- 🇮🇱 BREAKING: The sound of explosions in the Israeli occupied Golan heights

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- It was the sound of military exercises

- 🇮🇷/🇮🇶 JUST IN: According to Saudi media outlet Al-Arabiya, Quds Force General Ismael Qaani is currently in Baghdad

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- ANALYSIS: Why the visit of Quds Force Commander Ismael Qaani is important

In the past month or two, the Quds Force General has visited several important countries related to the Iran-axis, including Lebanon, Syria and now Iraq.

Not only does this come amidst an increase in Israel - Hezbollah tensions, but also during a time in which, according to credible reports, the United States has pressured the Iraqi government to disband the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces; the coalition of militias that was created at the order of Ayatollah Sistani in 2014 after the fall of Mosul, in order to bring a destructive blow to ISIS in the Levant.

This coalition of pro-Iran groups, which almost singlehandedly defeated the so-called Islamic State, is still the number one political player in the Iraqi political scene, despite being internally divided.

Many of the PMU's militias are increasingly supportive of Muqtada Sadr, a nationalist Shiite religious cleric and former ally of Iran. These Sadrists, who decisively won the Iraqi election of 2021, have now been pushing for a strong independent Iraqi state, free of both American and Iranian influence.

However, these Sadrists, who are heavily critical of Iran, are now even willing to cooperate with the American occupation to expel Iranian influence in Iraq. This has led to other Shiite militias straight up viewing the Sadrists as American stooges and power-hungry traitors.

On the other hand, there are still many pro-Iran factions, such as Asa'ib Ahl-al-Haqq, led by the Shiite cleric Qais al-Khazali. His faction, amongst many others, are fervent opponents of Muqtada Sadr. This contrast in ideology between nationalists and pro-Iran loyalists has led to severe tensions.

Perhaps, General Qaani is in Baghdad to mediate between these Shiite militias, who used to be 90% pro-Iran, but are now becoming increasingly independent and reckless.

At the same time, we hear reports of the United States sending more and more troops to bases in Iraq and Syria, coupled with threats of closing the Al-Bukamal border crossing on the Iraqi side to stop the flow of Iranian arms to Syria and Lebanon.

Regardless of what the reason is, Ismael Qaani's predecessor, Qasem Soleimani, always functioned as a uniting force and mediator between the several pro-Iran factions and those more critical of Iran.

Visits by IRGC leaders in the past have always been at important and critical moments, and this time is probably no different.

Let's see if General Qaani can do the same job as his predecessor, to somehow unite the Iraqi political scene, while at the same time preventing the American schemes from coming to fruition.

@Middle_East_Spectator

- 🇺🇸/🇮🇶 BREAKING: According to observers, something is brewing in Iraq

Throughout this week, the amount of US troops has been steadily rising, and unusual movements have been reported.

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— 🇮🇷/🇸🇦 Iranian Foreign Minister regarding Saudi Arabia:

- The Iranian President has accepted King Salman's invitation to visit Riyadh, and this visit will take place at the appropriate time, in the form of an official state visit with full ceremony.

- I thank Saudi Arabia for properly facilitating the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages for Iranian pilgrims.

- We discussed the importance of the Palestinian cause as the main issue of the Islamic World today.

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— 🇮🇷/🇺🇸/🇮🇶 EXCLUSIVE: Ismael Qaani and the Iraqi government reached a compromise regarding Kurdish groups stationed in Iraq

At the request of the Iraqi government, the IRGC Quds Force Commander Ismael Qaani has ordered the Shiite resistance factions within Iraq not to provoke or target US troops during the next few weeks.

In exchange for this request, General Qaani asked that the Iraqi government take decisive action to disarm Kurdish seperatist groups stationed in northern Iraq, who carry out operations inside Iran, and to stop the flow of weapons across the border.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 BREAKING: The arrest of a lady who disturbed the public peace by breaking the dress code as an act of 'protest'

The lady has a history of unlawful conduct, and she was arrested in October last year for 'inciting public disturbance'.

She will most likely receive a few months in prison or a monetary fine to be paid to the municipality of Tehran.

@Middle_East_Spectator