Iraq revokes Saudi-owned MBC license after broadcast labels Hamas leaders as terrorists

Iraq’s Media and Communications Commission announced Saturday it would revoke the license of Saudi-owned MBC after the station aired a report describing former leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Quds Force as “terrorists.” The decision came after dozens of militia supporters stormed and vandalized MBC’s Baghdad office in protest.

The broadcast had featured former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and included figures such as Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a senior commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces and founder of Kataeb Hezbollah.

The report sparked outrage among Iraqi political factions allied with Iran, who view these individuals as heroes and martyrs.

Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission said MBC had violated broadcasting regulations by attacking “leaders of victory and heroic resistance fighters” engaged in what it described as a battle against Israel.

The regulator’s decision to suspend and potentially cancel MBC’s license came less than a day after the attack on its offices.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Interior Ministry launched an investigation into why security forces failed to protect MBC’s office, though no commitment was made to pursue those responsible for the vandalism.MBC, which has faced previous criticism in Iraq for its portrayal of figures linked to Iran, has not commented on the incident.