President Donald Trump speaks at the White House, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, in Washington, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, listens. (Credit: Alex Brandon, AP).
US President Donald Trump warned the Iranian regime that it would pay a “heavy price” for any further attacks on US Coalition troops in Iraq after revealing in a tweet and subsequent press conference today that intelligence agencies had “good information” that an imminent attack was planned. Although he provided no further details, it was separately reported that Esmail Qaani, the newly-appointed commander of the Iranian al-Quds force, landed in Baghdad yesterday. Al-Quds is the arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for coordinating with foreign entities, such as the Hezbollah militias who been attacking US-led Coalition forces in Iraq for the last six months.
President Trump’s comments come just days after the US military confirmed the deployment of Patriot missile defense batteries to Coalition bases in Iraqi Kurdistan and Sunni-majority Anbar province. US troops vacated several bases in Mosul, Kirkuk and near the Syrian border this week, with the expectation that several more bases will be handed over to Iraqi security forces in coming days, leaving only a smaller Coalition presence in Baghdad, Kurdistan and Anbar provinces. Many analysts have suggested that the US reshuffle, combined with the dire situation in Iran related to widespread COVID-19 infections, may lead the Iranian regime to lash out against the Coalition in a desperate effort to maintain control and legitimacy.
CLICK TO SUPPORT FAI’S WORK IN KURDISTAN
FAI has teams on the ground throughout Kurdistan, partnering with authorities and residents for medical care, education, aid distribution and more.
FAI field teams continue to work closely with political and religious authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan to both treat quarantined patients and provide prevention training to communities along the Iranian border. We ask our global partners to continue in urgent intercession for the safety and security of these teams and their patients during this time of ratcheted tensions, for the designs of wicked and bloodthirsty men to be exposed and thwarted, and for divine wisdom and courage to be granted to Coalition and Iraqi leaders in navigating the complex Iraqi landscape.
Meanwhile, the regional government of Kurdistan is continuing its all-out offensive against the spread of Coronavirus in the northern Kurdish-majority provinces, where thousands of Iraqis and Iranians were quarantined earlier this month. The extraordinary measures have helped to minimize the rate of COVID-19 infection in Kurdistan to 121 confirmed, despite the epidemic of over 30,000 cases across the border in Iran.
FAI field teams continue to partner with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and local authorities on the ground in treatment of quarantine patients and prevention training. We are honored to labor side-by-side with our Kurdish neighbors, and we ask our global family and friends to intercede during this time for a divine hedge around our staff, clinics and patients, wisdom for local authorities, and for feet shod with peace for the advancement of Good News in Kurdistan.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51914600
https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/trump-warns-iran-against-attacking-us-troops-in-iraq
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN21J6FJ?__twitter_impression=true
https://twitter.com/nafisehkbbc/status/1245105416847179776
https://twitter.com/nafisehkBBC/status/1244728446577762315
https://twitter.com/DavidMWitty1/status/1244736615471333380
https://twitter.com/OIRSpox/status/1244194397912268800
