US loves to strike Muslim countries during Ramadan—Ilhan Omar

Africa, Middle East, North America, Politics

Washington, D.C. (NPA)– Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since 2019, has accused the United States of deliberately targeting Muslim-majority countries during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a post on X, Omar claimed that the U.S. attacked Iraq during Ramadan in 2003 and suggested that similar plans were being made against Iran. She wrote: “Iraq was attacked by the U.S. during Ramadan, and it is sickening to know that the U.S. is again going to attack Iran during Ramadan. The U.S. apparently loves to strike Muslim countries during Ramadan, and I am convinced it isn’t about violations of international law but about who they worship.”

However, historical records show that her claim is inaccurate. The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began on March 19, 2003, while Ramadan that year did not start until October 27 — more than seven months later.

Omar’s remarks come against the backdrop of her long-running feud with former President Donald Trump. Their disputes have centered on immigration, race, religion, and foreign policy. Trump has repeatedly criticized Minnesota’s Somali community, accusing it of fraud and corruption, while Omar — herself a Somali-American — has strongly rejected those claims.

The conflict has often played out in public settings. Trump has used slogans such as “Send them back,” which were widely condemned as racist, while Omar has accused U.S. military actions in Muslim-majority countries of being influenced by religious bias. Trump, in turn, has accused her of sympathizing with extremists, even linking her without evidence to ISIS in Somalia.

Their confrontations have been especially visible during Trump’s State of the Union addresses.