The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on three leaders of Iran-backed militias in Iraq for their alleged role in the killing of Iraqi protesters.
Treasury stated the militias “opened fire on peaceful protests, killing dozens of innocent civilians.”
Iraqis have demonstrated against their government for more than two months and security forces have killed more than 400 mostly unarmed protesters, police and medics say. More than a dozen members of the security forces have been killed in the clashes.
“Peaceful public dissent and protest are fundamental elements of all democracies. The United States stands with the Iraqi people in their efforts to root out corruption. We will hold accountable the perpetrators of human rights abuse and corruption in Iraq.”
The sanctions target Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), an Iran-backed militia, and his brother, Laith al-Khazali, another leader of the group.
“During the late 2019 protests in many cities in Iraq, AAH has opened fire on and killed protesters,” Treasury said.
Qais al-Khazali used to be part of a committee of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) proxies that, according to the release, “approved the use of lethal violence against protesters for the purpose of public intimidation.”
The sanctions also target Hussein Falih al-Lami, security chief for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Iraq’s state umbrella group of paramilitary factions, which is dominated by groups backed by Iran, including AAH.
“Al-Lami directed militia fighters who shot protesters in early October 2019, a time when dozens of protesters were killed,” the release said.
Iraqi paramilitary groups deny any role in the deaths of protesters.
The new sanctions also targeted Iraqi businessman Khamis al-Khanjar for alleged corruption, the statement said.
“According to a former senior Iraqi government official, al-Khanjar’s influence has been mostly due to his willingness and ability to use his wealth to bribe others. Al-Khanjar has reportedly planned to spend millions of dollars in payments to Iraqi political figures in order to secure their support.”
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by the leaders and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.
Iran Protests
The protests in Iraq coincided with mass protests in Iran, where the Islamic regime acknowledged 200,000 took to the streets. At least 208 people are believed to have been killed during anti-government demonstrations in Iran, Amnesty International reported on Dec. 2.“The real figure is likely to be higher,” the nonprofit stated.
The protests seemed to start over a new gasoline tax, but quickly turned into a protest against the regime.
The government said the protesters attacked or torched hundreds of banks, gas stations, and government sites.
Iran’s economy has suffered under extensive sanctions imposed by Trump in 2018 after quitting the Iran nuclear deal.
Trump offered to negotiate a new deal, but wants it to address not only Iran’s nuclear program, but also matters such as its ballistic missile program and funding terrorists and militias across the region. Tehran has refused to talk until the United States returns to the deal and lifts sanctions.
In May, Iran’s oil exports shrank to just 250,000 to 500,000 barrels a day, industry sources stated, down from more than 2.5 million in April 2018, shortly before Trump exited the nuclear deal.
Oil exports are the regime’s main source of foreign currency, which it uses to pay its terrorist and militia proxies.
