Iraqi Protesters Torch Iranian Consulate
Baghdad’s Green Zone, Iran-backed militias were also attacked
Iraqi protesters set fire to the Iranian Consulate in Basra, Iraq on September 7, 2018. PHOTO: ESSAM AL-SUDANI/REUTERS
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By
Isabel Coles and
Ali Nabhan
Sept. 7, 2018 5:43 p.m. ET
DUBAI—Protesters set fire to the Iranian consulate in Basra on Friday in a show of anger against Tehran’s involvement in the country’s affairs, capping days of violent unrest that has raised fears of a broader conflict.
The torching of the Iranian consulate came hours after three mortar rounds were fired early Friday morning into the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad where the U.S. embassy is located, landing in an empty lot and causing no damage. Hours before on Thursday night, protesters had torched the offices of most political parties in Basra, including powerful Iran-backed paramilitary groups.
Protests began last week over poor government services, but they have flared into violent rejections of the entire political class and foreign influence. The U.S. and Iran are vying for leverage as Iraqi politicians reconvene parliament and attempt to form a new government following May elections.
An Iraqi man stands in the damaged Basra's government complex in the aftermath of a violent protest against the government. PHOTO: HAIDAR MOHAMMED ALI/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
At least nine people have been killed in protests this month, the Iraqi Human Rights commission said Friday. Amnesty International blamed unnamed security forces for the deaths, saying they had opened fire on protesters, who in turn have hurled rocks and, in some cases, gasoline bombs.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Friday the
protesters’ deaths were under investigation. He rejected the use of force against protesters in principle.
Iraqi political analyst Basim al-Awadi said the escalating series of events pose a challenge to Iraqi sovereignty.
“Targeting the Iranian consulate today might be understood as a response to last night’s attack on the International Zone, and this really sends risky messages for the situation in Iraq,” he said.
Iran has played a prominent role in Iraqi politics since the U.S. invaded 15 years ago and toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. It expanded its military presence in Iraq during the war against Islamic State and converted those gains into more political influence in an election in May where its allies won the second-highest number of seats.
The U.S. doesn’t want to see Iran’s closest allies in Iraq dictate the formation of government especially as it seeks to
isolate Tehran. American officials have pushed Sunni and Kurdish parties to join a coalition of which Mr. Abadi is part.
On Friday evening, hundreds of protesters marched toward the Iranian consulate chanting “Iran out out! Basra remains free,” according to videos circulated online. One clip showed a protester taking down the Iranian flag flying over the consulate and raising Iraq’s in its place. In another, protesters stomped on an Iranian flag and set fire to it. The footage couldn’t be independently verified.
Protesters burn a representation of an Iranian flag after setting fire to the Iranian consulate building in Basra. PHOTO:NABIL AL-JURANI/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi cast blame on the Iraqi government, which he said knew beforehand of the dangers. “Unfortunately, the news is true: A violent assault and setting fire to the consulate has caused major financial damage,” he told state television.
The semiofficial Tasnim News Agency quoted Mr. Ghasemi as saying the Foreign Ministry had summoned the Iraqi ambassador to convey Iran’s strong objection to the way Iraq handled the situation. He said Iraq failed to act despite indications in recent days that an attack against the consulate was imminent.
Iraq’s foreign ministry expressed sympathy with protesters’ demands but condemned the burning of the consulate and said it harmed national interests.
The Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Force paramilitary groups, said its main office in Basra had been ransacked and set ablaze by “unknown masked assailants.” The Fateh alliance—a political front for those militias—said “misguided collaborators” were trying to turn the militias and protesters against each other
The mortars fired on the Green Zone were the first since 2017. Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan said they had been launched from southern Baghdad, though it wasn’t clear by whom.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad said it had “entered into Duck and Cover status” due to indirect fire impacts on the Green Zone, but had no further comment.
“It’s as though someone who is against Hashd Shaabi and Iran is trying to mess with them in Basra, and someone opposed to the U.S. is messing with its embassy in Baghdad,” said activist Azhar al-Rubaye.
Iraq already faces a daunting list of challenges after three years of war against Islamic State. The country must rebuild devastated areas and prevent defeated militants from regaining traction.
Populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr won the most votes in the May 12 election but his relatively slim margin means he must build a coalition with other groups if he is to gain enough seats to form a government. His alliance with Mr. Abadi is squaring off with a coalition led by his predecessor Nouri al-Maliki and Iran-backed paramilitary commander Hadi al-Ameri.
—Ghassan Adnan in Baghdad and Asa Fitch in Dubai contributed to this article.
Write to Isabel Coles at
isabel.coles@wsj.com and Ali Nabhan at
ali.nabhan@wsj.com
https://www.wsj.com/articles/iraqi-protesters-torch-iranian-consulate-1536356602?mod=e2tw