In Basra News Today

Providing him options if in fact there is a done flikt wis is a . there were mortars shot into the diplomatic quarter by what the u.s. believes is pro iranian militias, also rockets fired in the vicinity of the u.s. consulate in basra. however none of that seems serious enough to warrant something like plans being made for possible military action in iran. we do have to say that sinpresit trump has taken office, he has taken a very hard line toward the iranians, tightened sanctions to a huge deg...

Things that have happened in the relations between the u.s. and iran. you mentioned those more are tars being fired in the vicinity of the u.s. embassy in baghdad, and also there was the konsz coe that was closed in basra. the u.s. believe there were pro iranian iraqi militias who may have been behind that. but it seem this is due to the hard line of the u.s. president and john bolton. national security council of course is tasked with providing options. they do this on a range of topics, not ju...

On friday, secretary of state mike pompeo announced the evacuation of the u.s. consulate in basra in southern iraq. the reason, threats against the consulate and its personnel. the threats didnt come from iraq, the statement said, but from iran. this came days after national security adviser john bolton threatened there would be hell to pay if iran harmed the u.s. or its allies. joining me is irans foreign minister, javad zarif. was there an effort for iran to use militias it has some influence ...

It was burned to the ground, but we immediately moved to another place. so if we had this problem with our consulate, we cannot control people in basra. we, of course, have influence in iraq, but that doesnt mean we control people in iraq, as the united states doesnt control people in countries with whom it has good relations. so i think mr. pompeo and mr. bolton, instead of making these irrelevant threats that would produce no positive result, they need to look at their own policies. >> what ab...

Isis in syria, fighting saddam hussein in iraq. president trumps best buddies in the region have a record, almost a consistent record of supporting al qaeda in afghan, supporting the taliban in afghanistan, supporting saddam hussein in iraq, supporting the extremists in syria, and now bombing civilians in yemen. people who are bombing civilians in yemen are not iranians, theyre american allies using american planes, american ammunitions, killing innocent children in a school bus. >> youre talkin...

These claims by the united states that the iranian backed militias are were behind these missile attacks, not all clear. there were no claims of responses by the groups. keeping in mind of course that the rocket attacks on the u.s. or in the direction of the u.s. consulate in basra this month took place during these widespread protests in basra that have been going on since july. but really intensified in september. protests against the poor state of infrastructure in the city. now, during those...

Militia in basra in first few years of his leadership, which anticipated our actions against them. at that point, suggested to many people, including in the sunni community that he was going to take a more even handed approach. but over the last months aenyears, hes been much more exclusive than inclusive. he has seen this coming but not dealt with it reasonably. he hasnt taken effective steps to ensure that the leadership of his army is the most capable, rather than the most dependable politica...

Meanwhile, hes continuing with his routine weekend schedule, golfing, going to camp david to celebrate his birthday. the embassy closings are officially for sunday, but could be extended to more days. yesterday, we were talking about a number at 21. it was updated overnight to 22. that includes the u.s. consulate in basra. these stretch all across north africa and middle east. germany and britain have said they plan to close their embassies in yemen sunday and monday and now, france has said it ...

People ive met. this is all ive done my entire adult life is this kind of reporting. i remember people i met in iraq in the 1990s in basra. families that had loved ones killed in the war in yugoslavia and in the 1990s and somalia and yemen. what always strikes me is the incredible humility and kindness that people have lost so much can show. in many of these cases ill go to a place im the only american theyve ever met or the only american besides those that did the night raid on their home and k...

I remember people i met in iraq in the 1990s in basra. families that had loved ones killed in the war in yugoslavia and in the 1990s and somalia and yemen. what always strikes me is the incredible humility and kindness that people have lost so much can show. in many of these cases ill go to a place im the only american theyve ever met or the only american besides those that did the night raid on their home and killed their loved ones. i found myself. ive been attacked for this and i say it in th...