Thread by @ejmalrai

At least 2 #US, 1 coalition member were killed and 12 wounded by 18 Katyiuha attack on Camp Taji, 17 miles north of #Baghdad, #Iraq, on Wednesday night, a U.S. military spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Urban said.

The rockets were launched from the Rashediya area of northeast Baghdad

The anti-Trump election campaign has started. The number of Katiusha (18) indicates a serious decision of Iraqi to escalate against the #US & convince it to start negotiating serious withdrawal from #Iraq following the assassination of Soleimani-Muhandis

https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1237972164562890752

#Iraq asked #US forces to leave. US said it needs 14 months, a request that was rejected by the Iraqi.
Washington takes advantage of the absence of a government in #Baghdad to delay its withdrawal, thinking a newly elected parliament may alter the previous decision.

The 18 Katiusha came as an immediate response to the #US decision to bring in Iraq Patriot system, a decision the Iraqi government did not authorise.
The death of 2 #US and 1 #British soldiers ar Taji last night is a challenge to increase the escalation and reach an all-out-war.

#Iraq did not and shall not forget the #US assassination of their leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes neither the leader of the "Axis of the Resistance", #Iran #IRGC Major General Qassem Soleimani. More escalation and attacks are to be expected, particularly when approaching the summer.

If the #US retaliates (it cannot keep silence forever while multiple attacks would follow), it means the #Iraqi groups have dragged the US to a battlefield. This is what is most likely to happen.