Iraqi sources reported that the armed factions are facing “financial hardship” due to US sanctions against their leaders, but they ruled out stopping the payment of salaries to their fighters registered within the regulations of the Popular Mobilization Authority, which obtains its resources from the state.
The commander of the US Central Command (Centcom), Brad Cooper, said yesterday (Al-Arabic), “The economic stranglehold has prompted pro-Iranian groups in the region, including Iraqi factions, to withhold the salaries of their fighters and transfer funds to Tehran to cover the public sector deficit.”
However, Iraqi sources, some of whom are familiar with the atmosphere of the factions, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the factions have been suffering for months from real financial hardship, as a result of sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department.”
But she confirmed that “members of the factions, who are often under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces, receive their salaries on a regular basis from the state.”
On the ground, an explosion occurred inside the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces, east of Baghdad, on Saturday evening. The authority said it was caused by the explosion of quantities of “damaged equipment.” The explosion resulted in the death of one soldier and the injury of five others.
Lebanon is awaiting the outcome of the contacts conducted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to convince him of the necessity of holding a Lebanese-Israeli meeting at the military level, under American sponsorship, on the date specified for that, that is, between 20 and 22 October, in Florida.
Rubio had confirmed this to the Lebanese President, General Joseph Aoun, during their call on Thursday.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned from an informed source that Aoun informed Rubio of Lebanon’s readiness to participate in the military meeting with Israel, perhaps as a step to compel Netanyahu to establish a ceasefire and remove the formation of the “verification mechanism” for the army’s deployment in the “pilot zone” from the stagnant circle, in preparation for expanding the scope of its work.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Saturday that the Israeli authorities must “urgently” stop those responsible for the attack carried out by Israeli settlers that targeted a convoy of European diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank, and “refer them to justice.”
Barrow described the attack, during which a French mayor was severely beaten, as “horrific,” stressing in a post on the “X” platform that the Israeli authorities must “urgently put an end to this criminal violence and ensure the security of civilians, in accordance with their obligations stipulated in international law,” according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
Barrow pointed out that “Bernard Boudeau (78 years old), the mayor of Aulnois-Imery in northern France, was violently attacked by extremist settlers in the West Bank,” and said: “We are in contact with him.”
Eyewitnesses said that cars belonging to the French, Belgian and Polish missions were carrying diplomats to visit the town of Taybeh, which has a Christian majority in the occupied West Bank, when settlers launched an attack to prevent the Palestinians from picking olives.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the attack by "Israeli rioters" and also criticized the relevant European consulates for their failure to coordinate the visit with the Israeli army.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later denounced what it considered a "smear" campaign targeting Israel and its settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu, whose government supports settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, is running in parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27.
