At least 40 people killed as fresh protests engulf Iraq
Sat 26 October 2019:
At least 40 protesters were killed in Iraq on Friday when security forces used tear gas and an Iranian-backed militia opened fire to try to quell renewed demonstrations against corruption and economic hardship, security sources said.
A government intelligence officer and a member of the powerful Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia were killed in a clash with protesters in the southern city of Amara, police sources said.
Nearly 1,800 people were injured nationally as demonstrators took to the streets to vent frustration at political elites they say have failed to improve their lives after years of conflict.
#BREAKING
Oct 26 – #Iraq
First images of today’s demonstrations. pic.twitter.com/IeJuBNPJbF— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) October 26, 2019
“All we want are four things: jobs; water, electricity, and safety. That’s all we want,” said 16-year-old Ali Mohammed who had covered his face with a T-shirt to avoid inhaling tear gas, as chaotic scenes overwhelmed Baghdad’s central Tahrir Square.
Sirens wailed and tear gas canisters landed in the middle of groups of young protesters wearing Iraqi flags and chanting “with life and blood we defend you Iraq.”
Oct 25 – Najaf, southern #Iraq
Demonstrators chanting: “Iran, out, out! Najaf will remain free!”Reminder:#Iran has spent billions to gain a foothold in Iraq. Yet the Iraqi people are expressing their hatred of the mullahs’ meddling.pic.twitter.com/QUnpmaq5kl
— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) October 26, 2019
“All we want are four things: jobs; water, electricity, and safety. That’s all we want,” said 16-year-old Ali Mohammed who had covered his face with a T-shirt to avoid inhaling tear gas, as chaotic scenes overwhelmed Tahrir Square.
Sirens wailed and tear gas canisters landed in the middle of groups of young protesters wearing Iraqi flags and chanting “with life and blood we defend you Iraq.”
Oct 25 – Wasit, #Iraq
Iraqis expressing their utter hatred of #Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani.pic.twitter.com/Zj2fjEVQ6O— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) October 26, 2019
Anti Iran sentiments rise
On Friday, eight protesters were killed in Baghdad, the Iraqi Human Rights Commission said. At least five of them were protesters struck by tear gas canisters, security sources said.
In the south, at least 12 protesters were killed when members of the Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) militia opened fire on protesters who tried to set fire to the group’s office in the city of Nasiriya, according to security sources.
Many Iraqis view the elite as subservient to one or other of Iraq’s two main allies, the United States and Iran. Many suspect these powers use Iraq to pursue their struggle for regional influence via proxies unconcerned with ordinary people’s needs.
Oct 25 – Basra, #Iraq
Protesters seize five vehicles of #Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF) units in what is being described as a counteroffensive against their attacks on demonstrators.pic.twitter.com/GHJkJZOi9K— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) October 26, 2019
“They hit us last night and again this morning. We don’t have any demands anymore, we want the government toppled,” said demonstrator Salah Mohammad.
“We want Iran to take its parties and leave, America to take its parties and leave, and let the Iraqi people decide.”
In Basra, Reuters footage showed protesters clashing with security forces who launched tear gas canisters and stun grenades and were met by rocks thrown at their vehicles. Young men carried the injured away, as protesters set police cars on fire.
Oct 25 – Misan Province, #Iraq
Video showing members of #Iran-backed Asaeb Ahl al-Haq shooting directly at demonstrators.pic.twitter.com/JZTSgXRoEj— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) October 26, 2019
An 8 p.m. curfew was imposed until further notice in the southern provinces of Basra, Muthanna, Wasit, Babel and Dhi Qar, after protesters torched offices of lawmakers, Shi’ite political parties and militia headquarters.
The bloodshed is the second major bout of violence this month. A series of clashes two weeks ago between protesters and security forces left 157 people dead and over 6,000 wounded.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khalid al-Muhanna said at least 68 members of the security forces had also been injured.
#UPDATE
Oct 25 – Karbala, #Iraq
Protesters chanting, “Iran, out, out!” and tearing down a poster of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Reminder:#Iran claims to enjoy vast support in Shiite cities like Karbala.pic.twitter.com/HiVou3ILYd— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) October 25, 2019
The unrest has broken nearly two years of relative stability in Iraq, which lived through foreign occupation, civil war and an ISIS insurgency between 2003 and 2017. It is the biggest challenge to security since IS was declared beaten.
The government has struggled to address popular grievances since sometimes violent demonstrations erupted in Baghdad on October 1, spreading to southern cities, in protest at what many see as a corrupt and incompetent political establishment.
The unrest has posed the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi since he took office just one year ago. Despite promising reforms and a broad cabinet reshuffle, the premier has so far struggled to address protesters’ discontent.
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