SBS Arabic24 hit the streets of western Sydney to gather reactions from Iraqi-Australians on a day where the Middle Eastern country was thrust back into the global headlines.
On Wednesday, Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from its territory against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel at about 1.30am local time.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed they fired the missiles to retaliate for last week’s drone killing of top General Qassem Soleimani.
While information about casualties is yet to be released, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that no Australians were harmed in the attack.
A handout released by Iranian state TV shows rockets apparently launched from Iran against the US-held bases in Iraq. Source: IRIB (Iran state TV)
The attack came amid escalating US-Iran tensions which have risen since US President Donald Trump was elected in 2016.
The missile attack came amid conjecture that the US was planning to withdraw its troops from Iraq, a claim refuted by the White House, despite Iraqi premier Adel Abdel Mahdi saying he received a letter signalling a pullout.
On these two topics, we gathered some opinions in the Sydney suburbs of Fairfield and Liverpool. While most people we spoke to thought war between the US and Iran was unlikely, they feared that a US troop pullout from Iraq could be detrimental to the country.
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division prepare equipment and load aircraft bound for Fort Bragg, ahead of deployment to Iraq. Source: US Army
Eissa Nasser:
“I don’t think a war would erupt. It is a staged event between the USA and Iran. Since I was 10 years old, I have been hearing that the Americans will attack Iran, and now I have grey hair, and nothing happened. Attacking Iran, this is illogical.
“Iraq is full of gangs and militias, and if they [US] withdraw, the security situation would get worse, we have a corrupt government. Iraqi people and countries around us confirm that we have a corrupt government and this parliament doesn’t represent the people of Iraq, and thus the American existence is a must.
“USA should help Iraqi people. We are tired. The USA occupied us in 2003 and brought us the worst; we want the USA to show honesty, kick Iran out and transfer power to Iraqi people.
“American troops should stay in Iraq, because Iran will dominate Iraq, and American troops are protecting the Iraqi people.”
US President Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Source: AAP
David Ali:
“I am not a politician, I guess we are witnessing maneuvers between USA and Iran, where both parties conspired against the Iraqi people, to kill it and loot its resources.
“I support their withdrawal since they have destroyed the Middle East as a whole, particularly Iraq. Probably when they withdraw, Iraqi people would have more freedom to elect the government they want.
“I wish Iraqi people to live in peace.”
Dr Ziad Khamas:
“I don’t think that we will witness a direct war between the two parties, it is just [Trump's] electoral propaganda.
“American troops are in Iraq to protect Iraqi people.. yet US troops should protect citizens, not militias.
“I don’t think that the Iranian forces exist in Iraq with an international umbrella, Iraqi people refuse their existence, including Shia people. Our society rejects their existence. However, there are some political parties that call for an Iranian role in Iraq, just to leverage their political existence.”
Qassem Soleimani attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran in 2016. Source: AAP
