Iraqi paramilitary official says U.S. airstrikes meant to weaken Iraqi forces

STORY: Iraqi paramilitary official says U.S. airstrikes meant to weaken Iraqi forces SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 4, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 5, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:50 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: POLITICS/MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the funeral STORYLINE: Falih al-Fayyadh, chairman of the Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi Forces, said Sunday that U.S. airstrikes on its bases in western Iraq were meant to weaken the group and stop it from protecting the country. Al-Fayyadh made the remarks at a funeral for some of the 16 militiamen killed in the U.S. strikes late Friday on the al-Qaim area and the nearby Akashat area in Anbar province near Iraq's border with Syria. The strikes also wounded 36 others. He said the U.S. targeted the militia's facilities, including a hospital and administrative offices, as well as its forces deployed to fight terrorism and guard the border. Al-Fayyadh accused the U.S. of lying about supporting Iraq in its fight against terrorism, saying, "It (the U.S.) is plotting to weaken and neutrali