ran-backed leaders in Iraq call for terrorist operations in Saudi Arabia: Statements

Two Iran-backed Iraqi militias have called for terrorist attacks to be launched against Saudi Arabia.

Spokesmen for the Iran-backed Kata’ib Hezbollah and al-Nujaba Movement, which both fall under the wider umbrella of the mainly Shia Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) militias, issued statements on Saturday which called for “Jihadi operations” in Saudi Arabia.
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“You won’t be safe from the cells of the treachery and the hypocrisy of ‘the rest of the malicious tree’ unless Jihadi operations are transferred to Saudi Arabia,” said the Kata’ib Hezbollah spokesman Abu Ali al-Askari in a Telegram message.

Katai’b Hezbollah is a US-designated terrorist organization suspected of previous attacks against Saudi Arabian oil pipelines in 2019. The spokesman highlighted these attacks against Saudi Aramco facilities in the Kingdom as evidence that terrorist organizations are capable of “moving the battle” into the country.

The organization has recently engaged in deadly clashes with US forces in Iraq. According to reports, the US Depart of Defense has reportedly prepared its military commanders to destroy the organization.

Meanwhile, Nasr al-Shammari, the spokesman for al-Nujaba Movement, said that 1,000 Saudi Arabian fighters had entered Iraq in the past year. Al-Shammari claimed these fighters are responsible for killing Iraqis and demolishing their homes.

“Think about it, dear Iraqis, this is why we will retaliate for every innocent blood drop that was shed,” he said in his statement.

The al-Nujaba Movement, known as Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba in Arabic, was dedicated as a terrorist organization by the US in 2019. It runs the Al Nujaba TV station in Iraq.

Statements amid Iraqi official visit

Both spokesmen issued their statements on the same day Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ali Allawi paid a visit to the Kingdom.



Allawi and his delegation met with several ministers to discuss common topics including oil, economy and relations between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman issued a message of support on Twitter to neighboring country Iraq following Allawi’s visit.

“We hope Iraq will return to be an Arab pillar, rising strongly, and for the people to live a life they deserve in peace and wellness,” he said. “The Kingdom stands with Iraq to support it in the path of progress, peace and brotherhood with its Arab neighbors.”

Saudi Arabia also decided to send its Ambassador back to Baghdad, which a first step in a decision to reconcile relationships between the two countries.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/05/24/Iran-backed-leaders-in-Iraq-call-for-terrorist-operations-in-Saudi-Arabia-Statements.html

The spokesman called on the government and other groups to target Mohammed bin Salman, comparing the Saudi royal family to ISIS.

An official in the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia has called for Jihadi operations inside Saudi Arabia, saying that only attacks from within Saudi territory would "get rid of Al-Saud (Saudi royal family) and the remnants of the evil family," according to the Iranian Fars News Agency.

Abu Ali al-Askari, a spokesman for Kataib Hezbollah, made the statements on his Telegram channel, referring to the drone and missile attack on the Aramco oil facility in September as an example of such an attack. Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attack, but Iran said it was carried out by the Houthis from Yemen.

The spokesman called on the Iraqi government and other groups to target Mohammed bin Salman, comparing the Saudi royal family to ISIS.

The statement came after a recording allegedly of Oman's Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi and former Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi was leaked with bin Alawi telling Qaddafi that 4,000 Saudis were operating in Iraq. The recording is from at least ten years ago, according to reports.

According to Al-Arabiya, the audio file also recorded bin Alawi and Qaddafi discussing a plan to divide Saudi Arabia into a number of smaller states and predicting that the royal family's "role is over."

The recording, reportedly released by Omani opposition Dhofar activists, may have been received from Qatar in an attempt to weaken strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and Oman, a Gulf source told Al-Arabiya.On Saturday, Saudi Arabia announced that its ambassador to Iraq would resume his duties as soon as possible, during a meeting with Iraq's deputy prime minister, finance minister and acting oil minister and a number of Saudi officials.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iraqi-kataib-hezbollah-calls-for-operations-inside-saudi-arabia-629087