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US denies latest airstrikes targeting Iraqi militia in Baghdad – as it happened – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

US denies latest airstrikes targeting Iraqi militia in Baghdad – as it happened – The Guardian, Theguardian.com


Huge crowd expected for Suleimani funeral

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the streets of Baghdad today for the funeral procession of Qassem Suleimani, the Iranian general killed in a US drone attack, writes our Middle East-based correspondent, Michael Safi .

Suleimani will also be honored with processions in the holy Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf on Saturday, Iranian officials said, before his remains are taken toIranfor a prayer ceremony in Tehran and a burial in his hometown.

The funeral comes against a backdrop of extremely high tension in Baghdad where militais reported airstrikes on another convoy of vehicles on Saturday morning killed at least five people. The US has denied responsibility.

We’re closing the blog now but you read Michael’s full report here.

You can also read my colleague Mario Koran’s summary of the tumultuous events of the last (hours) **************** here.

Thanks for reading.

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The statement from the US-led coalition, which is inand Syria to fight Islamic State, was tweeted out by a spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, Colonel Myles B Caggins.

OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III(@ OIRSpox)

FACT: The Coalition

@ CJTFOIR did NOT conduct airstrikes near Camp Taji (north of Baghdad) in recent days.

January 4,

Both Iraqi umbrella grouping of Shia militias, the Popular Mobilisation Forces, and Iraqi state television said the airstrikes had taken place and that they were carried out by the US.

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US denies latest airstrikes

The US-led coalition insays it did not carry out Saturday’s airstrikes near Taj stadium in Baghdad that killed several people, a spokesman has said, according to Reuters.

Hopefully we can expand on this soon.

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Reuters has some interesting background about what could have led to the killing of Suleimani. The news agency reports that in mid-October, the Revolutionary Guards general met Iraqi Shia militia allies “at a villa on the banks of the Tigris river, looking across at the US embassy complex in Baghdad.”

At the meeting, Suleimani told his Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and other powerful militia leaders to step up attacks on US targets in the country using sophisticated new weapons provided byIran,

two militia commanders and two security sources briefed on the gathering told Reuters.