Iraqi armed factions not ready to strike US forces, commanders tell MEE
Off the heels of Iran’s retaliatory strike overnight, a top Hashd al-Shaabi commander said on Wednesday that it was time for Iraq to have its own response to avenge the assassinations.
But commanders of Iranian-backed armed factions in Iraq have told MEE’s Suadad al-Salhy that they are lost, distracted and unable to strike the US effectively right now after losing their two key leaders.
"To lose both men at the same time was a shock to all of us,” a commander who was close to Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis told MEE.
The faction leaders also shed light on how tightly - and personally - controlled the Hashd al-Shaabi was run under both men, why it will be so hard to replace them and the risk of infighting as the paramilitary umbrella group restructures.