Iraqi fighters call to attack Turkey
- 8 years ago
Several thousand protesters, most of them members of Iran-backed Shi'ite paramilitary forces, gathered in central Baghdad on Saturday to demand the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Iraq.
Turkey insists the forces were deployed to protect trainers working with Iraqi forces at the site, but Baghdad has repeatedly demanded their withdrawal and complained to the UN Security Council.
"As the leader of a military brigade, I am not fully satisfied with the government's action, and we are here to say that Iraq's patience has run out," said Ali Rubaie, the commander of a unit usually stationed west of Baghdad.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi should have struck "with an iron fist at the beginning," rather than make concessions to Massud Barzani, the leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, and others, he said.
"But we are not here to doubt the ability of our commander-in-chief, and as a brigade we are ready," said Rubaie, who wore a military uniform and had a large Iraqi flag on a pole resting on his shoulder.
Turkey insists the forces were deployed to protect trainers working with Iraqi forces at the site, but Baghdad has repeatedly demanded their withdrawal and complained to the UN Security Council.
"As the leader of a military brigade, I am not fully satisfied with the government's action, and we are here to say that Iraq's patience has run out," said Ali Rubaie, the commander of a unit usually stationed west of Baghdad.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi should have struck "with an iron fist at the beginning," rather than make concessions to Massud Barzani, the leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, and others, he said.
"But we are not here to doubt the ability of our commander-in-chief, and as a brigade we are ready," said Rubaie, who wore a military uniform and had a large Iraqi flag on a pole resting on his shoulder.