france24--2020-01-07--Venezuela's Guaido sworn in as parliament speaker after stand-off

Venezuela 's opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in for another term as speaker of parliament on Tuesday after a tense stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress .
Guaido leads the opposition to President Nicolas Maduro , who is blamed for an acute economic crisis and accused of acting like a harsh leftist dictator , and he is recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela 's legitimate acting president .
The National Assembly is the only Venezuelan branch of government in opposition hands .
While Guaido was barred from entering the building by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour in dramatic and chaotic scenes , his rival claimant to the speaker position , Luis Parra , occupied the chair .
By the time Guaido was allowed in , alongside allied deputies , Parra had already left .
`` Here we are , showing our face , '' Guaido said as he took his seat .
Lawmakers sang the national anthem but electricity to the chamber was cut off , leaving deputies to use the flashlights on their mobile phones to provide light .
Guaido then raised his right hand and took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as leader of the assembly .
Earlier , dozens of National Guard troops wearing helmets and carrying riot shields blocked Guaido from entering the building .
`` These are not barracks ! ''
Guaido shouted at troops , who had set up a check-point at the building 's entrance before the opposition leader arrived .
Some of his allies and members of the press were also blocked from getting inside .
The opposition said on Twitter that four lawmakers were injured by `` regime minions . ''
The press workers ' union wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and robbed of their equipment by armed militias linked to the government .
Burly bodyguards Inside , Parra , an opposition legislator accused of corruption , was already installed in the seat Guaido has occupied for the last year .
Parra caused a storm on Sunday when he declared himself parliament speaker after the armed forces had prevented Guaido from entering the building .
Parra was sworn in then by his backers .
Crisis-hit Venezuela has been in political turmoil since last January when Guaido used his position as speaker to declare himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authority of Maduro .
He declared on Sunday that he was re-elected to his post after holding a legislative session alongside loyal deputies at the offices of an opposition-leaning newspaper .
The United States warned Tuesday it will punish Venezuela if the political crisis here escalates and Guaido is arrested .
The United States has already imposed waves of sanctions against Venezuela in a bid to choke off its badly needed oil revenue and force the ouster of Maduro .
`` I think you would see even additional action far beyond what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Carrie Filipetti , deputy assistant secretary for Cuba and Venezuela .
In the parliament building , Parra sat in the speaker 's seat while burly men appeared to stand guard at the steps leading up to the podium .
Parra was kicked out of his opposition party last month after an online news site accused him of corruption linked to the over-pricing of food imported for the Maduro government .
But he remains a deputy and Maduro recognized Parra 's election in a television address on Sunday .
The move was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and even Maduro 's left-wing allies Argentina and Uruguay .
Bribed deputies Guaido vowed on Monday to hold Tuesday 's parliamentary session and branded Parra `` an accomplice to dictatorship . ''
Parra said Guaido would have the right to attend his session , but as just `` another deputy . ''
Both men claimed on Sunday they had the support of enough deputies to be elected president of the legislature .
Before Sunday 's vote , Guaido said the Maduro government had bribed some opposition deputies to vote against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputies loyal to Maduro while the opposition holds 112 of the 167 seats in the assembly .
Guaido said 100 deputies voted for him and Parra claimed the support of 81 lawmakers .
Opposition deputy Henry Ramos Allup , a former parliament speaker , said a verification of the minutes would be undertaken to see `` how many voted for them and us . ''
`` To those that bought votes , keep in mind the purchase risks of what you buy , '' Ramos Allup said .
While Guaido has been recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , true presidential authority rests with Maduro , who retains the support of the armed forces .
As well as two claimants to the presidency and parliament speaker , Venezuela has two parliaments .
The National Assembly has been effectively sidelined since 2017 , when the Supreme Court , made up of Maduro loyalists , declared it in contempt .
The court has since annulled its every decision .
Maduro then controversially set up a Constituent Assembly -- also made up exclusively of loyalists -- with power to legislate in its place @ @ @ @

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in for another term as speaker of parliament on Tuesday after a tense stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress.
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Guaido leads the opposition to President Nicolas Maduro, who is blamed for an acute economic crisis and accused of acting like a harsh leftist dictator, and he is recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's legitimate acting president. The National Assembly is the only Venezuelan branch of government in opposition hands.
While Guaido was barred from entering the building by the National Guard for around half an hour in dramatic and chaotic scenes, his rival claimant to the speaker position, Luis Parra, occupied the chair. By the time Guaido was allowed in, alongside allied deputies, Parra had already left.
"Here we are, showing our face," Guaido said as he took his seat.
Lawmakers sang the national anthem but electricity to the chamber was cut off, leaving deputies to use the flashlights on their mobile phones to provide light. Guaido then raised his right hand and took the oath of office for another term as leader of the assembly.
Earlier, dozens of National Guard troops wearing helmets and carrying riot shields blocked Guaido from entering the building.
"These are not barracks!" Guaido shouted at troops, who had set up a check-point at the building's entrance before the opposition leader arrived.
Some of his allies and members of the press were also blocked from getting inside. The opposition said on Twitter that four lawmakers were injured by "regime minions."
The press workers' union wrote on Twitter that two journalists were attacked and robbed of their equipment by armed militias linked to the government.
Burly bodyguards
Inside, Parra, an opposition legislator accused of corruption, was already installed in the seat Guaido has occupied for the last year. Parra caused a storm on Sunday when he declared himself parliament speaker after the armed forces had prevented Guaido from entering the building. Parra was sworn in then by his backers.
Crisis-hit Venezuela has been in political turmoil since last January when Guaido used his position as speaker to declare himself acting president in a direct challenge to the authority of Maduro. He declared on Sunday that he was re-elected to his post after holding a legislative session alongside loyal deputies at the offices of an opposition-leaning newspaper.
The United States warned Tuesday it will punish Venezuela if the political crisis here escalates and Guaido is arrested. The United States has already imposed waves of sanctions against Venezuela in a bid to choke off its badly needed oil revenue and force the ouster of Maduro.
"I think you would see even additional action far beyond what we have pushed out to date," said Carrie Filipetti, deputy assistant secretary for Cuba and Venezuela. In the parliament building, Parra sat in the speaker's seat while burly men appeared to stand guard at the steps leading up to the podium.
Parra was kicked out of his opposition party last month after an online news site accused him of corruption linked to the over-pricing of food imported for the Maduro government. But he remains a deputy and Maduro recognized Parra's election in a television address on Sunday.
The move was denounced by many countries, including the United States and even Maduro's left-wing allies Argentina and Uruguay.
Bribed deputies
Guaido vowed on Monday to hold Tuesday's parliamentary session and branded Parra "an accomplice to dictatorship."
Parra said Guaido would have the right to attend his session, but as just "another deputy."
Both men claimed on Sunday they had the support of enough deputies to be elected president of the legislature. Before Sunday's vote, Guaido said the Maduro government had bribed some opposition deputies to vote against him.
Parra's support mainly comes from deputies loyal to Maduro while the opposition holds 112 of the 167 seats in the assembly. Guaido said 100 deputies voted for him and Parra claimed the support of 81 lawmakers.
Opposition deputy Henry Ramos Allup, a former parliament speaker, said a verification of the minutes would be undertaken to see "how many voted for them and us."
"To those that bought votes, keep in mind the purchase risks of what you buy," Ramos Allup said.
While Guaido has been recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, true presidential authority rests with Maduro, who retains the support of the armed forces. As well as two claimants to the presidency and parliament speaker, Venezuela has two parliaments.
The National Assembly has been effectively sidelined since 2017, when the Supreme Court, made up of Maduro loyalists, declared it in contempt. The court has since annulled its every decision.
Maduro then controversially set up a Constituent Assembly -- also made up exclusively of loyalists -- with power to legislate in its place.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-07--Spain's Sanchez wins parliamentary vote paving way for coalition govt

Spain 's caretaker prime minister lost a first confidence vote on Sunday after failing to win backing from an absolute majority in the 350-seat parliament .
Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez narrowly won parliamentary backing on Tuesday for Spain ’ s first coalition government in decades , ending a long political stalemate but leaving him reliant on a fragile patchwork of alliances to pass laws .
After nearly a year of caretaker governments , Sanchez won the simple majority he needed by two votes thanks to the support of lawmakers from smaller regional parties .
He and coalition ally Pablo Iglesias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now want to roll back some of the labour reforms passed by a previous conservative government and push for tax increases on high-income earners and companies .
But the two parties between them hold just 155 of the 350 seats in a deeply fragmented parliament , where antagonism between left and right was further inflamed by a deal the Socialists struck with Catalan nationalists to get the coalition voted through .
“ I trust that we can overcome the atmosphere of irritation and tension and that we can recover a space for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told parliament prior to the vote .
The session was interrupted by shouts and insults , with politicians from the right accusing Sanchez of betraying Spain over Catalonia , whose independence drive has triggered a political crisis .
In the run-up to the vote , politicians also accused each other of pressuring lawmakers , in particular from small regional parties that said they would back Sanchez , to change their minds .
But in the end , the vote to install Spain ’ s first coalition government since its return to democracy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sanchez won the backing of 167 of the 350 legislators , while 165 voted against .
The remaining 18 abstained , including the lawmakers of Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya ( ERC ) , after Sanchez agreed to hold a dialogue over the future of Catalonia and submit its conclusions to voters in the region .
Mainstream right-wing parties have steadfastly refused to hold any such talks on the future of Catalonia , where a botched independence declaration in 2017 led to the jailing of separatist leaders , galvanising an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise of new parties in Spain over the past five years has ended decades of dominance by the Socialists and conservative People ’ s Party over Spanish politics , making the process of forming governments and keeping them in power far harder .
The Socialists came first in two inconclusive national elections in 2019 , and Sanchez has led a caretaker government that had little margin to push through policies .
The minority government he previously headed was forced to throw in the towel after less than a year when Catalan separatists withdrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government have yet to be officially announced but will include Iglesias and Sanchez ’ s economy minister Nadia Calvino as vice-presidents .
How the Socialists and Podemos will work together also remains an open question , as the parties were at odds for much of 2019 .
“ The hard part starts tomorrow , ” said Aitor Esteban , a lawmaker and spokesman for the Basque Nationalist Party ( PNV ) , who voted for Sanchez .

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez narrowly won parliamentary backing on Tuesday for Spain’s first coalition government in decades, ending a long political stalemate but leaving him reliant on a fragile patchwork of alliances to pass laws.
Spain's caretaker prime minister lost a first confidence vote on Sunday after failing to win backing from an absolute majority in the 350-seat parliament.
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After nearly a year of caretaker governments, Sanchez won the simple majority he needed by two votes thanks to the support of lawmakers from smaller regional parties.
He and coalition ally Pablo Iglesias, the leader of left-wing Unidas Podemos, now want to roll back some of the labour reforms passed by a previous conservative government and push for tax increases on high-income earners and companies.
But the two parties between them hold just 155 of the 350 seats in a deeply fragmented parliament, where antagonism between left and right was further inflamed by a deal the Socialists struck with Catalan nationalists to get the coalition voted through.
“I trust that we can overcome the atmosphere of irritation and tension and that we can recover a space for consensus and for agreement,” Sanchez told parliament prior to the vote.
The session was interrupted by shouts and insults, with politicians from the right accusing Sanchez of betraying Spain over Catalonia, whose independence drive has triggered a political crisis.
In the run-up to the vote, politicians also accused each other of pressuring lawmakers, in particular from small regional parties that said they would back Sanchez, to change their minds.
Tensions
But in the end, the vote to install Spain’s first coalition government since its return to democracy in the late 1970s passed off as expected.
Sanchez won the backing of 167 of the 350 legislators, while 165 voted against.
The remaining 18 abstained, including the lawmakers of Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), after Sanchez agreed to hold a dialogue over the future of Catalonia and submit its conclusions to voters in the region.
Mainstream right-wing parties have steadfastly refused to hold any such talks on the future of Catalonia, where a botched independence declaration in 2017 led to the jailing of separatist leaders, galvanising an at times violent protest movement.
The rise of new parties in Spain over the past five years has ended decades of dominance by the Socialists and conservative People’s Party over Spanish politics, making the process of forming governments and keeping them in power far harder.
The Socialists came first in two inconclusive national elections in 2019, and Sanchez has led a caretaker government that had little margin to push through policies. The minority government he previously headed was forced to throw in the towel after less than a year when Catalan separatists withdrew their support.
Portfolios in his new government have yet to be officially announced but will include Iglesias and Sanchez’s economy minister Nadia Calvino as vice-presidents.
How the Socialists and Podemos will work together also remains an open question, as the parties were at odds for much of 2019.
“The hard part starts tomorrow,” said Aitor Esteban, a lawmaker and spokesman for the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), who voted for Sanchez.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-07--French publisher pulls books by writer accused of underage rape

French publisher Gallimard said Tuesday it was halting sales of books by a writer accused of raping children .
France 's most prestigious publishing house told AFP it was the first time in its 140-year history that it had taken such a radical step .
Award-winning essayist Gabriel Matzneff is under investigation after a leading French editor detailed in print how he seduced her when she was 14 .
Gallimard said they were recalling all the journals the 83-year-old had written under its imprint since 1990 .
The last , `` The Lover at the Arsenal '' , came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawn the Kindle version of one Matzneff 's most notorious works , `` Les Moins de Seize Ans '' ( The Under 16s ) , after sales exploded online after the scandal broke .
The dramatic moves come a day after French culture minister Franck Riester said the writer should lose a special state pension .
Riester told reporters Matzneff could also be stripped of his two major state honours as officer of Arts and Letters and knight of the Order of National Merit .
The weekly magazine Le Point had also dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never made any secret of his sexual preference for adolescent girls and boys , and it did not stop him winning the prestigious Renaudot prize in 2013 .
In `` Les Moins de Seize Ans '' , which was published in 1974 and reissued in 2005 , he was frank about indulging his obsessional `` taste '' for underage partners and sex tourism .
He was even more explicit in his 1990 book , `` Mes amours decomposes '' ( My Loves Deconstructed ) , which describes sexual relationships with teenagers aged between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France for an adult to have sex with anyone under 15 .
He told French television at the time that he preferred `` to have people in my life who are not hardened and who are still kind .
`` A very young girl is rather sweeter , even if she becomes very quickly hysterical and just as crazy as she will be when she is older , '' he added .
Despite raising eyebrows , Matzneff continued to publish and there was little controversy when he picked up the Renaudot prize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again shone a light on what many see as an overly permissive attitude towards sexual harassment and paedophilia in France .
'Consent ' The French film establishment has been rocked by rape accusations against directors Roman Polanski and Luc Besson , while star Adele Haenel said she was sexually harassed by the director of her first film when she was 12 .
All three men deny the claims .
Police opened a formal investigation into Matzneff last week after publisher Vanessa Springora described her tortured relationship with the writer in a book titled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described how Matzneff , then in his fifties , would wait for her outside school and then take her to his home for sex .
`` At 14 you are not supposed to be picked up from school by a man of 50 and find yourself in his bed with his penis in your mouth ( instead of a biscuit ) at teatime , '' Springora wrote .
Matzneff denies any wrongdoing , insisting there was an `` exceptional love '' between him and Springora .
He claimed she tried to portray him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a predator '' .
Gallimard said it felt impelled to act after Springora 's book was published .
`` The exceptional measure which we have taken is justified to make sure the suffering that Vanessa Springora recounts '' in her book is heard , it added in a statement .
( AFP )

French publisher Gallimard said Tuesday it was halting sales of books by a writer accused of raping children. France's most prestigious publishing house told AFP it was the first time in its 140-year history that it had taken such a radical step.
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Award-winning essayist Gabriel Matzneff is under investigation after a leading French editor detailed in print how he seduced her when she was 14. Gallimard said they were recalling all the journals the 83-year-old had written under its imprint since 1990. The last, "The Lover at the Arsenal", came out in November.
Amazon has also reportedly withdrawn the Kindle version of one Matzneff's most notorious works, "Les Moins de Seize Ans" (The Under 16s), after sales exploded online after the scandal broke.
The dramatic moves come a day after French culture minister Franck Riester said the writer should lose a special state pension. Riester told reporters Matzneff could also be stripped of his two major state honours as officer of Arts and Letters and knight of the Order of National Merit.
The weekly magazine Le Point had also dropped him as a columnist.
Matzneff has never made any secret of his sexual preference for adolescent girls and boys, and it did not stop him winning the prestigious Renaudot prize in 2013. In "Les Moins de Seize Ans", which was published in 1974 and reissued in 2005, he was frank about indulging his obsessional "taste" for underage partners and sex tourism.
He was even more explicit in his 1990 book, "Mes amours decomposes" (My Loves Deconstructed), which describes sexual relationships with teenagers aged between 14 and 16. It is illegal in France for an adult to have sex with anyone under 15.
He told French television at the time that he preferred "to have people in my life who are not hardened and who are still kind.
"A very young girl is rather sweeter, even if she becomes very quickly hysterical and just as crazy as she will be when she is older," he added.
Despite raising eyebrows, Matzneff continued to publish and there was little controversy when he picked up the Renaudot prize six years ago. The case has again shone a light on what many see as an overly permissive attitude towards sexual harassment and paedophilia in France.
'Consent'
The French film establishment has been rocked by rape accusations against directors Roman Polanski and Luc Besson, while star Adele Haenel said she was sexually harassed by the director of her first film when she was 12. All three men deny the claims.
Police opened a formal investigation into Matzneff last week after publisher Vanessa Springora described her tortured relationship with the writer in a book titled "Consent". In it she described how Matzneff, then in his fifties, would wait for her outside school and then take her to his home for sex.
"At 14 you are not supposed to be picked up from school by a man of 50 and find yourself in his bed with his penis in your mouth (instead of a biscuit) at teatime," Springora wrote.
Matzneff denies any wrongdoing, insisting there was an "exceptional love" between him and Springora. He claimed she tried to portray him as "a pervert, a manipulator and a predator".
Gallimard said it felt impelled to act after Springora's book was published.
"The exceptional measure which we have taken is justified to make sure the suffering that Vanessa Springora recounts" in her book is heard, it added in a statement.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-07--Rescued koalas and kangaroos: five fake images from Australia's fires

At least 24 people and 500 million animals have been killed in the devastating wildfires that have been raging in Australia for the past few weeks .
Impressive photos of the fires and touching images of rescues have been circulating online .
However , it turns out that some of these photos are fake .
1 .
The photo of the little girl holding a koala Around 28,000 koalas , representing a third of the total population , are estimated to have perished in the fires .
Many people have been sharing images of koalas in an attempt to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A photo showing a little girl clutching a koala in her arms is one of the images that has been widely shared .
Tweet by @ epee_la ( translated from French ) : # Australia # Australia this little girl [ escaped ] the flames and saved a # koala The photo is actually a composite of several different images .
If you do a reverse image search ( click here to find out how ) , it shows that it was previously published on Instagram .
The person behind the account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 22 to explain that the image had been Photoshopped .
Our team reached out to her and she sent us the original image ( see below ) .
She told us : If you crop the koala in the Photoshopped image and run it through a reverse image search , then you ’ ll pull up the original photo of the koala .
The woman who made the photomontage simply used a mirror effect to invert the image and then got rid of the leaves in its fur .
The original photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be found on this website .
Kangaroos , another symbol of Australia , have also suffered immensely in these fires .
A touching video shared online claims to shows a woman hugging a kangaroo that she just managed to rescue from the flames .
However , the caption on this photo is downright false .
This video was actually posted on Instagram on January 1 by the editor-in-chief of InStyle magazine after she visited a kangaroo sanctuary in Australia .
She wanted to show her support for the protection of these animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The journalist didn ’ t say anything about having “ saved ” the kangaroo in her post .
The post on the sanctuary ’ s Facebook page didn ’ t say anything about the kangaroo having been rescued either .
It just said that the animal 's name is Abi .
Social media users commented on the same video of Abi , indicating that the kangaroo has been in the sanctuary for months .
This image , regularly presented as a satellite image of Australia and the fires , was shared widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samtoum ( translated from French ) : 'Australia : The apocalypse .
Satellite image at night' It 's not a real map , but a graphic visualisation of the bushfires , created using NASA data on bushfires , according to the person who created it .
The person who made this map says that it is a 3D creation developed using data collected between December 5 , 2019 and January 5 , 2020 .
4 .
Did rain in Australia finally put out the fires ?
A large number of primarily Spanish-speaking social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on areas destroyed by fires .
One video in particular shows firefighters dancing to celebrate the rain .
The video was indeed filmed in Australia… but over a month ago , on November 25 , 2019 .
The Leongatha Fire Brigade posted this video to celebrate the rain , after weeks battling fires raging in the Rolland Plains area .
Many posts , mostly on Twitter , include real photos of the fires taken recently in Australia , with others that have nothing to do with the current situation .
The post below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , is a good example .
All of these photos were taken in Australia in November and December… except for the photo of a family on the top right .
This photo was actually taken in 2013 , when a wildfire was raging in Dunalley in Tasmania .
This family sought refuge underneath a jetty to escape the flames and wait for help .
The Guardian Article told this family 's story through images in 2013 .
Do you have any other examples of photos or videos that you think are suspicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach us via Twitter at @ InfoIntoxF24 !

DEBUNKED
Fake images of the wildfires in Australia have been circulating on social media. Our team took a look at five of these images that are getting a lot of traction.
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At least 24 people and 500 million animals have been killed in the devastating wildfires that have been raging in Australia for the past few weeks. Impressive photos of the fires and touching images of rescues have been circulating online. However, it turns out that some of these photos are fake.
1. The photo of the little girl holding a koala
Around 28,000 koalas, representing a third of the total population, are estimated to have perished in the fires. Many people have been sharing images of koalas in an attempt to raise awareness about the need to save animals. A photo showing a little girl clutching a koala in her arms is one of the images that has been widely shared.
Tweet by @epee_la (translated from French): #Australia #Australia this little girl [escaped] the flames and saved a #koala
The photo is actually a composite of several different images. If you do a reverse image search (click here to find out how), it shows that it was previously published on Instagram. The person behind the account that posted it updated the caption on December 22 to explain that the image had been Photoshopped.
Our team reached out to her and she sent us the original image (see below). She told us:
I wanted to make this montage during the Christmas period because everyone around me was wondering if they had bought enough presents. I wanted to remind them to be happy that they were healthy, with a roof over their heads unlike the people who died or lost their homes during these fires.
If you crop the koala in the Photoshopped image and run it through a reverse image search, then you’ll pull up the original photo of the koala. The woman who made the photomontage simply used a mirror effect to invert the image and then got rid of the leaves in its fur.
The original photo of the koala used in the photomontage can be found on this website.
2. The woman who “saved” a kangaroo
Kangaroos, another symbol of Australia, have also suffered immensely in these fires. A touching video shared online claims to shows a woman hugging a kangaroo that she just managed to rescue from the flames.
She saved the kangaroo from the fires. We all need saving. Some where. Some how. ❤ pic.twitter.com/6YsYXLUVTF Nadine Welson Njeim (@nadinewnjeim) January 6, 2020
However, the caption on this photo is downright false. This video was actually posted on Instagram on January 1 by the editor-in-chief of InStyle magazine after she visited a kangaroo sanctuary in Australia. She wanted to show her support for the protection of these animals and also made an appeal for donations.
The journalist didn’t say anything about having “saved” the kangaroo in her post. The post on the sanctuary’s Facebook page didn’t say anything about the kangaroo having been rescued either. It just said that the animal's name is Abi. Social media users commented on the same video of Abi, indicating that the kangaroo has been in the sanctuary for months.
3. Not a real satellite photo
This image, regularly presented as a satellite image of Australia and the fires, was shared widely on social media.
Australie : L'apocalypse.
Image satellite, de nuit. pic.twitter.com/GezlOotosk Samir Toumi (@samtoum) January 5, 2020
Tweet by @samtoum (translated from French): 'Australia: The apocalypse. Satellite image at night'
It's not a real map, but a graphic visualisation of the bushfires, created using NASA data on bushfires, according to the person who created it.
The person who made this map says that it is a 3D creation developed using data collected between December 5, 2019 and January 5, 2020.
4. Did rain in Australia finally put out the fires?
A large number of primarily Spanish-speaking social media users celebrated videos of rain falling on areas destroyed by fires. One video in particular shows firefighters dancing to celebrate the rain.
Llueve fuerte en Australia en la zona q son devastadas por los incendios ! Solo obra de Dios pic.twitter.com/84jxVCZLTC CarlosAlbornoz (@CarlosOAlbornoz) January 5, 2020
The video was indeed filmed in Australia… but over a month ago, on November 25, 2019. The Leongatha Fire Brigade posted this video to celebrate the rain, after weeks battling fires raging in the Rolland Plains area.
5. Old images alongside recent ones
Many posts, mostly on Twitter, include real photos of the fires taken recently in Australia, with others that have nothing to do with the current situation. The post below, which was shared more than 39,000 times, is a good example. All of these photos were taken in Australia in November and December… except for the photo of a family on the top right.
This photo was actually taken in 2013, when a wildfire was raging in Dunalley in Tasmania. This family sought refuge underneath a jetty to escape the flames and wait for help.
The Guardian Article told this family's story through images in 2013.
Do you have any other examples of photos or videos that you think are suspicious? Let us know! You can reach us via Twitter at @InfoIntoxF24!
Article by Alexandre Capron (@alexcapron)


france24--2020-01-07--Iraq PM Abdel Mahdi says he received signed US 'withdrawal' letter on Monday

Iraq ’ s premier Adel Abdel Mahdi confirmed Tuesday that he had received what the US said was a draft letter describing steps its military would take to “ move out ” of Iraq .
The Pentagon had said an unsigned draft version of the letter had been mistakenly sent , but the Iraqi premier disputed that claim .
In a cabinet meeting televised on Tuesday evening , Abdel Mahdi said he had received signed and translated copies at 8:00pm local time ( 1700 GMT ) Monday .
The letter discussed “ redeploying with an aim to withdraw from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
The Iraqi prime minister said preliminary versions received in Arabic and English included a translation mistake , so his office requested a correction from the US military and new versions were duly sent .
“ It was an official letter written in such a manner , ” Abdel Mahdi told ministers .
“ It ’ s not a piece of paper that fell off the printer or reached us by coincidence , ” he said .
AFP received a copy of the letter late Monday and verified its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In it , the head of Task Force-Iraq US Brigadier General William Seely informed his Iraqi counterparts that American troops were preparing to leave Iraq .
Seely wrote the US-led coalition would “ be repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement.
” “ In order to conduct this task , Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner , ” said the letter .
It said helicopters would be travelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the preparations .
AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night on Monday as well as Tuesday .

Iraq’s premier Adel Abdel Mahdi confirmed Tuesday that he had received what the US said was a draft letter describing steps its military would take to “move out” of Iraq.
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The Pentagon had said an unsigned draft version of the letter had been mistakenly sent, but the Iraqi premier disputed that claim.
In a cabinet meeting televised on Tuesday evening, Abdel Mahdi said he had received signed and translated copies at 8:00pm local time (1700 GMT) Monday.
The letter discussed “redeploying with an aim to withdraw from the country. The expressions were very clear,” he said.
The Iraqi prime minister said preliminary versions received in Arabic and English included a translation mistake, so his office requested a correction from the US military and new versions were duly sent.
“It was an official letter written in such a manner,” Abdel Mahdi told ministers.
“It’s not a piece of paper that fell off the printer or reached us by coincidence,” he said.
Since when did the Pentagon start putting its “mistakes” in Arabic? pic.twitter.com/4nQAkmpwpM — Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) January 7, 2020
AFP received a copy of the letter late Monday and verified its authenticity with both US and Iraqi officials.
In it, the head of Task Force-Iraq US Brigadier General William Seely informed his Iraqi counterparts that American troops were preparing to leave Iraq.
Seely wrote the US-led coalition would “be repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement.”
“In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner,” said the letter.
It said helicopters would be travelling in and around Baghdad’s Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the preparations.
AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night on Monday as well as Tuesday.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-08--LIVE: France condemns Iranian missile strikes on US forces, urges de-escalation

Iran struck back at the US early Wednesday for killing General Qassem Soleimani , firing a series of ballistic missiles @ @ @ @ @ Iraq housing US troops in a major escalation between the two longtime foes .

LIVE BLOG
As it happened: France condemns Iran's missile strike against US forces in Iraq
Iran struck back at the US early Wednesday for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing US troops in a major escalation between the two longtime foes. Read our live blog below to see how all the day's events unfolded.
01:35 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks on public television after missile strikes on US bases in Iraq. Screengrab FRANCE 24.
Advertising Read more Iran fired missiles at two bases in Iraq housing US troops early Wednesday in revenge for the US killing of General Qassem Soleimani.
US President Donald Trump said there were no American or Iraqi casualties in the missile strike, adding that Americans should be “extremely grateful and happy” with the outcome.
Trump also said that Iran appeared to be “standing down” and said the US response would be to put in place new economic sanctions “until Iran changes its behaviour".
Iraq and a number of European countries in the anti-Islamic State (IS) group coalition – including France, Britain, Germany, Spain, Poland and Denmark – said none of their military personnel were hurt in the strikes.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the strikes were a “slap in the face” of the US and called for a withdrawal of US troops in the region. In a televised speech, Khamenei said resuming nuclear talks with Washington would pave the way for US dominance.
France has condemned the latest Iranian attack and reiterated the importance of maintaining the fight against the IS group while respecting Iraq’s sovereignty. Paris is in contact with all parties and will try to de-escalate tensions, said a French foreign ministry statement.
Defending his country’s retaliation, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the strikes were “proportionate measures” in response to Soleimani’s killing.
Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said the crisis Iraq was experiencing is over following de-escalation rhetoric from both Iran and the US and called on militia groups not to carry out attacks.
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france24--2020-01-07--Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirm missile attacks against US forces in Iraq

What is said to be missiles are seen in the night sky , after Iran fired missiles on at least two Iraqi air bases hosting U.S.-led coalition forces , in this still image taken from a video shot at an unknown location on January 8 , 2020 .
Iran launched a missile attack on U.S.-led forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East .
Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from its territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S.-led coalition personnel at about 1:30 a.m. ( 2230 GMT ) , the U.S. military said .
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet late on Tuesday that an assessment of casualties and damage from the strikes was under way and that he would make a statement on Wednesday morning .
`` All is well ! ''
Trump , who visited the al-Asad air base in December 2018 , said in the Twitter post .
One source said early indications were of no U.S. casualties .
Other U.S. officials declined to comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed they fired the missiles in retaliation for last week 's killing of Qassem Soleimani , according to a statement on state TV .
The force advised the United States to withdraw its troops from the region to prevent more deaths and warned U.S. allies including Israel not to allow attacks from their territories .
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement that the bases targeted were al-Asad air base and another facility in Erbil , Iraq .
`` As we evaluate the situation and our response , we will take all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel , partners , and allies in the region . ''
Hours earlier on Tuesday , U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the United States should anticipate retaliation from Iran over Friday 's killing in Iraq of Soleimani , commander of the elite Quds Force .
`` I think we should expect that they will retaliate in some way , shape or form , '' he told a news briefing at the Pentagon , adding that such retaliation could be through Iran-backed proxy groups outside of Iran or `` by their own hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zarif said Iran `` took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter '' , targeting the bases where the attack against its citizens and senior officials was launched .
`` We do not seek escalation or war , but will defend ourselves against any aggression , '' he wrote in a post on Twitter .
If the U.S. military was indeed spared casualties , and Iran has completed its threatened retaliation for the U.S. drone strike on Soleimani , as Zarif suggested , there might be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an off-ramp to their increasingly violent confrontation .
Asian stock markets , which had been roiled by the attack , pared some of their losses after the tweets from Trump and Zarif .
U.S. crude prices also retreated after surging almost 5 % on worries any conflict could cut oil supplies .
'We will take revenge' The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it would ban U.S. carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq , Iran , the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman .
Singapore Airlines had already diverted all flight routes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Congress and some of the party 's presidential contenders warned about the escalating conflict .
`` Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq , '' U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter .
`` We must ensure the safety of our service members , including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence .
America & world can not afford war . ''
Soleimani , a pivotal figure in orchestrating Iran 's long-standing campaign to drive U.S. forces out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up Tehran 's network of proxy armies across the Middle East .
He was a national hero to many Iranians but viewed as a dangerous villain by Western governments opposed to Iran 's arc of influence running across the Levant and into the Gulf region .
A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge Soleimani 's death .
Other senior figures have said the Islamic Republic would match the scale of the killing when it responds , but that it would choose the time and place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hard and definitive revenge , '' the head of Iran 's Revolutionary Guards , General Hossein Salami , told throngs who crowded the streets for Soleimani 's funeral on Tuesday in Kerman , his hometown in southeastern Iran .
Soleimani 's burial went ahead after several hours of delay following a stampede that killed at least 56 people and injured more than 210 , according to Iran 's semi-official Fars news agency .
Iran TV reported Soleimani was buried after the missile attacks .
`` His revenge was taken and now he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The missiles were launched on Wednesday at the same time that he was killed last on Friday .
Soleimani 's body had been taken to holy Shi'ite Muslim cities in Iraq and Iran , as well as the Iranian capital , Tehran , before arriving to be buried in the city cemetery 's `` martyrs section '' , according to the semi-official news agency ISNA .
In each place , huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares , chanting : `` Death to America '' and weeping with emotion .
Supreme Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayers in Tehran .
Prompted by the strong public backlash over Soleimani 's killing on Iraqi soil , lawmakers in Iraq voted on Sunday to demand a removal of all foreign forces from the country .
More than 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq along with other foreign forces as part of a coalition that has trained and backed up Iraqi security forces against the threat of Islamic State militants .
Some 115 German soldiers are stationed in Erbil and all are fine , a spokesman for Bundeswehr operations said .
A NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its several hundred trainers out of Iraq .
Canada said on Tuesday some of its 500 Iraq-based forces would be temporarily moved to Kuwait for safety reasons .
U.S. officials have said Soleimani was killed because of solid intelligence indicating forces under his command planned attacks on U.S. targets in the region , although they have provided no evidence .
Ali Shamkhani , secretary of Iran 's Supreme National Security Council , said 13 `` revenge scenarios '' were being considered , Fars news agency reported .
Even the weakest option would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans '' , he said .

Iran launched a missile attack on U.S.-led forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.
What is said to be missiles are seen in the night sky, after Iran fired missiles on at least two Iraqi air bases hosting U.S.-led coalition forces, in this still image taken from a video shot at an unknown location on January 8, 2020.
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Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from its territory against at least two Iraqi facilities hosting U.S.-led coalition personnel at about 1:30 a.m. (2230 GMT), the U.S. military said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet late on Tuesday that an assessment of casualties and damage from the strikes was under way and that he would make a statement on Wednesday morning.
"All is well!" Trump, who visited the al-Asad air base in December 2018, said in the Twitter post.
One source said early indications were of no U.S. casualties. Other U.S. officials declined to comment.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed they fired the missiles in retaliation for last week's killing of Qassem Soleimani, according to a statement on state TV.
The force advised the United States to withdraw its troops from the region to prevent more deaths and warned U.S. allies including Israel not to allow attacks from their territories.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement that the bases targeted were al-Asad air base and another facility in Erbil, Iraq.
"As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region."
03:48
Hours earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the United States should anticipate retaliation from Iran over Friday's killing in Iraq of Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force.
"I think we should expect that they will retaliate in some way, shape or form," he told a news briefing at the Pentagon, adding that such retaliation could be through Iran-backed proxy groups outside of Iran or "by their own hand."
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran "took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter", targeting the bases where the attack against its citizens and senior officials was launched.
"We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression," he wrote in a post on Twitter.
If the U.S. military was indeed spared casualties, and Iran has completed its threatened retaliation for the U.S. drone strike on Soleimani, as Zarif suggested, there might be an opportunity for Washington and Tehran to seek an off-ramp to their increasingly violent confrontation.
Asian stock markets, which had been roiled by the attack, pared some of their losses after the tweets from Trump and Zarif. U.S. crude prices also retreated after surging almost 5% on worries any conflict could cut oil supplies.
'We will take revenge'
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it would ban U.S. carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Singapore Airlines had already diverted all flight routes from Iranian airspace.
Democrats in the U.S. Congress and some of the party's presidential contenders warned about the escalating conflict.
"Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq," U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter. "We must ensure the safety of our service members, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war."
Soleimani, a pivotal figure in orchestrating Iran's long-standing campaign to drive U.S. forces out of Iraq, was also responsible for building up Tehran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East.
He was a national hero to many Iranians but viewed as a dangerous villain by Western governments opposed to Iran's arc of influence running across the Levant and into the Gulf region.
A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge Soleimani's death. Other senior figures have said the Islamic Republic would match the scale of the killing when it responds, but that it would choose the time and place.
"We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge," the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, told throngs who crowded the streets for Soleimani's funeral on Tuesday in Kerman, his hometown in southeastern Iran.
Soleimani's burial went ahead after several hours of delay following a stampede that killed at least 56 people and injured more than 210, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
Iran TV reported Soleimani was buried after the missile attacks. "His revenge was taken and now he can rest in peace," it said.
The missiles were launched on Wednesday at the same time that he was killed last on Friday.
Soleimani's body had been taken to holy Shi'ite Muslim cities in Iraq and Iran, as well as the Iranian capital, Tehran, before arriving to be buried in the city cemetery's "martyrs section", according to the semi-official news agency ISNA.
In each place, huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares, chanting: "Death to America" and weeping with emotion. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept as he led prayers in Tehran.
Prompted by the strong public backlash over Soleimani's killing on Iraqi soil, lawmakers in Iraq voted on Sunday to demand a removal of all foreign forces from the country.
More than 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq along with other foreign forces as part of a coalition that has trained and backed up Iraqi security forces against the threat of Islamic State militants.
Some 115 German soldiers are stationed in Erbil and all are fine, a spokesman for Bundeswehr operations said.
A NATO official told Reuters it would move some of its several hundred trainers out of Iraq. Canada said on Tuesday some of its 500 Iraq-based forces would be temporarily moved to Kuwait for safety reasons.
U.S. officials have said Soleimani was killed because of solid intelligence indicating forces under his command planned attacks on U.S. targets in the region, although they have provided no evidence.
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said 13 "revenge scenarios" were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove "a historic nightmare for the Americans", he said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-08--'No survivors' after Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane crashes in Iran

People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran on January 8 , 2020 .
A Ukrainian airliner burst into flames shortly after take-off from Tehran on Wednesday , killing all 176 people aboard in a crash that an initial report blamed on engine failure .
Debris and smouldering engine parts were strewn across a field around 10 km ( six miles ) from Imam Khomeini airport as rescue workers with face masks retrieved bodies of the victims .
Ukraine ’ s embassy in Iran , citing preliminary information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the crash was not caused by “ terrorism ” .
Carrier Ukraine International Airlines said it was doing everything possible to confirm the cause , and the investigation would also involve Boeing and Ukrainian and Iranian authorities .
It was the Kiev-based airline ’ s first fatal accident .
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said all on board had died .
“ My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew , ” he said in a statement .
“ The fire is so heavy that we can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambulances , four bus ambulances and a helicopter at the site , ” Pirhossein Koulivand , head of Iran ’ s emergency services , told Iranian state television .
Ukraine ’ s prime minister and Iranian state TV said 167 passengers and nine crew were on board .
Iranian TV said 32 of those on board were foreigners .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said the victims included 82 from Iran , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians , 10 Swedes , three Germans and three Britons .
Most passengers were in transit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a local aviation official as saying the pilot did not declare an emergency .
Iranian TV said the crash was due to unspecified technical problems .
Iranian search and rescue teams have found the black boxes from the airliner the spokesman for the country 's civil aviation authority said , according to semi-official news agency ISNA .
The plane that crashed was a three-year-old Boeing 737-800NG en route to Kiev , air tracking service FlightRadar24 said .
“ The last scheduled maintenance of the aircraft took place on 06 January , 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the manufacturer said it was gathering more information .
The 737-800 is one of the world ’ s most-flown models with a good safety record and does not have the software feature implicated in crashes of the 737 MAX .
Boeing grounded its 737 MAX fleet in March after two crashes that killed 346 people .
The 737-800 ’ s twin engines are made by CFM International , a US-French venture co-owned by General Electric and France ’ s Safran .
Modern aircraft are designed and certified to cope with an engine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for extended periods on one engine .
However , an uncontained engine failure releasing shrapnel can cause damage to other aircraft systems .
Under international rules overseen by the United Nations , Iran is responsible for leading the crash investigation .
Ukraine would be involved and the United States would usually be accredited as the country where the jet was designed and built .
France , where the engine maker CFM has half its activities , may also be involved .
With relations between Washington and Tehran mired in crisis , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Transportation Safety Board would be involved in the investigation .
The NTSB usually invites Boeing to give technical advice in such investigations .

A Ukrainian airliner fell to earth in a fireball shortly after take-off from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board in a crash that intelligence sources said was likely caused by a technical malfunction.
People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran on January 8, 2020.
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The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800, en route to Kiev and carrying mostly Iranians and Iranian-Canadians, crashed hours after Iran fired missiles at bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq, leading some to speculate that the plane may have been hit.
But five security sources - three Americans, one European and one Canadian - who asked not to be named, told Reuters the initial assessment of Western intelligence agencies was that the plane had suffered a technical malfunction and had not been brought down by a missile. There was evidence one of the jet's engines had overheated, the Canadian source said.
The crash comes at a difficult time for planemaker Boeing Co, which has grounded its 737 MAX fleet after two crashes. The 737-800 is one of the world's most-flown models with a good safety record and does not have the software feature implicated in crashes of the 737 MAX.
"We are in contact with our airline customers and stand by them in this difficult time. We are ready to assist in any way needed," the manufacturer said in a statement earlier on Wednesday. It declined further comment. Its shares fell 1.1% on Wednesday.
In Paris on Wednesday morning, the maker of the plane's engines, French-U.S. firm CFM - co-owned by General Electric Co and France's Safran - said speculation regarding the cause was premature.
Smouldering parts and debris, including shoes and clothes, were strewn across a field southwest of the Iranian capital, where rescue workers in face masks laid out scores of body bags.
Among the victims were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians, Ukrainian authorities said. The Tehran-Toronto via Kiev route was a popular one for Canadians of Iranian descent visiting Iran, in the absence of direct flights, and carried many students and academics heading home from the holidays.
The victims included a newlywed couple that had gone to Iran to get married. Arash Pourzarabi, 26, and Pouneh Gourji, 25, were graduate students in computer science at the University of Alberta. Four members of their wedding party were also on board.
At Kiev's main airport, candles and flowers were laid next to pictures of the deceased Ukrainian crew members.
It was Kiev-based Ukraine International Airlines' first fatal crash, and the carrier said it was doing everything possible to establish the cause.
Ukraine said it was sending a team of experts to Iran to investigate. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had instructed Ukraine's prosecutor general to open criminal proceedings, without specifying who they would involve.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would "continue to work closely with its international partners to ensure that this crash is thoroughly investigated" and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was calling for complete cooperation with any investigation into cause of the crash.
Under international rules, responsibility for investigating the crash lies with Iran. Iranian state television said both of the plane's black box voice and data recorders had been found.
The semi-official Mehr news agency quoted the head of Iran's civil aviation organisation as saying it was not clear which country Iran would send the black boxes to for analysis of the data, but it would not give them to Boeing.
The crash looks set to strain fragile international protocols on co-operation in air disaster investigations at a time when the United States and Iran are mired in confrontation.
Amateur video
The plane that crashed was a three-year-old Boeing 737-800NG. Its last scheduled maintenance was on Jan. 6, Ukraine International Airlines said.
An amateur video, run by Iranian news agencies and purportedly of the crashing plane, showed a descending flash in a dark sky. It was accompanied by comments that the aircraft was "on fire" and then a brighter flash as it appears to hit the ground. Reuters could not authenticate the footage.
Early on Wednesday, Iran had fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike last week that killed an Iranian military commander.
Some airlines cancelled Iran and Iraq flights and re-routed others away from both countries' airspace following the missile strikes. The European Aviation Safety Agency recommended that commercial flights avoid Iraqi airspace.
Iranian TV put the crash down to unspecified technical problems, and Iranian media quoted a local aviation official as saying the pilot did not declare an emergency.
Safety experts say airliner accidents rarely have a single cause and that it typically takes months of investigation to understand all the factors behind them.
Modern aircraft are designed and certified to cope with an engine failure shortly after take-off and to fly for extended periods on one engine. But an uncontained engine failure releasing shrapnel can cause damage to other aircraft systems.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-07--Trump, Pentagon insist US has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq

US Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team , 82nd Airborne Division , walk toward an awaiting aircraft prior to departing for the Middle East from Fort Bragg , North Carolina , United States on January 5 , 2020 .
The United States has no plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq , the White House and Pentagon insisted Tuesday , as Iraq premier Adel Abdel Mahdi said he had received a US letter signalling a pullout .
President Donald Trump said withdrawing the more than 5,000 US troops in Iraq would be the `` worst thing '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esper underscored that US policy has not changed , dismissing as a mere `` draft '' the unsigned letter from a US general to Iraq 's government saying Washington would redeploy troops `` in due deference to the sovereignty '' of the country .
`` At some point we want to get out , but this is n't the right point , '' Trump said .
`` It 's the worst thing that could happen to Iraq . ''
`` Our policy has not changed .
We are not leaving Iraq , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no signed letter , to the best of my knowledge , '' Esper added .
Washington continued to defend itself from the fallout from its drone strike last Friday killing powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani just after he arrived in Baghdad from Damascus .
The killing of the key Iranian player in regional politics and security drew outrage from Iran and Soleimani 's many supporters in Iraq .
On Sunday the Iraqi parliament voted in support of expelling US troops , and the idea gained force Monday when the letter from the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Seely , announcing a US exit was revealed .
Seely wrote the US-led coalition would `` be repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement . ''
Trump and Esper strongly denied pullout plans , and Trump even suggested the letter could be a `` hoax . ''
But its existence continued to ripple through Iraqi and US politics , with no explanation of why it was circulated .
`` It was an official letter written in such a manner , '' Abdel Mahdi told a televised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a piece of paper that fell off the printer or reached us by coincidence , '' he said .
The letter discussed `` redeploying with an aim to withdraw from the country .
The expressions were very clear , '' he said .
But Trump warned that a US departure would leave a gap that would be filled by Iran , whose powerful political influence in Iraq was spearheaded by Soleimani .
`` If we leave , that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold , and the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran run the country .
That I can tell you , '' Trump told reporters .
`` The Iraqi people were not happy when the suggestion was made yesterday that we were thinking about leaving at some point , '' he said .
`` But at some point , we will want to leave . ''
US officials also defended the decision to kill Soleimani , who was a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in charge of Middle East regional affairs , and who was considered one of the most powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House and Pentagon continued to withhold details of the rationale for Friday 's drone strike , Esper said Soleimani was planning imminent attacks against US assets .
`` I think it 's more fair to say days , for sure , '' Esper said .
`` They were n't there to discuss a vacation .
They were n't there to go to a nice resort some place in Baghdad , '' Trump said of Soleimani and top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , also killed in the strike .
`` They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we saved a lot of lives by terminating his life . ''
Esper said he fully expected Tehran to retaliate , and cautioned that while the United States `` is not seeking a war with Iran , we are prepared to finish one . ''
`` We are seeking a diplomatic solution but first , this will require Iran to de-escalate , '' he said .
`` It will require the regime to come to the table with the goal of preventing further bloodshed . ''

The United States has no plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq, the White House and Pentagon insisted Tuesday, as Iraq premier Adel Abdel Mahdi said he had received a US letter signalling a pullout.
US Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, walk toward an awaiting aircraft prior to departing for the Middle East from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States on January 5, 2020.
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President Donald Trump said withdrawing the more than 5,000 US troops in Iraq would be the "worst thing" for that country.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper underscored that US policy has not changed, dismissing as a mere "draft" the unsigned letter from a US general to Iraq's government saying Washington would redeploy troops "in due deference to the sovereignty" of the country.
"At some point we want to get out, but this isn't the right point," Trump said. "It's the worst thing that could happen to Iraq."
"Our policy has not changed. We are not leaving Iraq," Esper told reporters.
"There is no signed letter, to the best of my knowledge," Esper added.
Fallout from drone strike
Washington continued to defend itself from the fallout from its drone strike last Friday killing powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani just after he arrived in Baghdad from Damascus.
The killing of the key Iranian player in regional politics and security drew outrage from Iran and Soleimani's many supporters in Iraq.
On Sunday the Iraqi parliament voted in support of expelling US troops, and the idea gained force Monday when the letter from the head of Task Force-Iraq, US Brigadier General William Seely, announcing a US exit was revealed.
Seely wrote the US-led coalition would "be repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement."
Trump and Esper strongly denied pullout plans, and Trump even suggested the letter could be a "hoax."
Mystery letter
But its existence continued to ripple through Iraqi and US politics, with no explanation of why it was circulated.
"It was an official letter written in such a manner," Abdel Mahdi told a televised cabinet meeting Tuesday.
"It's not a piece of paper that fell off the printer or reached us by coincidence," he said.
The letter discussed "redeploying with an aim to withdraw from the country. The expressions were very clear," he said.
But Trump warned that a US departure would leave a gap that would be filled by Iran, whose powerful political influence in Iraq was spearheaded by Soleimani.
"If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people of Iraq do not want to see Iran run the country. That I can tell you," Trump told reporters.
"The Iraqi people were not happy when the suggestion was made yesterday that we were thinking about leaving at some point," he said.
"But at some point, we will want to leave."
US officials also defended the decision to kill Soleimani, who was a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in charge of Middle East regional affairs, and who was considered one of the most powerful people in Iran.
While the White House and Pentagon continued to withhold details of the rationale for Friday's drone strike, Esper said Soleimani was planning imminent attacks against US assets.
"I think it's more fair to say days, for sure," Esper said.
US expects retaliation
"They weren't there to discuss a vacation. They weren't there to go to a nice resort some place in Baghdad," Trump said of Soleimani and top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, also killed in the strike.
"They were there to discuss bad business, and we saved a lot of lives by terminating his life."
Esper said he fully expected Tehran to retaliate, and cautioned that while the United States "is not seeking a war with Iran, we are prepared to finish one."
"We are seeking a diplomatic solution but first, this will require Iran to de-escalate," he said.
"It will require the regime to come to the table with the goal of preventing further bloodshed."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-08--Car bomb kills at least four near Somalia's parliament in Mogadishu

Somali policemen assess the wreckage of a car destroyed at the scene of a bomb explosion in Mogadishu on January 8 , 2020 .
At least four people were killed and 10 wounded when a car bomb exploded close to a checkpoint near Somalia 's parliament in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday , police said .
A plume of thick black smoke was seen over the city and witnesses said a number of vehicles were on fire .
Islamist group al Shabaab claimed the attack , after a spike in activity in recent days by the al Qaeda linked group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Somalia and attack a US military base in Kenya .
`` Explosives were packed in a vehicle which the security forces think was trying to pass through the checkpoint but because he could not do that , the suicide bomber detonated it , '' said police officer Adan Abdullahi .
`` Initial reports we have received indicate four people were killed and more than 10 others were wounded in the blast . ''
Abdirahman Mohamed , who was at a nearby grocery store when the blast occurred , said he saw several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead bodies of several people some of them killed by shrapnel inside their vehicles .
There was chaos ... and ambulances reached the scene soon after the blast , '' he said .
Shamso Ali , another witness , described `` smoke and chaos along the road , the blast was very heavy '' .
`` Thanks to God I was a distance away but I saw the smoke and several vehicles caught on fire , '' he said .
Mogadishu is regularly hit by attacks by al Shabaab , which has fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Somali government .
The powerful blast comes after al Shabaab claimed a massive car bombing in Mogadishu on December 28 that killed 81 people .
The attack hit a busy checkpoint in the southwest of the city , leaving vehicles charred and twisted at a crossroads in the deadliest assault in two years in the Horn of Africa country .
Scores more were wounded .
Al Shabaab has also managed to expand its network in the region , especially in Kenya which has suffered several devastating attacks in retaliation for it sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , three US citizens died and several aircraft and military vehicles were destroyed when Al Shabaab stormed a military base in Kenya 's coastal Lamu region .
Also Sunday , just hours after the attack , police arrested three men who tried to force their way into a British military training camp in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki .
The al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab has in the past carried out bloody sieges against civilians in Kenya , such as at the upmarket Westgate Mall in 2013 and Garissa University in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost a year since the January 15 siege on an upscale Nairobi hotel which left 21 people dead .
In recent statements , al Shabaab has referred to an increase in US military air strikes under President Donald Trump , accusing Washington of killing innocent civilians .
AFRICOM said in April it had killed more than 800 people in 110 strikes in Somalia since April 2017 .

At least four people were killed and 10 wounded when a car bomb exploded close to a checkpoint near Somalia's parliament in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, police said.
Somali policemen assess the wreckage of a car destroyed at the scene of a bomb explosion in Mogadishu on January 8, 2020.
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A plume of thick black smoke was seen over the city and witnesses said a number of vehicles were on fire.
Islamist group al Shabaab claimed the attack, after a spike in activity in recent days by the al Qaeda linked group which has seen it inflict mass casualties in Somalia and attack a US military base in Kenya.
"Explosives were packed in a vehicle which the security forces think was trying to pass through the checkpoint but because he could not do that, the suicide bomber detonated it," said police officer Adan Abdullahi.
"Initial reports we have received indicate four people were killed and more than 10 others were wounded in the blast."
'There was chaos'
Abdirahman Mohamed, who was at a nearby grocery store when the blast occurred, said he saw several dead bodies.
"I saw the dead bodies of several people some of them killed by shrapnel inside their vehicles. There was chaos...and ambulances reached the scene soon after the blast," he said.
Shamso Ali, another witness, described "smoke and chaos along the road, the blast was very heavy".
"Thanks to God I was a distance away but I saw the smoke and several vehicles caught on fire," he said.
Mogadishu is regularly hit by attacks by al Shabaab, which has fought for more than a decade to topple the Somali government.
The powerful blast comes after al Shabaab claimed a massive car bombing in Mogadishu on December 28 that killed 81 people.
The attack hit a busy checkpoint in the southwest of the city, leaving vehicles charred and twisted at a crossroads in the deadliest assault in two years in the Horn of Africa country. Scores more were wounded.
Al Shabaab has also managed to expand its network in the region, especially in Kenya which has suffered several devastating attacks in retaliation for it sending troops into Somalia in 2011.
Sunday attack in Kenya
On Sunday, three US citizens died and several aircraft and military vehicles were destroyed when Al Shabaab stormed a military base in Kenya's coastal Lamu region.
Also Sunday, just hours after the attack, police arrested three men who tried to force their way into a British military training camp in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki.
The al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab has in the past carried out bloody sieges against civilians in Kenya, such as at the upmarket Westgate Mall in 2013 and Garissa University in 2015.
The uptick in attacks comes almost a year since the January 15 siege on an upscale Nairobi hotel which left 21 people dead.
In recent statements, al Shabaab has referred to an increase in US military air strikes under President Donald Trump, accusing Washington of killing innocent civilians.
AFRICOM said in April it had killed more than 800 people in 110 strikes in Somalia since April 2017.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-08--Iraq is at the centre of US-Iran tug of war, and Trump's re-election campaign

One of US President Donald Trump ’ s central campaign promises was to extricate the US from extended military entanglements .
Now , in light of rising tensions with Iran and Iraq , the US is sending over 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East .
FRANCE 24 looks at what happened to that campaign promise when Trump ordered the January 3 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad .
“ All is well !
” US President Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday night after Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles on Iraqi facilities hosting US-led coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 years after the United States under George W. Bush invaded Iraq , the military presence in the country has cost America around a trillion dollars and the lives of nearly 5,000 military servicemen , according to the Watson Institute at Brown University in the US .
An estimated half a million Iraqis have died .
One of Trump ’ s central campaign promises in 2016 was to extricate the US from extended military entanglements .
“ I campaigned on the fact that I was going to bring our soldiers home , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said in October , after announcing that US forces would be pulled out of Syria .
Now , in light of rising tensions with Iran and Iraq , the US is sending over 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East .
What happened to Trump ’ s campaign promise when he ordered the January 3 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad ?
Supporters of Trump ’ s decision say Soleimani had it coming .
As the architect of Iran 's military and intelligence strategy in the region for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq in addition to attacks on US facilities in the country and in the Gulf .
Others suspect that the timing of the attack was no coincidence .
“ If there is a Trump doctrine for his foreign policy , it is unpredictability , ” says Annick Cizel , associate professor at the Sorbonne Nouvelle university in Paris and a researcher in US foreign policy .
“ We need to keep in mind that Trump is running an electoral campaign .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his decision as commander in chief of the US military .
He ’ s thinking in terms of electoral gain.
” The Iraq war officially ended in 2011 , when then President Barack Obama ordered the withdrawal of US combat troops , but several thousand US forces and a NATO training mission remained .
Pulling out of Iraq entirely might have been a great victory for Trump .
“ He ’ d be outdoing Obama by actually pulling all the troops out , ” Cizel said .
But the US defence department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Pentagon , they ’ re doing their job , which is protecting US human resources and national interests .
It seems the two missions are diverging a little bit – if we try and follow the incoherence , the many voices that are being heard out of Washington right now , ” Cizel said .
But with the killing of Soleimani , Trump has found a way out of that original campaign promise while distracting from the impeachment proceedings against him in Washington .
Playing right into Trump ’ s plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expel US-led coalition troops in response to the breach of Iraq ’ s sovereignty .
Trump quickly retaliated by threatening sanctions , saying that if US troops are forced to leave , Iraq 's government will have to pay Washington for the cost of a `` very extraordinarily expensive '' air base in the country .
`` We will charge them sanctions like they 've never seen before ever .
It 'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame , '' he said .
The possibility of withdrawal gained ground on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of US military forces in Iraq , Brigadier General William Seely , saying the US forces would begin preparing for a pullout .
But this was quickly denied by US Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Trump himself , who insisted there were no such plans .
`` At some point we want to get out , but this is n't the right point , '' Trump said on Tuesday .
`` If we leave , that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold , and the people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run the country .
That I can tell you , '' Trump told reporters .
The initial 2003 invasion , based on incorrect intelligence information about Iraq ’ s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction and the Baathist party ’ s supposed ties to al Qaeda , led to a decade-long insurgency by militias and foreign groups opposed to the US-led coalition , and to the long series of provisional Iraqi governments that followed .
The US had overthrown Saddam Hussein and banned the Baath party , ending a decades-long dictatorship and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military was also disbanded , leaving a security void , with hundreds of thousands of troops feeling abandoned .
> > THE INTERVIEW : Former US special envoy to Iraq Paul Bremer defends his record following the 2003 invasion In 2005 , after the initial transition period that followed the war , Iraqis voted on a new constitution , which , among other things , promised to protect individual rights , also for religious and ethnic minorities .
After centuries of Sunni domination , a Shiite prime minister was instated .
Iraq also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops pulled out in 2011 , but were sent in again in 2014 – this time at the invitation of the Iraqi government , following the rise of the Islamic State ( IS ) group in the region .
“ ISIS ( an alternative acronym for the IS group ) emerged as a potent , long-term threat – not just a movement , but a powerful contender – and not just in Syria and Iraq , but potentially in the entire region and globally , ” Cizel said .
The rise of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relationship with Iran .
“ This balancing act places Iran as a foil to ISIS , and places Iran in the position of a truce with Washington , a sort of neutrality zone in their long history of enmity , ” Cizel said .
The new American-led global coalition to defeat ISIS was made up of 79 countries – and institutions like the Arab League , NATO and the EU – and it relied on the help of Iran .
“ It creates an ironic truce then , because Iran is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common enemy , which is the primary , short-term immediate emergency enemy , and therefore , at a time when Obama was negotiating the JCPOA [ The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal ] with Tehran , it ironically enabled Iran to become a regional power again , ” Cizel said .
“ That ’ s the irony of the 21st decentralisation away from nation states to those transnational movements like ISIS.
” Last October , Iraqis took to the streets to protest against Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations were so virulent that Iraqi President Barham Saleh said he was “ ready to resign ” rather than appoint the candidate of a pro-Iranian coalition for the post of prime minister .
The protests spread all the way to the overwhelmingly Shiite south of the country , where the Iranian consulates in the holy cities of Kerbala and Najaf were among the targets .
That democratic uprising might have been an opportunity for the US to reconnect with the popular reality in Iraq , writes Jean-Pierre Filiu , a historian and Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for French daily Le Monde .
But Trump considers Iraq to be no more than a playing field in the struggle against Iran , Filiu says .
Trump ’ s decision to bomb facilities of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in retaliation for the death of an American subcontractor in Kirkuk led to the December 31 attack on the American embassy in Baghdad , which was followed by the air strike that killed Soleimani .
That strike swung the pendulum of Iraqi public opinion way back towards Iran .
On January 4 , Iraqi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the homage to Soleimani in Baghdad amid a sea of pro-Iranian militia flags and anti-US slogans .
Since 2003 , US policy in Iraq has been to gradually hand back security and political control of the country to Iraqis , through military training and support .
This was also US policy in Afghanistan and elsewhere , and it remains a policy of the Trump administration .
With Iran ’ s foothold in Iraq strengthening , the policy might now be backfiring .
“ Through their efforts to indigenise , to revert Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political , and national security – which is Trump policy – in order to eventually completely end the Iraq war , are empowering Shia proxies in Iraq and therefore pushing the United States out now , ” Cizel said .
After nearly 17 years of US presence in Iraq , the country remains a fragile state – the centre of a tug of war between Iran , the US and the IS group , which continues to carry out attacks throughout the country .
Withdrawing US and NATO troops now would leave Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall as an Iranian proxy or as a failed state ” , Cizel says .
“ The Pentagon is quite aware that this would be an extremely destabilising move for the entire region , and therefore hurt US troops stationed elsewhere in the region.
” In light of this , Trump ’ s original campaign promise to bring troops home has become untenable .
Instead , Trump appears to have resorted to the age-old tactic of launching military action to distract from political trouble at home – his impeachment proceedings – and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections .
It remains to be seen whether Iran and Iraq will play into his hands , or whether they will find a way to de-escalate the tension and rob him of that victory .

One of US President Donald Trump’s central campaign promises was to extricate the US from extended military entanglements. Now, in light of rising tensions with Iran and Iraq, the US is sending over 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East. FRANCE 24 looks at what happened to that campaign promise when Trump ordered the January 3 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
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“All is well!” US President Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday night after Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles on Iraqi facilities hosting US-led coalition personnel.
But is it? Nearly 17 years after the United States under George W. Bush invaded Iraq, the military presence in the country has cost America around a trillion dollars and the lives of nearly 5,000 military servicemen, according to the Watson Institute at Brown University in the US. An estimated half a million Iraqis have died.
One of Trump’s central campaign promises in 2016 was to extricate the US from extended military entanglements. “I campaigned on the fact that I was going to bring our soldiers home, and bring them home as fast as possible,” he said in October, after announcing that US forces would be pulled out of Syria.
Now, in light of rising tensions with Iran and Iraq, the US is sending over 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East.
What happened to Trump’s campaign promise when he ordered the January 3 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad?
Supporters of Trump’s decision say Soleimani had it coming. As the architect of Iran's military and intelligence strategy in the region for the past 20 years, he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq in addition to attacks on US facilities in the country and in the Gulf.
Others suspect that the timing of the attack was no coincidence.
“If there is a Trump doctrine for his foreign policy, it is unpredictability,” says Annick Cizel, associate professor at the Sorbonne Nouvelle university in Paris and a researcher in US foreign policy.
“We need to keep in mind that Trump is running an electoral campaign. He’s not necessarily considering the international consequences of his decision as commander in chief of the US military. He’s thinking in terms of electoral gain.”
The Iraq war officially ended in 2011, when then President Barack Obama ordered the withdrawal of US combat troops, but several thousand US forces and a NATO training mission remained.
Pulling out of Iraq entirely might have been a great victory for Trump. “He’d be outdoing Obama by actually pulling all the troops out,” Cizel said.
But the US defence department is not running an election campaign. “The Pentagon, they’re doing their job, which is protecting US human resources and national interests. It seems the two missions are diverging a little bit – if we try and follow the incoherence, the many voices that are being heard out of Washington right now,” Cizel said.
Threat of sanctions
But with the killing of Soleimani, Trump has found a way out of that original campaign promise while distracting from the impeachment proceedings against him in Washington.
Playing right into Trump’s plan, the Iraqi parliament on Sunday voted to expel US-led coalition troops in response to the breach of Iraq’s sovereignty.
Trump quickly retaliated by threatening sanctions, saying that if US troops are forced to leave, Iraq's government will have to pay Washington for the cost of a "very extraordinarily expensive" air base in the country. "We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," he said.
The possibility of withdrawal gained ground on Monday, when the Iraqis received a letter from the head of US military forces in Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, saying the US forces would begin preparing for a pullout.
But this was quickly denied by US Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Trump himself, who insisted there were no such plans.
"At some point we want to get out, but this isn't the right point," Trump said on Tuesday. "If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people of Iraq do not want to see Iran run the country. That I can tell you," Trump told reporters.
01:24
How Iran gained a foothold in Iraq
The initial 2003 invasion, based on incorrect intelligence information about Iraq’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction and the Baathist party’s supposed ties to al Qaeda, led to a decade-long insurgency by militias and foreign groups opposed to the US-led coalition, and to the long series of provisional Iraqi governments that followed.
The US had overthrown Saddam Hussein and banned the Baath party, ending a decades-long dictatorship and creating a political vacuum. The Iraqi military was also disbanded, leaving a security void, with hundreds of thousands of troops feeling abandoned.
>> THE INTERVIEW: Former US special envoy to Iraq Paul Bremer defends his record following the 2003 invasion
In 2005, after the initial transition period that followed the war, Iraqis voted on a new constitution, which, among other things, promised to protect individual rights, also for religious and ethnic minorities.
After centuries of Sunni domination, a Shiite prime minister was instated. Iraq also got its first Kurdish president.
US troops pulled out in 2011, but were sent in again in 2014 – this time at the invitation of the Iraqi government, following the rise of the Islamic State (IS) group in the region.
“ISIS (an alternative acronym for the IS group) emerged as a potent, long-term threat – not just a movement, but a powerful contender – and not just in Syria and Iraq, but potentially in the entire region and globally,” Cizel said.
The rise of the IS group had to be balanced with the relationship with Iran. “This balancing act places Iran as a foil to ISIS, and places Iran in the position of a truce with Washington, a sort of neutrality zone in their long history of enmity,” Cizel said.
The new American-led global coalition to defeat ISIS was made up of 79 countries – and institutions like the Arab League, NATO and the EU – and it relied on the help of Iran.
“It creates an ironic truce then, because Iran is a bulwark against ISIS. We share a common enemy, which is the primary, short-term immediate emergency enemy, and therefore, at a time when Obama was negotiating the JCPOA [The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal] with Tehran, it ironically enabled Iran to become a regional power again,” Cizel said.
“That’s the irony of the 21st century decentralisation away from nation states to those transnational movements like ISIS.”
Missed opportunity
Last October, Iraqis took to the streets to protest against Iran’s increasing control over the country.
The demonstrations were so virulent that Iraqi President Barham Saleh said he was “ready to resign” rather than appoint the candidate of a pro-Iranian coalition for the post of prime minister. The protests spread all the way to the overwhelmingly Shiite south of the country, where the Iranian consulates in the holy cities of Kerbala and Najaf were among the targets.
That democratic uprising might have been an opportunity for the US to reconnect with the popular reality in Iraq, writes Jean-Pierre Filiu, a historian and Arab world specialist, in a blog post for French daily Le Monde. But Trump considers Iraq to be no more than a playing field in the struggle against Iran, Filiu says.
Trump’s decision to bomb facilities of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in retaliation for the death of an American subcontractor in Kirkuk led to the December 31 attack on the American embassy in Baghdad, which was followed by the air strike that killed Soleimani.
That strike swung the pendulum of Iraqi public opinion way back towards Iran. On January 4, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi took part in the homage to Soleimani in Baghdad amid a sea of pro-Iranian militia flags and anti-US slogans.
Mourners surround cars carrying the coffins of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and eight others during a funeral procession in the Iraqi central city of Karbala on January 4, 2020. Mohammed Sawaf, AFP
Fragile state
Since 2003, US policy in Iraq has been to gradually hand back security and political control of the country to Iraqis, through military training and support. This was also US policy in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and it remains a policy of the Trump administration.
With Iran’s foothold in Iraq strengthening, the policy might now be backfiring.
“Through their efforts to endogenize, to revert Iraq back to its sovereignty and self-determination, both politically and in terms of national security – which is Trump policy – in order to eventually completely end the Iraq war, they are empowering Shia proxies in Iraq, who are now pushing the United States out,” Cizel said.
After nearly 17 years of US presence in Iraq, the country remains a fragile state – the centre of a tug of war between Iran, the US and the IS group, which continues to carry out attacks throughout the country.
Withdrawing US and NATO troops now would leave Iraq to fend for itself “and either fall as an Iranian proxy or as a failed state”, Cizel says. “The Pentagon is quite aware that this would be an extremely destabilising move for the entire region, and therefore hurt US troops stationed elsewhere in the region.”
In light of this, Trump’s original campaign promise to bring troops home has become untenable.
Instead, Trump appears to have resorted to the age-old tactic of launching military action to distract from political trouble at home – his impeachment proceedings – and to fire up patriotic fervor ahead of the elections.
It remains to be seen whether Iran and Iraq will play into his hands, or whether they will find a way to de-escalate the tension and rob him of that victory.
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