Iraq's pro-Iran militias plan mass demonstrations on anniversary of Soleimani's killing
The PMU had set up a monument of Qassim Soleimani and Abo Mahdi Mohandas on Baghdad's airport boulevard this year, something that the former Iraqi government had blocked
Iraq's armed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and their affiliated political parties are preparing for a public event on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of the killing Iran's revolutionary guard commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi PMU commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Soleimani and Muhandis were killed in a drone strike by US forces near Baghdad airport on Jan. 3, 2020.
While the PMU organizes a demonstration each year on the anniversary of the incident, this year it is promising a larger rally. About a dozen Iraqi provinces — including Baghdad, Basra and even the Sunni dominated province of Saladin — have announced a public holiday for the day to allow public servants to attend the ceremony.
The PMU set up a monument with busts of Soleimani and Muhandis on Baghdad's airport boulevard this year. The monument was placed last week on the spot of the strike near Baghdad International Airport. Photos of the monument were circulated widely on Iraqi social media.
