Iranian-backed militia threatens US presence in Iraq

Published March 21st, 2016 - 01:24 GMT
An Iraqi fighter of the Shia militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq (The League of the Righteous) stands guard outside the militia's headquarters in Basra, on May 18, 2015. (AFP/Haidar Mohammed Ali)
An Iraqi fighter of the Shia militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq (The League of the Righteous) stands guard outside the militia's headquarters in Basra, on May 18, 2015. (AFP/Haidar Mohammed Ali)

A militia backed by Iran announced on Monday that it would consider US Marines deployed in Iraq to fight Daesh as forces of occupation and threatened to "deal" with the foreign troops.

Washington confirmed on Sunday the presence of a detachment of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Iraq, supporting US and coalition's efforts to combat Daesh.

"If the U.S. administration doesn't withdraw its forces immediately, we will deal with them as forces of occupation," the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia announced on its TV channel, al-Ahd.

"The forces of occupation are making a new suspicious attempt to restore their presence in the country under the pretext of fighting their own creation, Daesh," the Shia Muslim militia said. 

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