Iraqi militia leader says time for 'Iraqi response' to US air strikes

Qais al-Khazali, leader of the powerful Iran-backed Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia in Iraq, has called for an "Iraqi response" to the killing of militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as a follow up to the Iranian attacks this morning.

In a statement released on Twitter, he said "the first Iranian response to the assassination of the martyr commander Suleimani took place," referring to the killing of Quds Force leader Qassem Suleimani last week in a US air strike that also killed Muhandis.

"Now is the time for the initial Iraqi response to the assassination of the martyr leader, Muhandis."

Khazali has previously warned that the "price for the blood of the martyred commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is the complete end to American military presence in Iraq".