Precautionary Measures at US Embassy, Protection Force Expected to Land in Beirut

Demonstrators burn a photograph of US President Donald Trump during a protest by few dozen people near the US embassy in Awkar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Demonstrators burn a photograph of US President Donald Trump during a protest by few dozen people near the US embassy in Awkar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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Precautionary Measures at US Embassy, Protection Force Expected to Land in Beirut

Demonstrators burn a photograph of US President Donald Trump during a protest by few dozen people near the US embassy in Awkar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Demonstrators burn a photograph of US President Donald Trump during a protest by few dozen people near the US embassy in Awkar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

The US embassy in Beirut has taken preventive security measures, pending the arrival of a US military force from Italy to bolster protection and counter Iranian threats.

A US military official announced that this force was preparing to head to Lebanon, following the killing of the commander of the Iranian Quds Force Qassem Soleimani, by a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport at dawn on Friday.

Sources with knowledge of the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat that the forces could arrive by air or sea.

“In the first case, they can land in the Army’s Hamat base in the north of the country, where US soldiers are training the Lebanese Army on the use of American weapons; as for the second case, the forces could arrive by sea through the nearest point to the embassy’s headquarters in Awkar,” the sources said.

The military official said that the force stationed in Italy was put on alert as a step within a series of military measures to protect American interests in the Middle East region. He explained that the US Department of Defense might send between 130 and 700 soldiers to Beirut.

A Lebanese security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that other security measures were imposed on the embassy’s staff, “including the ambassador, diplomats, administrative and security personnel, in addition to Americans working or residing in Lebanon or the Lebanese who hold US citizenship.”

In parallel, the ambassador of a major country advised officials in Lebanon to overcome the obstacles that prevent the formation of a new government “because the coming days are full of dangerous developments,” official sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources noted that “urgent contacts between people in Beirut and officials in Tehran have not ceased… to find the best retaliatory response,” adding that the US target could be “at sea on a warship or the assassination of a US figure or an ambassador, or striking an embassy.”



Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)
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Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)

Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani congratulated Donald Trump on his win in the US presidential election.

At the same time, Iraq’s parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee began discussing how to handle Trump, following an arrest warrant issued by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council over his role in the deaths of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Committee member Mokhtar al-Moussawi said in a statement that, under Iraqi law, “Trump is considered a criminal,” but Iraq will engage with him normally due to national interests.

He stressed that Trump’s victory would not affect relations between Baghdad and Washington.

Al-Moussawi, a member of the Shiite Coordination Framework, explained to the press that the US operates as an institutional country and foreign policy doesn’t change much with different presidents.

He also noted that Trump did not recognize or respect the Iraqi government, pointing out that his previous visit to Iraq was limited to meeting US troops at the Al-Asad airbase. Still, Iraq will deal with Trump normally.

The parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee member concluded by saying, “If Trump visits Iraq, it will be hard to enforce the arrest warrant. Iraq’s national interests take priority, preventing the warrant from being carried out against him.”

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council Chief, Faik Zidan, announced an arrest warrant for Trump over his role in the killings of Soleimani and al-Muhandis on January 7, 2021.

An official statement confirmed the warrant was based on Article 406 of Iraq’s Penal Code and that investigations would continue to identify other individuals involved, both Iraqi and foreign.

Iraqi legal expert Ali al-Tamimi explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the judiciary acted based on a complaint from the plaintiff, meaning it is legally required to take action against anyone, whether inside or outside Iraq.

He stated that since the crime occurred in Iraq and targeted Iraqi figures, the case falls under Iraqi jurisdiction.

Al-Tamimi confirmed that the arrest warrant for Trump was issued under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers premeditated murder. As Trump is considered a partner in the operation, he said the legal procedure was correct.

In response to a question about enforcing the arrest warrant, al-Tamimi said it could be done through Interpol by submitting a request via Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though this would be difficult in practice.

Another option would be for Iraq to join the 1948 Rome Statute, which allows prosecution for crimes like the assassination ordered by Trump. However, Iraq would need to first join the agreement.

Al-Tamimi also noted that, as a head of state, Trump has immunity under the Vienna Convention.