ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The head of a powerful Iranian-backed Iraq militia vowed to continue and increase “resistance operations” with the goal of forcing American troops out of the country. Qais al-Khazali, the secretary-general of Asaib Ahl al-Haq and a subject of United States sanctions, made the comments in a speech on Thursday in Dhi Qar province, southern Iraq, just days ahead of strategic talks between Baghdad and Washington.

Armed factions opposed to US forces in Iraq will continue to “carry guns” in order to “end the US military occupation,” said Khazali, according to media affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

"There is no way for American military bases to function in Iraq, not at Ain al-Assad base in Anbar, nor at Harir Base in Erbil, nor anywhere else," Khazali said.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq is part of the PMF, an umbrella network of Shiite militia groups that was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State (ISIS) under a fatwa (decree) from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. A number of groups within its ranks are close to Iran. They frequently attack US positions throughout Iraq and are accused of committing human rights violations, including killing activists and protesters.

Khazali said that current operations "will continue and increase in quantity and quality if the United States does not agree to close the bases in western, central and northern Iraq."

“The north of Iraq belongs to Iraq only, not another country, and we will fight and sacrifice for it,” he added, referring to the Kurdistan Region.

Attacks on US positions have increased since Washington assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and deputy commander of the PMF Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a January 2020 drone strike near Baghdad airport. Militias have fired rockets at Iraqi bases hosting US troops and the American embassy in capital. A rocket attack on Erbil in February killed two civilians.

In December, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Khazali and other militia leaders, charging them with violating human rights, killing protesters, and involvement in corruption.

An annual human rights report released by the US State Department on Tuesday accused the Iraqi government of negligence in protecting its citizens and failing to take serious action against the militias.

The report accused Asaib Ahl al-Haq of illegally seizing state property. “Abu Nawas Theater, one of the oldest theaters in Baghdad, was seized by a pro-Iranian militia, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, in November to support its activities,” the report stated.

On April 7, Baghdad and Washington are due to hold a new round of strategic talks that will touch on US force presence in Iraq, which the US says is solely focused on the counter-ISIS mission.

Rudaw