© AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye
US soldiers hold Iraqi 72nd Brigade training session at Basmaya Base.
US soldiers hold Iraqi 72nd Brigade training session at Basmaya Base.
Iraqi lawmakers have urged Washington to end what they consider its illegal military presence in their country. Speaking to Iran's Press TV on Friday, Council of Representatives MP Amer al-Shebli argued that continued US presence was "a violation of the Iraqi sovereignty."
Fellow lawmaker Adnan al-Assadi added:
"After ending terrorism, the previous parliament should have taken a serious action to force all foreign forces to leave Iraq. The presence of US forces in Iraq is illegal. As a member of the parliament's Security Committee, we voice our concern over the presence of the US military and the constant increase in the number of the soldiers. They have thousands of soldiers here. Yet the government says they are advisors.""Sovereignty is the most valuable asset in any nation," legislator Kadhim al-Sayadi said. "The sacrifices of the Iraqi people in their fight against Daesh show how important their country's sovereignty is for them. Today, no country will allow foreign military bases on its land."
Other lawmakers said that the US could maintain a military presence in Iraq, but only if it reached agreement with Iraq's parliament and government first. "The presence of any foreign forces inside Iraq can only be done through agreements with the Iraqi government, and these agreement cannot be passed without the approval of the parliament," Kurdish Democratic Party lawmaker Diar Barawri said.
Comment: The US will never give up a strategic location...evidenced by the hundreds of bases it has accumulated around the globe.