Alwaght- Influential Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr posted a comment on his official website, permitting his followers to target US troops who are to be deployed in Iraq as part of Washington’s so-called anti-ISIS campaign.
Responding to one of his followers who asked for the cleric’s response to US decision to send 560 more troops to the West Asian Arab country, Sadr said "They are a target for us," Reuters reported.
The move to increase the number of US troops comes shortly after the Iraqi army made landmark gains against ISIS and recaptured the Qayara airbase, leading Iraqi public opinion think that the timing of the US decision is part of a bid to sweep the victory and claim it as its own, particularly that this location will be used as a staging ground for the Mosul operation.
The increase announced on Monday by US Secretary Defense Ashton Carter will bring the number of US troops in Iraq to more than 4,647.
US backed by its western allies including Britain invaded Iraq in 2003 in a bid to oust long-time dictator Saddam Hussein but the offensive deteriorated security in the country and prepared ground for the rise of different extremist and terrorist groups.
Facing relentless resistance with Iraq people, including powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdy Army, US was made to withdrew from Iraq in 2011.
However, under the pretext of fighting ISIS, the US and allies formed a so-called international coalition against ISIS in late 2014 and returned Iraq.
The coalition air strikes were later expanded to purported ISIS-held territories in neighboring Syria, despite criticism by Damascus that the attacks violate the Arab country’s sovereignty.
