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B5 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2019 Strikes on militias threaten to destabilize Iraq Future of thousands of American troops could be affected By QASSIM ABDUL- ZAHRA and LOLITA BALDOR Associated Press BAGHDAD — An Israeli airstrike on an Iranian weap- ons depot in Iraq, confi rmed by U.S. offi cials, is threaten- ing to destabilize security in the volatile country that has struggled to remain neutral in the confl ict between Wash- ington and Tehran. It would be the fi rst known Israeli airstrike in Iraq since 1981, when Israeli warplanes destroyed a nuclear reactor being built by Saddam Hussein, and signifi - cantly expands Israel’s cam- paign against Iranian military involvement in the region. The July 19 attack tar- geted a base belonging to Iranian-backed paramili- tary forces in Amirli in the northern Salaheddin prov- ince, and killed two Irani- ans. The attack was followed by at least two other myste- rious explosions at munitions depot near Baghdad belong- ing to the militias. No one has claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, which have set back security and stability in the country just as it appeared to be on the path to recov- ery following a devastating fi ght against the Islamic State group, and decades of war and confl ict before that. Earlier this week, the dep- uty head of the Iraqi Shiite militias, known collectively as the Popular Mobiliza- tion Forces, openly accused Israeli drones of carry- ing out the attacks but ulti- mately blamed Washington for allowing it to happen and threatened strong retaliation for any future attack. Iraq’s government, by contrast, has said it is inves- tigating the attacks and has yet to determine who was behind them, warning against attempts to drag Iraq into any confrontation. Security analyst Motaz Mohieh said Iraq’s weak government will not be able to announce the results of AP Photo/Loay Hameed Plumes of smoke rise Aug. 12 after an explosion at a military base southwest of Baghdad, Iraq. its investigation “because it will constitute an embarrass- ment” for it. “These strikes will con- tinue to target the factions associated with Iran that cause a threat to Israel and the U.S. presence,” he predicted. The fallout could directly affect the future of thousands of American troops in Iraq, providing ammunition and pretext for hard-line factions who want them to leave. Signifi cantly, a leading Shiite Muslim cleric fol- lowed by some Iraqi militant factions issued a public reli- gious edict, or fatwa, on Fri- day that forbids the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq follow- ing the strikes. In his fatwa, Iran-based Grand Ayatollah Kazim al-Haeri also urged Iraq’s armed forces to “resist and confront the (U.S.) enemy,” a call that is likely to infl ame tensions in Iraq. Former Iraqi Prime Min- ister Nouri al-Maliki also weighed in, warning of a “strong response” if it is proven that Israel was behind the recent airstrikes in Iraq. In statements issued by his offi ce, he also said that if Israel continues to target Iraq, the country “will transform into a battle arena that drags in multiple countries, includ- ing Iran.” three-year campaign. The U.S. maintains about 5,000 troops in Iraq, and some groups say there’s no longer a justifi cation for them to be there now that IS has been defeated. ‘BE SURE THAT IF THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN US STARTS, IT WILL ONLY END WITH YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE REGION ONCE AND FOR ALL.’ statement from Hezbollah Brigades, which hold the U.S. responsible for the strikes U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011, but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the government to help battle IS after it seized vast areas in the north and west of the country, including the second-largest city, Mosul. A U.S.-led coali- tion provided crucial air sup- port as Iraqi forces regrouped and drove IS out in a costly The comments by al-Ma- liki, who was prime minis- ter for eight years and now heads a Shiite bloc in par- liament, follow fi ery threats to the U.S. made hours ear- lier by the powerful Hezbol- lah Brigades, an Iran-backed militia. In a statement, it held the U.S. responsible for the strikes and said any new attacks will be met with a harsh response. “Be sure that if the con- frontation between us starts, it will only end with your removal from the region once and for all,” it said. Two U.S. offi cials said Israel carried out an attack on the Iranian weapons depot in July that killed two Iranian military commanders. A senior offi cial with the Shiite militias at the time said that the base housed advis- ers from Iran and Lebanon — a reference to the Irani- an-backed Lebanese Hezbol- lah group. He said the attack targeted the headquarters of the advisers and a weapons depot, causing a huge explo- sion and fi re. Iranian media reported a funeral the next day for Abol- fazl Sarabian, identifi ed as a “shrine defender,” which typ- ically denotes someone fi ght- ing in Iraq and Syria. On Aug. 12, a massive explosion killed one per- son and wounded 28 at the al-Saqr military base near Baghdad, shaking the capi- tal. The base housed a weap- ons depot for the Iraqi federal police and the PMF. The most recent of the explosions came Tuesday night, at a munitions depot north of Baghdad. There have been weeks of speculation in Israel that the army is attacking targets in Iraq. The confi rmation comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted strongly that his country is behind recent airstrikes on bases and munitions depot belonging to Iran-backed paramilitary forces operating in Iraq. In an interview with a Russian-language TV station Thursday, Netanyahu indi- cated the speculation is true. “I don’t give Iran immu- nity anywhere,” he said, accusing the Iranians of try- ing to establish bases “against us everywhere,” including Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. Asked whether that means Israel is operating in Iraq, Netanyahu said: “We act in many arenas against a coun- try that desires to annihilate us. Of course I gave the secu- rity forces a free hand and the instruction to do what is needed to thwart these plans of Iran.” The New York Times, cit- ing Israeli and U.S. offi cials, reported Friday that Israel bombed an Iranian weapons depot in Iraq last month. Israel has previously acknowledged hundreds of airstrikes on Iranian targets in neighboring Syria, primar- ily arms shipments believed to be destined for Iran’s Hez- bollah allies. Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy and has repeatedly vowed it will not allow the Iranians, who are supporting the forces of Syr- ian President Bashar Assad, to establish a permanent mili- tary presence in Syria. To strike Iraq, Israeli war- planes could potentially travel through neighboring Syria — although that would likely require agreement from Russia, which oper- ates in Syrian skies in sup- port of the Syrian president. Israel and Russia maintain a hotline to prevent their air forces from clashing in Syr- ian airspace. 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