World, Middle East

Hashd al-Shaabi militia in Iraq raids Green Zone in Baghdad

Group demands release of senior commander Qasim Muslih

Haydar Karaalp  | 26.05.2021 - Update : 27.05.2021
Hashd al-Shaabi militia in Iraq raids Green Zone in Baghdad Hashd al-Shaabi militia check the entrances and exits 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 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.

The Iraqi group shared footage from the raid 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."

The government has not yet commented on the raid.

Hashd al-Shaabi was formally incorporated into the Iraqi army in 2017 after being established in 2014 with the express 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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