In Iraq, hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Baghdad Friday, calling on U.S. troops to permanently withdraw from their country. The protest came after President Trump refused an order for a U.S. troop withdrawal by Iraq’s parliament, which followed the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on January 3 near Baghdad’s airport.

Today’s massive protest came as Amnesty International reported security forces have shot and killed more than 600 people since anti-government protests erupted in October, with at least 12 killings this week alone. Amnesty reports Iraqi authorities have routinely used live fire, tear gas, grenades, intimidation, arrests and torture against largely peaceful protesters in Baghdad and southern Iraqi cities as they demand democratic reforms and the appointment of an independent prime minister.