Pro-Iran protesters storm office linked to Saudi TV channel in Iraq

BAGHDAD, IRAQ — 

Supporters of pro-Iran equipped groups successful Iraq ransacked offices affiliated with a Saudi TV transmission successful Baghdad aboriginal Saturday, 2 information sources said, aft the broadcaster aired a study referring to commanders of Tehran-backed militant groups arsenic "terrorists."

After midnight, betwixt 400 and 500 radical attacked the studios of a accumulation institution successful Baghdad that works for the Saudi broadcaster MBC.

"They wrecked the physics equipment, the computers, and acceptable occurrence to a portion of the building," an Interior Ministry root told AFP connected the information of anonymity.

He said the occurrence had been extinguished and the assemblage dispersed by police.

"Security forces are inactive deployed adjacent the building," helium said. There were nary contiguous reports of arrests.

On Saturday morning, a ample constabulary beingness remained successful the area, blocking entree to the site, according to an AFP photographer.

"The demonstrators arrived astatine the offices earlier reinforcements of riot constabulary were sent in," a constabulary root told AFP, besides speaking connected the information of anonymity.

The 2nd root confirmed that the offices had been "set connected fire" and "badly ransacked."

Insulting absorption leaders

Excerpts from an MBC programme had been making the rounds connected Iraqi societal media, sparking aggravated reactions from the pro-Iran camp.

The study focused connected "terrorism" successful the portion and mentioned respective groups and notable figures, including, for instance, Osama bin Laden.

It included groups belonging to the alleged Axis of Resistance backed by Iran, which counts Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and equipped Iraqi factions among its members.

Named successful the study were erstwhile Hezbollah person Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel successful Beirut past month, and erstwhile Hamas governmental person Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed successful Tehran successful July.

It besides referred to Haniyeh's successor, Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the October 7, 2023, onslaught connected Israel and was killed successful Gaza connected Thursday, arsenic the "new look of terrorism."

The study came astatine a clip erstwhile Iran-backed groups — astir notably Hamas and Hezbollah but besides their allies successful Yemen, Iraq and Syria — person been astatine warfare with Israel for much than a year.

The Sabreen News channel, which is adjacent to pro-Iran factions successful Iraq, distributed videos connected Telegram of protesters successful Baghdad brandishing the flags of assorted equipped groups.

Iraqi enactment and pro-Iran groups

The Iraqi authorities is led by a pro-Iran bulk and has made diplomatic efforts to enactment retired of the determination conflict.

However, the alleged Islamic Resistance successful Iraq, a nebulous radical of pro-Iran equipped groups, claims work for predominant drone attacks against Israel.

Iran and Saudi Arabia person agelong been determination rivals but began a rapprochement successful 2023.

The warfare successful Gaza, meanwhile, has enactment an extremity to discussions astir Saudi Arabia perchance recognizing Israel.

Iraqi lawmaker Mustafa Sanad, a subordinate of the pro-Iran majority, accused MBC of "insulting absorption leaders successful each countries," saying the study would person been much suited to Israeli TV.

"It is not capable to ransack oregon acceptable fire" to the broadcaster's offices, Sanad said connected X, formerly Twitter, vowing to enactment to "cancel the license" of the transmission successful Iraq.