On the day that supporters of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia behind recent attacks on Iraqi forces — including an attack on a base that killed an American contractor — stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo named some of the terrorism-connected leaders who helped orchestrate the attacks. Among the men Pompeo listed is the leader of a pro-Iran Shiite faction, Hadi al Amari, who President Barack Obama hosted at the White House, stirring controversy at the time.
“The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists – Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali – and abetted by Iranian proxies – Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad,” Pompeo tweeted Tuesday. “All are pictured below outside our embassy.” Sec. Pompeo included three photographs showing the leaders, including Amari, outside the besieged embassy on Tuesday:
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