A Baghdad court has issued an arrest warrant against outgoing US President Donald Trump for last year's killing of Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis.
On Thursday, Iraq's Judiciary Council said the arrest warrant came after concluding an initial investigation.
The investigation will continue to identify other "accomplices in the crimes whether Iraqis or foreigners", it said.
The statement did not give details on how the Iraqi authorities will effect the arrest warrant.
Al Muhandis and Iranian general Qassem Suleimani were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad's international airport on January 3, 2020.
The US accused Suleimani of organising attacks by Iranian-sponsored militias on American forces across the Middle East.
Suleimani headed the foreign operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known as Al Quds Force, which is designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US. Al Muhandis was the deputy head of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (known in Arabic as Al Hashed Al Shabi).
The duo had worked closely together.
Iran also issued an arrest warrant last year for Trump over the killing of Suleimani. The US dismissed the move at the time as a “joke".
Last week, a top adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi was threatened by Iran-sponsored militias over comments he made about Suleimani.
"Suleimani didn't think he just served as a co-coordinator with Iraq," Hisham Dawod told the BBC. "He actually believed himself responsible for Iraq. That is why he entered and left [the country] when he wanted."
The drone attack pushed Tehran and Washington perilously close to all-out conflict and sparked outrage among pro-Iran militias and political blocs. The Iraqi parliament also passed a non-binding resolution days later calling for the expulsion of all foreign troops from the country.
Earlier this week, US Special Envoy for Syria Joel D. Rayburn told The National that the absence of Suleimani has been a "big setback" for Iran.
Mr Rayburn said he is positive that there will be no tolerance anymore for the Revolutionary Guards and its overseas arm, Al Quds force to “wreak havoc in the region” or use its missiles against Syria’s regional neighbours.
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
ENGLAND TEAM
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
