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Iraq
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi receives White House Coordinator for MENA, Brett McGurk on July 15, 2021. Photo: Muhammad al-Halbousi/Facebook
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi discussed the next round of strategic dialogue between the United States and Iraq with the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk on Thursday in Baghdad. The visit comes one day after an Iranian official’s visit to Baghdad.
Halbousi's office said in a statement that both sides discussed expanding cooperation between the two countries, as well as security coordination in the field of combating terrorism, by providing logistical support and advice to Iraqi forces.
Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji also received McGurk earlier on Thursday and discussed the upcoming visit of the Iraqi delegation to Washington and the withdrawal of foreign combat forces from Iraq.
On a related note, the head of the Iranian National Security Apparatus Mahmoud Alawi met with his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Ghani al-Asadi in the Iraqi capital on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by Asadi’s office, he stressed “the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, through the exchange of experience and security information, in a way that contributes to the fight against terrorism, drugs and securing the common borders."
Halbousi also met with Alawi in Baghdad on Wednesday, where the latter offered his condolences for the tragic fire of al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Dhi Qar, in addition to discussing issues of mutual concern.
The adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Hussein Allawi told Rudaw in June that the PM will conduct a new round of strategic dialogue with the United States that is expected to take place soon.
In April, Washington agreed to move its remaining combat troops out of Iraq, saying it was shifting to a training and advisory role. The technical talks are to develop a plan for the withdrawal, including a timeline. There are currently about 2,500 American troops in Iraq.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have repeatedly attacked US interests and positions in the country to force their withdrawal. The militias stepped up their attacks after the US assassinated Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last year.
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