Iraqi protesters denounce twin 'occupiers' US and Iran Iraqi protesters in Baghdad's Tahrir Square denounce both Iran and the US as "occupiers", angry that fears of a war between the rivals was derailing their anti-government movement. Following a US strike on Baghdad Friday that killed top Iranian and Iraqi commanders, Iraqi lawmakers are split over ousting thousands of US troops deployed across the country. Relations between Tehran and Washington deteriorated when the US abandoned a landmark nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions. Tensions boiled over during the last week, leading to a US drone strike outside the Baghdad Airport that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and several Iraqi paramilitary leaders. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES