BAGHDAD: Influential religious leader Moqtada Sadr called on the Iraqi government on Friday to close the American embassy in Baghdad because of Washington’s “unconditional support” for Israeli aggression on Palestinian people.

“If the government and parliament do not respond, we will take a different position that we will announce later,” the cleric, who often criticises the government, warned on X, formerly Twitter.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has criticised the “Zionist occupation” since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza, calling it a “genocide” of the Palestinian people.

Iraqis stage regular protests to condemn the Israeli bombing and in support of the Palestinians.

All Iraqi political factions support the Palestinian cause, and like its neighbour Iran, Israel’s sworn enemy, Iraq does not recognise the Israeli state.

On October 22, Washington ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in Baghdad’s high security Green Zone and its consulate in Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023