraq’s government.
Iraq PM steps down after new massacre
A day after more than 40 protesters were killed by security forces, Iraq’s prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi announced Nov. 29 that he would submit his resignation to parliament. Some 400 have been killed in the unrest so far. (AP)
At least 33 protesters were killed in Nasiriya when security forces used live ammunition and tear-gas canisters on crowds, while another 11 people were killed in Shia holy city of Najaf, where an Iranian consulate was torched by angry protesters. (Al Jazeera)
US sanctions Iraq militia leaders
The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on three Iran-backed Iraqi militia leaders for violent repression of protesters. The militia leaders are named as brothers Qais al-Khazali and Laith al-Khazali from the Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) militia and Husayn Falih Aziz al-Lami who was accused of running a militia on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corp. (AP, Dec. 6)
US bombs Iran-backed militia in Iraq
The US on Dec. 29 carried out five air-strikes against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi-based Shi’ite militia that is linked to Iran and is accused of rocket attacks that killed a US contractor and wounded US soliders. The air-strikes were condemned by the Iraqo government, but cheered by some protesters, who burned the Iranian flag. (BBC News, JPost, NYT) Protesters also blocked road to the Nasiriya oil-field, barring access and shutting down production.The facility produces 82,000 barrels oil per day. (Al Jazeera)
Militia attacks US embassy in Baghdad
A mob of thousands attempted to storm the US embassy in Baghdad in response to the air-strikes on Kataib Hezbollah, and succeeded in setting fire to one of the checkpoints on the edge of the compound. But beware of misleading headlines such as that in Middle East Eye, “Iraq protesters attack US embassy over air strikes.” The “protesters” in this case were the Iran-backed militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq—the same militia that has been massacring protesters.