Allegedly taking shelter in the rural town, IS fighters emerged from hiding and attacked law enforcement, leading to the deadly clash, according to police.
His return likely planned for the 2025 parliamentary election, could threaten the growing clout of rivals, including Iraqi Shi'ite parties and armed factions close to Iran.
Who are the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq who threaten Israel, the US, and the region?
A huge blast hit an Iraqi military base used by Popular Mobilization Forces near Baghdad.
Esmail Qaani said the militias should lie low to avoid US strikes on their senior commanders, destruction of key infrastructure, or even a direct retaliation against Iran, the sources said.
The Iraqi government will take all legal measures against these actions that are considered a violation of Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its people.
The Swedish embassy in Baghdad faced the brunt of the outrage when it was stormed in protest.
Baghdad had notified the Swedish government "that any recurrence of the incident involving the burning of the Holy Quran on Swedish soil would necessitate severing diplomatic relations."
Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire early on Thursday morning.
The Iraqi prime minister began an official visit to Syria on Sunday, for the first time since the outbreak of the Syrian war.
JPOST Digital Library
