Supporters of the Iraqi Shi’ite Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq militia burned effigies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others during a protest in Baghdad on Sunday against “U.S. intervention” in Iraq, Iranian media reported.
According to a report aired by Iranian Arabic-language Al-Alam TV, U.S. sanctions against Iraqi political figures sparked the “mass popular demonstration.” The reporter referred specifically to sanctions against Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq militia leader Qais Khazali.
The demonstrators waved Iraqi flags and posters of Qais Khazali, and set fire to an American flag.
“The American plan that Washington wants to implement in Iraq by imposing sanctions against Iraqi political figures has suffered another setback,” said the reporter. “Baghdad has witnessed mass popular demonstrations against the American intervention in Iraqi affairs, and in support of the popular demand for reforms. [The demonstrations were] also against American sanctions against Iraqi personalities. Thousands of people from various parts of Baghdad flocked to Firdaws Square and its environs, waving Iraqi and PMU flags, and carrying pictures of people who were added to the list of those sanctioned by the United States.”