MEMOThu, 08 Apr 2021 01:40 UTC
© AP/Khalid MohammedIraq's elite counter-terrorism forces
The Coordinating Body of the Iraqi Resistance Factions yesterday warned that it would
direct large and accurate strikes against US forces in Iraq if no clear date is set for their final withdrawal from the country, Anadolu reported. The body, which includes Iran- backed militia groups such as the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades, said in a statement:
"Today, the resistance finds itself obliged (...) to direct large and precise blows if this dialogue does not include a clear and explicit declaration of the final withdrawal date for the occupation forces: by land, air, and completely."
Yesterday, Iraqi and US officials held the third round of strategic dialogue to discuss a number of issues including cooperation in combating terrorism. In a joint statement after the talks, the two governments said
the mission of US forces was now focused on training Iraqi troops to fight Daesh and as a result US combat troops wouldn't be needed in the country. They added that they had agreed on the eventual withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq and that the two governments would hold further talks to work out the timing.
The Iraqi Resistance Factions said the meeting's final statement was
"vague.. and does not contain any indication of the implementation of the Parliament's decision to expel American occupation forces from Iraq."
In January 2020, the Iraqi parliament
voted on a resolution to remove all foreign forces from the country after the US
assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a drone attack near Baghdad airport.
Some 2,500 American soldiers are stationed in Iraq as part of the anti- ISIS international coalition.
Comment: '
We don't need you. We can do it ourselves!':
Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said Wednesday:
"A significant growth of our security services potential and the changing nature of the terrorist threat across the world have in recent months provided the ground for the pullout of some 60 percent of international coalition forces from Iraq ... This allows Iraq to move to the stage where there is no more need for the presence of foreign troops."
The prime minister said that foreign forces can soon be limited to advisory, logistical support and intelligence sharing functions until Iraq gains total self-reliance capabilities in these areas as well. The upcoming US-Iraq consultations will deal with a broad range of issues apart from foreign military presence, such as cooperation in politics, economy, health and culture, according to the prime minister's statement.
In August 2020, the sides agreed to pull all foreign troops out of Iraq within three years. In October, a coordination group was formed to set up a timetable for the withdrawal. Since then, the US handed a number of military sites back over to Iraq, including airbases and army headquarters.
Removal of US troops is in progress:
Some 2,700 military advisers out of 5,200 have left Iraq according to Hussein Allawi, adviser for security sector reform to the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office. The Iraqi prime minister additionally ordered a technical committee to be set up for overseeing the negotiations process.
"The American side reduced the number of its troops, 2,700 American advisers left Iraq, and yesterday the US said that there will be no troops in Iraq in the future ... right now there are no foreign combat units in Iraq, all military personnel present are advisers who share information with Iraqi personnel, help structure the Iraqi army and provide support to the Iraqi air force when asked to do so by the Iraqi military command."
The adviser ruled out the possibility that Washington would change its mind, saying that "no one can violate Iraq's sovereignty."
During Wednesday's talks, after discussing security matters, the US and Iraqi sides discussed trade, economy and culture, including the return of cultural artifacts and archives to the country.
Whatever the underlying reasons were for the US troops to remain so long in Iraq,
they no longer pertain:
After a first "strategic dialogue" under President Joe Biden's administration, the two nations said that the Iraqi military had made substantial improvements. The moves comes amid near daily rocket fire on US forces attributed to Shiite paramilitary groups linked to Iran, which led Biden to order airstrikes on affiliated camps in Syria.
But Biden, in a rare point of agreement with his predecessor Donald Trump, has been looking for ways to wind down what have come to be dubbed "endless wars." Trump had ordered a drawdown in his final months from Iraq as well as Afghanistan with the number of US troops in each country dipping to 2,500 by January 15.
A joint statement said:
"The transition of US and other international forces away from combat operations to training, equipping and assisting the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) reflects the success of their strategic partnership and ensures support to the ISF's continued efforts to ensure ISIS can never again threaten Iraq's stability."
Iraq in the statement pledged to protect bases with US-led forces, who Washington said were present "solely in support of Iraq's effort in the fight against ISIS."
Comment: 'We don't need you. We can do it ourselves!': Removal of US troops is in progress: Whatever the underlying reasons were for the US troops to remain so long in Iraq, they no longer pertain: