Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr And His Followers Are 'Thirsty For American Blood'

Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraqi News

Military Times: Moqtada al Sadr and his followers in Iraq are 'thirsty for Americans' blood'

For the first time in years, the Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr and his militia are unleashing fiery anti-American rhetoric and threatening to attack U.S. troops.

But top U.S. military officials have downplayed his remarks, saying that for now there’s no cause for concern.

Sadr rose to prominence when his Mahdi Army battled U.S. troops after the 2003 invasion. He has quietly tolerated the comparatively small U.S. military force there now supporting the war on Islamic State extremists. But the powerful cleric became confrontational again after Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced plans on July 11 to send an additional 560 U.S. troops to Iraq, bringing the total to more than 4,600.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: A long time foe of the U.S., he started this new campaign 2 weeks ago .... US troops ‘are a target for us,’ Iraq’s Muqtada al Sadr says (Long war Journal).