Iraq's Sadr demands closure of US embassy

Influential religious leader Moqtada Sadr called on the Iraqi government Friday to close the American embassy in Baghdad because of Washington's "unconditional support" for Israel in its war with Hamas.

"If the government and parliament do not respond, we will take a different position that we will announce later," the Shiite cleric, who often criticises the government, warned on X, formerly Twitter.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has criticized the Zionist occupation since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza, calling it a genocide of the Palestinian people.

More than 7,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across Gaza in relentless Israeli bombardments.

Iraqis staged regular protests to condemn the Israeli bombing and in support of the Palestinians.

All Iraqi political factions support the Palestinian cause, and like its neighbor Iran, Israel's sworn enemy, Iraq does not recognize the Israeli state.

The Baghdad government is supported by parties that have close links with Tehran, but it is working to maintain relations with the United States, which has 2,500 soldiers on Iraqi territory.

On Monday, Baghdad called the attacks on American soldiers "unacceptable" and promised to investigate. 

On October 22, Washington ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone and its consulate in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region.