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In the aftermath of the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike on January 3, the people of Iraq are grappling with the threat of escalating violence. Our team of reporters visited Baghdad to speak to locals about the growing tensions in the region.
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In the capital of Baghdad, many locals fear the opening of a new battleground between US and Iranian forces on their soil.
Amid one of the city's marketplaces where residents typically spend their time relaxing and browsing for books, the mood is palpable.
Bookseller Kareem Hanash is one of this market's oldest merchants. He has lived through three wars, embargos and years of terrorism.
“The situation is dangerous today, Hanash said. “ I hope that Iraq will avoid the conflict because these are political issues that are not the fault of the people here.”
At Tahrir square, a few streets away, thousands of Iraqis have been protesting since October against the country's political class and foreign intervention.
One such activist, Hassanin Abu Ali, has been coming to the square every day since the beginning of October. He thinks this latest crisis was the inevitable consequence of foreign intervention.
“This is exactly why we reject all foreign interference,” Hassanin said. “WRead More – Source
