Hashd al-Shaabi ends siege on Green Zone in Baghdad
Group demanded release of senior commander Qasim Muslih
Iraqi security forces stand guard after raid of Hashd al-Shaabi militia at the gates of Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq on May 26, 2021. The Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization, militia group on Wednesday raided Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone that hosts foreign diplomatic missions, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter. The militia used military vehicles and took control of entrances and exits to the area. ( Murtadha Al-Sudani - Anadolu Agency )
BAGHDAD
The Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization, militia on Wednesday announced the end of its siege on Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone that hosts foreign diplomatic missions.
Earlier Wednesday, the militia used military vehicles and took control of entrances and exits to the area.
The Iraqi group shared footage from the siege on social media and demanded the release of senior commander Qasim Muslih.
Muslih was arrested in Baghdad for his involvement in several terror attacks. The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council also decided to arrest Muslih for "terror crimes."
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi also announced on Wednesday that Muslih's interrogation at Joint Operations Command located in Green Zone is ongoing.
Hashd al-Shaabi was formally incorporated into the Iraqi army in 2017 after being established in 2014 with the purpose of fighting the Daesh/ISIS terror group.
The mostly Iranian-aligned group is accused of targeting US troops and bases in Iraq.
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