Unser Politikblog | 08.01.2020
At first the chronology:
27.12.2019
Unknown perpetrators attack from a
lorry the US military base in Kirkuk with a Fadjr-1 rocket of Iranian
design, thus killing a US subcontractor and violating several US
soldiers. These rockets are not only in the possession of the armies
of Iran, Iraq, and Syria, but also of various jihadists, who have
captured them in Syria or Iraq. These rockets have, according to
Southfront, even already been sighted with militants in Afghanisten.
(Southfront article „Photos reveal
Iranian-made rockets used in deadly attack on U.S. Base in Iraq“ of
the 29.12.2019)
29.12.2019
The US air force attacks 5 bases of
Kata'ib Hezbollah, which are a part of the Iraqi People's
Mobilisation Units (also called PMU or Hashd Al-Shaabi). The PMU
include several Shia units and are under the command of the state
Iraq. 25 persons are killed, and 51 are violated.
(Southfront article „25 killed, 51
injured in US strikes on Kataib Hezbollah positions in Syria, Iraq“
of the 30.12.2019)
31.12.2019
A demonstration of mourning for the
killed PMU fighters in front of the US embassy in Baghdad escalates,
and the US embassy is stormed. The US soldiers in the embassy react
cautiously.
(Southfront article „Kata'ib
Hezbollah supporters stormed and set fire to US embassy in Baghdad“
of the 31.12.2019)
03.01.2020
A US airstrike on the airport in
Baghdad kills general Qassem Soleimani, Mahdi al-Muhandis (the vice
commander of the PMU), and several further officers.
(Southfront articles „War is coming:
US strike assassinated Qods Force's Soleimani. Iran promised 'tough
revenge' “ and „Four senior Iranian officers killed in U.S.
Attack to kill Soleimani: Qods Force“, both of the 03.01.2020)
04.01.2020
Unknown perpetrators attack the PMU in
the night of the 03.01.2020. Colonel Myles B. Caggins III informs the
world public on behalf of the International Alliance in the Fight
against Isis (an ad hoc alliance, which has been formed in 2014 under
the leadership of the USA), that this attack has NOT come frome the
USA.
(Southfront article „Updated: New
Wave of airstrikes hits Iraq Capital“ of the 04.01.2020 and Al
Masdar News article „US denies carrying out attack that killed 6
members of Hasd Al-Shaabi“ of the 04.01.2020)
There is a debate in Iran on how should
be taken revenge for the killing of general Soleimani. In this
context, a high-ranking IRGC commander states, that 35 American
targets and also the Israeli capital Tel Aviv are within the reach of
Iranian rockets (Southfront article „IRGC Commander says 35 U.S.
Targets, Tel Aviv within Iran's reach“).
In the late evening of the 04.01.2020,
rockets hit in Baghdad near the US embassy and North of the capital
at the Balad airforce base. At first, it is not reported, if people
have been killed or violated. Soon after these attacks, Kata'ib
Hezbollah demands the Iraqi army not to position itself protective
before US bases and to hold at least 1,000 meters distance to them.
The Southfront article does, however, NOT say, that Kata'ib Hezbollah
had claimed any responsibility for these rockets attacks.
(Southfront article „Rocket attacks
target U.S. Embassy, military base in Iraqi capital“ of the
04.01.2020)
Also late at the 04.01.2020, there are
attacks with rockets on the PMU units near the Iraqi – Syrian
border on Syrian territory. Also for these acts, at first noone
claims responsibility.
(Southfront article „Mysterious
airstrikes target PMU camp near Iraqi-Syrian border – reports“ of
the 04.01.2020)
05.01.2020
US President Donald Trump now threatens
with very hard and fast retaliation for any further Iranian attack on
American citizens or installations. The USA have for this purpose,
according to his statement, chosen 52 Iranian targets, some of them
of highly cultural importance.
(Southfront article „Trump threatens
to attack 52 Iranian targets, some of them 'important to Iranian
cultural' “ of the 05.01.2020)
At the 05.01.2020, the Iraqi Parliament
has, urged by the Iraqi Government, concluded to expel all foreign
troops. This refers in particular to the „political murder“ on
general Soleimani committed by US troops on Iraqi soil.
(Sputniknews article „Iraks Parlament
stimmt für Aufkündigung des Abkommens mit USA und für Abzug
ausländischer Truppen“ of the 05.01.2020 and Southfront article
„Iraqi Parliament voted to expel US forces and close airspace for
US-led coalition“ of the 05.01.2020).
In the evening of the 05.01.2020, again
rockets hit close to the US embassy in Baghdad without anyone
claiming responsibility for the attack.
(Southfront article „In video: more
rockets hit US embassy area in Baghdad's green zone“ of the
06.01.2020)
So there are one attack at the
27.12.2019, even three at the 04.01.2020, and one at the 05.01.2020,
each of unknown origin.
It is still unclear, who has attacked
the US base at the 27.12.2019. This could be of crucial imporance for
the question, who wants to lure USA and Iran into war.
The Iraqi public prosecution
authorities have the responsibility to clear up these crimes, as far
as they have been committed on Iraqi soil or through Iraqi airspace.
Also Americans and Iranians have to respects this.
