ERBIL — Iraqi security forces on Thursday night stormed a headquarter of Kataib Hezbollah in south of Baghdad, arresting several dozens of people.
The Iraqi Hezbollah is one of the militia groups with close ties to Iran. It is often suspected of regular rocket attacks which target the US forces across Iraq.
Reuters said among those arrested is one Iranian national.
According to Al Jazeera, Iraqi counter-terrorism forces were involved in the operation. They seized at least 10 rockets.
The raid was “carried out an in effort to pre-empt an impending rocket attack on the Green Zone and Baghdad International Airport, both of which house US troops,” the report said.
Local media from Baghdad said Shia militias of Hashd al-Shaabi deployed armed men around a counter-terrorism headquarter later to demand the release of those arrested by the security forces.
PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi, after mediation by Nouri al-Maliki, Hadi al-Ameri, and Falih Fayadh, ordered the release of the militiamen in order to ease the tension, Kurdistan 24 said.
BasNews has learned that several Shia militiamen are yet to be released while the majority have been sent home.