The Arrest of The Kata ib Hezbollah Leader in Iraq Set to Escalate Tensions With Pro-Iranian Militias albawaba.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from albawaba.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Askari made public threats against the prime minister.
Sunday 03/01/2021
An Iraqi demonstrator holds a flag of Kata’ib Hezbollah, in Baghdad, Iraq, December 31, 2019. (REUTERS)
BAGHDAD Iraq’s judiciary issued an arrest warrant for Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior leader of the Iraqi Kata’ib Hezbollah militia, on Sunday, hours after he made threats against Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The judiciary moved to act against Askari in accordance with Iraq’s anti-terrorism law, amid news he could be outside Iraq.
The move is expected to escalate tensions with pro-Iranian militias.
Judicial authorities reportedly issued arrest warrants for two other leaders of Kata’ib Hezbollah, which has links to armed groups that launched rockets at diplomatic missions and military buildings in Baghdad and other governorates.