Iraqis worry US-Iran tensions are eclipsing their protests

Young Iraqis who drove mass protests demanding sweeping political reforms are worried that conflict between U.S. and Iran, which is playing out in part on Iraqi soil, is killing ir momentum.

Even before U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, 4-month-old protests against government corruption, poor services and rising Iranian influence in state affairs were beset by internal divisions. A violent security crackdown heightened tensions, leing to hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries as well as targeted killings of sympathizers.

And in stormy aftermath of U.S. drone strike that also killed top Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, avoiding ar war in Iraq became a top priority for state officials as y scrambled to contain hostilities between Washington and Tehran.

“We are afraid that uprising is being forgotten and (officials) are focusing on things we don't want, t our main goals,” said or, an activist in Baghd's Tahrir Square who asked to be identified only by her first name, fearing reprisal, like all or protesters interviewed for this story. “On or hand, we are trying to be calm and keep people on street to make point that we are t with Americans or Iranians. We are with Iraq.”

re are hopeful signs as Iran and U.S. appeared to back down — at least in short term — after Tehran retaliated for Soleimani's killing by firing missiles at two Iraqi bases housing American troops. one was seriously injured and Iran was unexpectedly forced to shift gears to man fallout from its accidental downing of a Ukrainian airliner filled with Iranians.

Neverless, issue of U.S. troop withdrawal in response to attack that killed Soleimani minutes after he landed at Baghd airport has mopolized Iraqi politics, with caretaker Prime Minister el Abdul-Mahdi openly calling for ir ouster.

“Everyone is busy with America and Iran, but we are still facing attacks on street,” said Zaid, a protester in Baghd. “w we've become an easy goal for militias; y can harm us because one is focusing on m.”

rejection of Iranian influence over Iraqi state affairs was a core component of protest movement and demonstrators fear that as tensions between Tehran and Washington ease, Iranian-backed militias will turn on m for vengeance.

protests began Oct. 1, when thousands took to streets in Baghd and in country's predominantly Shiite south. Since n, about 500 people have been killed, most of m shot by security forces who also used tear gas to disperse crowds.

While Friday protests brought out thousands countrywide, turut was lower than expected. ding to ir worries, two local journalists kwn for ir cover of anti-government protests were found shot de in a car parked near a Basra police station. And more people were wounded in clashes Saturday between protesters and security forces in Karbala, in sourn Iraq, when police fired into crowd.

“Protesters are certainly more afraid w than y were a few weeks ago but at same time y want to maintain ir ground," said Ruba Ali Hassan, a researcher at York University in Toronto. "y’ve h such great momentum over past three plus months and re’s great fears this momentum might die down. People are trying to show great support and make sure that protesters can still move forward but y’re on shaky ground unfortunately.”

A growing concern among protesters is ir belief that Iran-backed militias are seizing on some demonstrators' refusal to grieve over Soleimani as an excuse to attack m. In turn, attacks fuel differences of opinion over Soleimani, deepening rifts between demonstrators and distracting m from ir original purpose.

In sourn city of Nasiriyah, for instance, protesters refused to let a symbolic funeral procession for Iranian general enter square where y were camped. Violence broke out and at least one protester was killed and three wounded when an Iran-backed militia fired on crowds. Demonstrators n burned hequarters of Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella organization for multiple militia groups and part of Iraqi security forces.

“Political parties and militias have attempted to create discord within demonstration square in center of Nasiriyah — y took vant of rifts between protesters,” said Ali, a protester based in city. “We have concerns emotions arising from his death will rob protests of its true aims."

events in Nasiriyah have spooked protesters in Baghd's Tahrir Square, epicenter of movement, who fear similar attacks, several activists said.

Since Soleimani's death, protest organizers have been trying to refocus attention on ir movement, three activists said. With that in mind, y issued a statement last week saying ir goals h t changed.

At top of ir list is preventing Abdul-Mahdi, who has heed a caretaker government since his resignation in December, from being renamed prime minister, which many suspect country's political elites would like.

“All news is about America and Iran, and elites are trying to make people forget about protests in Iraq, and our goal for change and we don't want that," said protester, or. “We are trying to be calm and study what is going on around us. We are telling everyone, stay with Iraq. This is t our war.”