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Iraq
In this file photo taken on December 29, 2014 US soldiers walk around at the Taji base complex 30km north of Baghdad. Photo: Ali Al-Saadi/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region –Iraqi President Barham Salih has informed the US that “more cooperation and joint-coordination” is needed to confront the Islamic State (ISIS), despite calls from within parliament to expel foreign troops.
Salih spoke with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo via phone on Saturday to discuss the security and stability in the region, as well as the fight against ISIS.
The president highlighted the need for increased coordination to prevent terrorists from “regrouping and imposing threats on global stability,” read a Sunday statement issued by the Iraqi presidency.
Although declared defeated in Iraq in December 2017, ISIS remains active throughout Iraq, particularly in territories disputed between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Pompeo spoke of the “enduring role” of the US-led Global Coalition against ISIS, despite calls for foreign troops to leave Iraq.
Iraqi President Salih and I spoke again today about the important and enduring role of the Global @Coalition in the fight against ISIS. Our commitment to de-escalation stands firm.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 18, 2020
Coalition training activities were suspended amid escalating US-Iran tensions in recent weeks, which saw rockets fired on several Iraqi military bases hosting foreign troops. Escalating attacks resulted in a non-binding resolution passed by the Iraqi parliament on January 5, asking the Iraqi government to end the presence of foreign troops in Iraq. Sunni and Kurdish parliamentarians largely boycotted the resolution.
However, Washington has since refused to withdraw from Iraq.
Recent security updates were also discussed in the phone call, with the Iraqi President informing Pompeo of the importance in “protecting Iraq’s sovereignty” and “respecting Iraqi independent national decisions,” presumably referring to the vote on US troop presence.
“Both sides also discussed the need to start peaceful and constructive dialogue to resolve the crisis and avoid escalation,” the statement added.
The US presence in Iraq has long been subject to opposition from Shiite political parties.
Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called on his supporters and protesters conduct nationwide demonstrations against the US presence on January 24.
The majority of Iran-backed militias and political leaders supports Sadr’s calls, including Hadi al-Ameri, head of the Iraqi parliament's Iranian-backed Fatih coalition .
In addition to the US-Iran tensions, Iraq has also been witnessing nationwide anti-government protests since October 1, demanding real changes and the removal of the political class that has been in power since 2003.
Protesters have been met violence by security forces and armed groups, with more than 500 killed and 17,000 injured since October.
Some protesters have rejected Sadr’s calls for demonstrations, saying US forces are important for their safety.
“If the US troops are expelled now, we as protesters will be the biggest losers,” one protester told Rudaw, adding that Iran-backed militias would kill them “within days”.
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