Blinken Leaves Baghdad for Turkey After Sadrist Protests

Reuters reported late on Sunday that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed Baghdad amid protests from the Sadrist movement opposing his visit. The agency noted that Blinken, who is on a high-profile visit to the Sudanese government, left the Green Zone wearing a bulletproof vest and took a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter to Baghdad International Airport before departing for Turkey. Protests led by the Sadrist movement erupted in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad in rejection of Blinken's visit, during which he stated that his trip aimed to ensure the "safety" of U.S. forces stationed in Iraq following three weeks of continuing attacks. The International Crisis Observatory issued a warning on Monday, cautioning of the potential for "confrontations" between Sadrist protesters and security forces that closed off entrances to the Green Zone, advising foreign residents in Iraq to avoid central areas of the city. Prior to that, Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr called on protesters to withdraw from Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.