Iraq-Iran Situation/Demonstration
Iraq-Iran Situation/Demonstration
Dateline : April 4, 2026
Location : Iraq
Duration : 1'33
Baghdad, Iraq - April 4, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of demonstrators marching, carrying Iraqi national flag
2. Demonstrators carrying, waving huge Iraqi national flag
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sheikh Qassim al-Shihani, Shia cleric (starting with shot 2):
"The peaceful million-person march or demonstration is a condemnation of the Zionist-American aggression against the Popular Mobilization Forces and the aggression against our beloved country, as well as a show of support for our brothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran."
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Karim Madi Al-Joudah, demonstrator:
"America came with its fleets across the oceans. There is no doubt that it is a brutal aggression. Do Iran or Islamic countries threaten America? But there is a much greater and deeper goal than that -- targeting Muslim countries in order to seize and control the Middle East along with its wealth. That is America's way."
5. Demonstration in progress
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dhirgham Samir, demonstrator (starting with shot 5/partially overlaid with shot 7):
"Iraq was targeted by an international coalition. That coalition fought Iraq to impose a blockade and to oppose it under the pretext of possessing nuclear weapons. The same pretext is being used today against Iran -- claiming that it possesses nuclear weapons. We stand with the victim against the oppressor, and today we are standing up to reject this exploitation. The world is in crisis. We do not need war. We need peace and cooperation."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
7. Demonstration in progress
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdullah Al-Mayahi, demonstrator:
"Of course, there are no justifications for this aggression, and its effects have become apparent on the economic and social fronts. In fact, it has even affected the entire global economy."
9. Demonstration in progress
A massive demonstration took place in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday, condemning the joint attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, the resulting crises that have affected countries in the Middle East region and even the world.
From every direction, Iraqi crowds headed to the Liberation Square in Baghdad for the massive demonstration. The rally called for supporting peace efforts and condemned what the participants described as "the unjustified U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran," a view shared by all participants in this show of solidarity.
"The peaceful million-person march or demonstration is a condemnation of the Zionist-American aggression against the Popular Mobilization Forces and the aggression against our beloved country, as well as a show of support for our brothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Sheikh Qassim al-Shihani, a Shia cleric.
"America came with its fleets across the oceans. There is no doubt that it is a brutal aggression. Do Iran or Islamic countries threaten America? But there is a much greater and deeper goal than that -- targeting Muslim countries in order to seize and control the Middle East along with its wealth. That is America's way," said demonstrator Karim Madi Al-Joudah.
A reckless adventure and a war that could spiral out of control -- this is how the demonstrators describe the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Some even draw parallels between the war on Iran and the 2003 war on Iraq, which was also waged under the pretext of possessing weapons of massive destruction.
"Iraq was targeted by an international coalition. That coalition fought Iraq to impose a blockade and to oppose it under the pretext of possessing nuclear weapons. The same pretext is being used today against Iran -- claiming that it possesses nuclear weapons. We stand with the victim against the oppressor, and today we are standing up to reject this exploitation. The world is in crisis. We do not need war. We need peace and cooperation," said Dhirgham Samir, a demonstrator.
"Of course, there are no justifications for this aggression, and its effects have become apparent on the economic and social fronts. In fact, it has even affected the entire global economy," said Abdullah Al-Mayahi, another demonstrator.
This demonstration is just one of a series of gatherings witnessed in several Iraqi cities since Feb. 28, the day when the U.S. and Israel launched their first joint military strikes against Iran. Public anger has grown in Iraq as the country has been affected by the war's security and economic consequences, with U.S. fighter jets continuing to carry out almost daily strikes on targets deep inside the Iraqi territory.
ID : 8473418
Published : 2026-04-05 16:18
Last Modified : 2026-04-05 17:57:37
Source : China Global Television Network (CGTN)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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