Rumors of an airstrike in Iraq come amid Iran tensions
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Iraqi security forces re-open BaghdadÕs Sinak bridge, after it was shut down by protesters, in Baghdad, Iraq February 12, 2020
On Monday evening rumors of an airstrike began to circulate in Iraq. As is normal with these kinds of rumors, the more details people provide the less likely they are to have happened. For instance pro-Iranian social media channels in Iraq claimed that “explosions” at a place called Jurf al-Sakhar had been heard. Soon they were asserting that US F-16s had attacked pro-Iranian groups. By Tuesday morning the US had denied any role in an airstrike and it [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or some other incident had fueled the rumors.
Claims that the US struck Iranian-backed militias were at the heart of the rumors. This isn’t that far-fetched since the US did carry out airstrikes in Decemeber 2019 and March 2020 against pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. However those took place after attacks by militias on US forces in Iraq. Jurf al-Sakhar in Babil governorate is known to have links to military and munitions warehouses and complexes. Some of these are linked to the Popular Mobilization Units, a vast array of pro-Iranian militias that receive government salaries. The US has targeted these groups not only with air strikes but also sanctions. Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais Khazali, Abu Fadak, Falih al-Fayyadh and other members of this network have been hit with sanctions.
These groups run extrajudicial prisons and have warehouses full of weapons, including Iranian-supplied 107mm rockets and some say they have ballistic missiles. With tensions high in Iraq and militias concerned that their allies in Syria are being targeted in airstrikes, it's natural that they are always looking up in the sky for possible airstrikes. In July and August these groups accused Israel of carrying out airstrikes on their sites in Iraq. Reports indicate that Jurd al-Sakhar has an old missile production facility from the Saddam era. It was difficult to verify if it is still in existence.
The alleged explosions in the last hour of January 18 led to a mass of rumors across Iraq. Everyone is on edge. “Evidence” of the attacks included claims that it took place as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was tweeting. Someone posted an image of a US KC-135 tanker plane flying around. Nafiseh Kohnavard of BBC noted that pro-Iran Telegram channels were accusing Israel of the airstrike. But US Central Command clarified they were unaware of any such air activity. “Explosions reported earlier today about 40 miles outside of Baghdad in the town of Jurf Sakhar were not the result of US military action,” CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Bill Urban said.
It appears now that the rumors were mostly exaggerated but they illustrate how tense Iraq is. An attack on a logistic convoy that provides vehicles and equipment to US and anti-ISIS coalition forces was also reported last night. Iranian-backed groups have carried out numerous rocket attacks on the US in Iraq over the last two years. They have stopped the attacks as they await the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. This is likely on orders from Tehran, which wants to start off on the right foot with Washington again, before turning up the heat in Iraq. Officially, pro-Iran groups in Iraq want US forces expelled.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Claims that the US struck Iranian-backed militias were at the heart of the rumors.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Iraqi security forces re-open BaghdadÕs Sinak bridge, after it was shut down by protesters, in Baghdad, Iraq February 12, 2020
On Monday evening rumors of an airstrike began to circulate in Iraq. As is normal with these kinds of rumors, the more details people provide the less likely they are to have happened. For instance pro-Iranian social media channels in Iraq claimed that “explosions” at a place called Jurf al-Sakhar had been heard. Soon they were asserting that US F-16s had attacked pro-Iranian groups. By Tuesday morning the US had denied any role in an airstrike and it [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or some other incident had fueled the rumors.
Claims that the US struck Iranian-backed militias were at the heart of the rumors. This isn’t that far-fetched since the US did carry out airstrikes in Decemeber 2019 and March 2020 against pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. However those took place after attacks by militias on US forces in Iraq. Jurf al-Sakhar in Babil governorate is known to have links to military and munitions warehouses and complexes. Some of these are linked to the Popular Mobilization Units, a vast array of pro-Iranian militias that receive government salaries. The US has targeted these groups not only with air strikes but also sanctions. Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais Khazali, Abu Fadak, Falih al-Fayyadh and other members of this network have been hit with sanctions.
These groups run extrajudicial prisons and have warehouses full of weapons, including Iranian-supplied 107mm rockets and some say they have ballistic missiles. With tensions high in Iraq and militias concerned that their allies in Syria are being targeted in airstrikes, it's natural that they are always looking up in the sky for possible airstrikes. In July and August these groups accused Israel of carrying out airstrikes on their sites in Iraq. Reports indicate that Jurd al-Sakhar has an old missile production facility from the Saddam era. It was difficult to verify if it is still in existence.
The alleged explosions in the last hour of January 18 led to a mass of rumors across Iraq. Everyone is on edge. “Evidence” of the attacks included claims that it took place as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was tweeting. Someone posted an image of a US KC-135 tanker plane flying around. Nafiseh Kohnavard of BBC noted that pro-Iran Telegram channels were accusing Israel of the airstrike. But US Central Command clarified they were unaware of any such air activity. “Explosions reported earlier today about 40 miles outside of Baghdad in the town of Jurf Sakhar were not the result of US military action,” CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Bill Urban said.
It appears now that the rumors were mostly exaggerated but they illustrate how tense Iraq is. An attack on a logistic convoy that provides vehicles and equipment to US and anti-ISIS coalition forces was also reported last night. Iranian-backed groups have carried out numerous rocket attacks on the US in Iraq over the last two years. They have stopped the attacks as they await the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. This is likely on orders from Tehran, which wants to start off on the right foot with Washington again, before turning up the heat in Iraq. Officially, pro-Iran groups in Iraq want US forces expelled.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» Al-Badran: The reason for postponing the Basra Council session is to give members sufficient time to
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» The Contractors Registration and Classification Committee at the Ministry of Planning completed more
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Foreign Affairs: We discussed these files with the Romanian Senate
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Investment Authority to / Nina /: We will adopt future programming to implement projects and
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Their arms are "electronic flies"... Personalities who lost their positions seek to stir up strife b
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Decrease in dollar exchange rates in morning trading in Baghdad markets
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» An international organization: Plans to enhance the livelihood of affected displaced and returning f
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Dozens of factories are halted... Industry: We went into partnership with the private sector to rest
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Communist criticizes the decision to abolish the Kurdistan Parliament quota: positive disc
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms Iraq's aspiration for the participation of Azerbaijani companies in construction
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» An initiative by the President of the Republic to solve the problem of the region’s salaries
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» The Kurdistan government complains about Baghdad’s finances: It is ready to pay 59% of the salaries
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Khanjar: The Democratic boycott of the elections puts the future of Iraq in danger
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Iraq is ranked seventh in the Arab world and 33rd globally in the misery index
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Trade announces the achievement of self-sufficiency in ration card materials
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Finance releases funding for state employees’ salaries for the month of March
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Elon Musk: 20 seats won by Biden and his party with the votes of “illegal immigrants”
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» A "paradigm shift" awaits the regions of the belt and outskirts of Baghdad
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» “Speicher and Malwiya Fund”..Parliamentary Finance talks about “illegal fees” in state departments
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Government admission of the failure of the meter campaign: Generators’ compliance is “almost non-exi
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Iraq is proceeding with the zero nuclear reactor project.. Find out its details
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» The decision to “reduce exports”... “unplanned” production for Kurdistan will cost Baghdad half a bi
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The powers of Kurdistan.. The Federal Court confirms its commitment to what was agreed upon by the “
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Launching funding for state employees’ salaries for the month of March
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Syria top the "least safe" Arab countries
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Governor of Baghdad: 20 projects will be included during the current year in the city of Nahrawan
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» More than $242 million in central bank sales today
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» Advisor: Sudanese is determined to close the displacement file
Yesterday at 7:14 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The implementation of the 2023 budget witnessed a success that must be invested in
Yesterday at 7:13 am by Rocky
» The Baghdad Council will decide on the nomination of the committees in the coming days
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai: The Sunni community is not in favor of removing American forces
Yesterday at 7:08 am by Rocky
» A warning from Al-Rasheed to those wishing to apply for advances and loans
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Azerbaijan expresses its desire to participate in the implementation of joint projects in the oil an
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Fuel cards arouse citizens' discontent
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» utube 3/18/24 MM&C Iraqi Dinar-- IQD-- Dinar Update -100% Electronic - Real Effective Exchange Rat
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 3/16/24 0:05 / 18:16 Iraq Federal Court Brings - Strength to Financial - Politic
Yesterday at 5:18 am by Rocky
» MM&C 3/18/24 Sudanese Advisor: Iraq will leave government monetary dealing in mid-2024
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» A delegation from the Kurdistan government visits Baghdad to discuss the issue of localization of sa
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Director of the Central Oil Company: We are keen to provide the appropriate investment environment
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» The Energy Parliament calls for reporting generators violating government pricing
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A representative reveals the fate of the laws of “previous sessions”
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Politician: Coordination holds the keys to resolving the “Parliament Presidency” conflict
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq wants to carry out its peaceful activity in the field of atomic energy
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Including a minister and a parliamentarian... 38 arrest and recruitment orders were issued against t
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Integrity: Citizens’ cooperation resulted in detecting inflation and returning state funds
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Agriculture presents 97 projects to the Ministerial Council for the Economy
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We succeeded in implementing the 2023 budget, and we must continue to complete economic p
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Labor adopts new mechanisms to reduce the phenomenon of begging
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Electronically.. directing the collection of fees tomorrow in an Iraqi governorate
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Held in Brussels.. Iraq receives an official invitation to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan has been paralyzed. There has been no liquidity in hand for 50 days, and the truth has bee
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» The dollar continues to decline against the Iraqi dinar on the stock exchange and exchange offices
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil reveals the reasons for Shell’s withdrawal from Nebras: It will be divided into
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» The Housing Fund advises loan applicants and launches a link for inquiries
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» He stressed that the government’s vision is to make one class not exceed 25 students...Government me
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim and Al-Halbousi stress the importance of choosing a speaker for Parliament in accordance wi
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Iron and Steel Company: Iraq is on the verge of a major industrial revolution
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Economists: Citizens still prefer cash transactions over electronic transactions
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» The compass of Iraq's foreign policy in a world of turbulent polarization
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The federal budget is in the corridors of the Council of Ministers, and there
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Integrity calls on citizens to report the inflation of funds in the sector of the Ministry of Labor
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs the launch of initiatives for young businessmen and investors
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Representative agriculture emphasizes taking supportive measures for the local product
Yesterday at 4:37 am by Rocky
» An economist calls on the government to support and stimulate the private sector
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Al-Ittihad: Employees and retirees in Kurdistan paid the price of political differences with Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai and Al-Hakim discuss the importance of achieving political and constitutional entitlemen
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Only 23 million dunums. Iraq exploits approximately 50% of its arable land
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Türkiye considers it a political issue.. Where have the negotiations reached regarding Iraq’s water
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Sudanese receives an invitation to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels - Urgent
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $240 million today
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 6:52 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance calls on the government to expedite sending the 2024 budget to Parliament
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 6:47 am by Rocky
» ‘We’re So Sick of It’: Northern Border Crisis Gets Worse
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 6:35 am by Bama Diva
» A representative holds Kurdistan responsible for the faltering legislation of the oil and gas law
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:27 am by Rocky
» Warnings of the danger of the increase in foreign labor in Iraq
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:26 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports to America decreased within a week
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs an “important” meeting to form the Kirkuk government
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:23 am by Rocky
» Investment confirms the adoption of a new method in new residential cities and explains its details
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:21 am by Rocky
» For the first time in 2024.. exchange rates fall to the threshold of 149 thousand in Baghdad
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:19 am by Rocky
» Including gold.. An increase in exports of 3 Turkish products to Iraq during 2024
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:18 am by Rocky
» A detailed integrity report regarding the Housing Fund... called for this matter
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:17 am by Rocky
» Resources count the number of trespassers in Baghdad.. What about restaurants?
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:16 am by Rocky
» At a cost of approximately two billion dinars... determining the completion rates achieved in the Ma
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:15 am by Rocky
» Parliament awaits the “Cabinet of Ministers” law
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:14 am by Rocky
» Provincial councils return after an absence with a heavy legacy
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:13 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the axis and meeting point of East and West
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:11 am by Rocky
» One million beneficiaries of health insurance early next May
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Delaying the budget had a negative impact on the performance of the ministrie
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:09 am by Rocky
» The chaos of urban expansion threatens the agricultural character of Diwaniyah
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:08 am by Rocky
» A project to plant Japanese trees in Erbil
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:07 am by Rocky
» A team to prepare the national strategy for national security in Kirkuk
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:06 am by Rocky
» Next Tuesday...concluding a contract to expand the basic design of the city of Mosul
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:04 am by Rocky
» A festival to reduce food prices in Mosul
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:03 am by Rocky
» Technical committees between Baghdad and Erbil to resume oil exports through Türkiye
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:02 am by Rocky
» A model of economic diversification
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:01 am by Rocky
» Variation in the extent to which Iraq was affected by the decision to reduce the credit rating of {T
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:00 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq has made a commitment to receive the entire security file from the Ministry of Inter
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 4:58 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses the important role of Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim in the first st
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 4:56 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Center for Combating Rumors warns against social media celebrities misleading their follow
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 4:54 am by Rocky