Iraqi leader urges US-led coalition to leave

Iraqi prime minister calls for U.S.-led coalition forces to leave, citing the need for security and stability

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday reiterated his call for the U.S.-led international coalition to leave Iraq, citing the need for the nation’s security and stability. Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Sudani emphasized the necessity for constructive bilateral relations between Iraq and coalition countries.

The prime minister, whose government receives support from Iran-aligned parties, has consistently expressed his desire for foreign troops to exit Iraq in recent weeks. This call comes amid escalating regional tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The U.S. responded to attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, carried out since mid-October, with strikes on pro-Iran groups. Between Oct. 17 and Jan. 11, the Pentagon recorded at least 130 attacks, with 53 in Iraq and 77 in Syria. The majority of these attacks, attributed to the resistance groups in Iraq, are linked to Iran-supported armed groups opposing U.S. involvement in the Gaza war.

A U.S. drone strike in early January targeted and killed a military commander and another member of Harakat al-Nujaba, a faction of Hashd al-Shaabi. The Hashd, composed mainly of pro-Iranian former paramilitary units, is now integrated into the Iraqi armed forces.

During his televised remarks, Sudani emphasized the need for an immediate dialogue to establish an understanding and timetable for the conclusion of the international advisers’ mission. Despite the coalition announcing the cessation of combat missions in Iraq since the end of 2021, Sudani argued that the coalition’s presence was no longer required.

“Today, according to the analysis of all specialists in Iraq and among our friends, ISIS does not represent a threat to the Iraqi state,” Sudani stated, using an alternate acronym for Daesh. The U.S. maintains approximately 2,500 soldiers in Iraq and nearly 900 in Syria to support the coalition.

Source: AFP