The Iraqi government is forming a committee to prepare the closing down of the U.S.-led international coalition’s mission in the country, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office said on Friday. Sudani’s statement came a day after a U.S. strike killed a militia leader in Baghdad, prompting anger among Iran-aligned groups which demanded the government end the presence of the coalition in Iraq.
Quick Read
Key points from the Iraqi government’s decision to close down the U.S.-led coalition mission:
- The Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is forming a committee to end the U.S.-led international coalition’s presence in Iraq.
- This decision follows a U.S. airstrike that killed a militia leader in Baghdad, causing outrage among Iran-aligned groups in Iraq.
- The committee will include representatives from the military coalition and aims to arrange the permanent withdrawal of coalition forces.
- The U.S. conducted the strike as retaliation for recent attacks on its personnel.
- Currently, the U.S. maintains 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, focusing on advising and assisting local forces against the Islamic State.
- Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq and Syria, who oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza, hold the U.S. partly responsible.
- Prime Minister Sudani, who relies on Iran-backed factions within his coalition, emphasizes the need to end the coalition’s presence since the justifications for it have ended.
- Islamic State has claimed responsibility for recent explosions in Iran, killing nearly 100 people during a memorial for Qassem Soleimani.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned a U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed a high-ranking militia commander, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. The U.S. strike targeted Abu Taqwa, linked to attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. Al-Sudani is advocating for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
Reuters has the story:
Iraq prepares to close down U.S.-led coalition’s mission – PM statement
BAGHDAD, Jan 5 (Reuters) –
The Iraqi government is forming a committee to prepare the closing down of the U.S.-led international coalition’s mission in the country, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office said on Friday.
Sudani’s statement came a day after a U.S. strike killed a militia leader in Baghdad, prompting anger among Iran-aligned groups which demanded the government end the presence of the coalition in Iraq.
“Government is setting the date for the start of the bilateral committee to put arrangements to end the presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq permanently,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
The committee would include representatives of the military coalition, a government official said.
The U.S. military launched Thursday’s strike in retaliation against recent attacks on U.S. personnel, the Pentagon said.
The United States has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq on a mission it says aims to advise and assist local forces trying to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which in 2014 seized large parts of both countries before being defeated.
Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq and Syria oppose Israel’s campaign in the Gaza Strip and hold the U.S. partly responsible.
Sudani has limited control over some Iran-backed factions, whose support he needed to win power a year ago and who now form a powerful bloc in his governing coalition.
“We stress our firm position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justifications for its existence have ended,” Sudani was quoted as saying in the statement.
Islamic State claimed responsibility on Thursday for two explosions in Iran that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a memorial for top commander Qassem Soleimani.
IRAQ’S PRIME MINISTER CONDEMNS US STRIKE ON A HIGH-RANKING MILITIA COMMANDER
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Friday condemned the United States’ strike in central Baghdad that killed a high-ranking militia commander as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. He reiterated recent calls for withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
A U.S. defense official confirmed Thursday that U.S. forces carried out the strike, saying that Abu Taqwa was targeted because he was actively involved in attacks on U.S. personnel. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, a group of Iranian-backed militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out more than 100 attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. The group has said the attacks are in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel and that they aim to push U.S. forces out of Iraq.
Sudani said Friday that the U.S. had bypassed the Iraqi government, which is “the body authorized to impose the law.” He added that the Popular Mobilization Force “represent an official presence affiliated with the state … and an integral part of our armed forces” and that “attacks targeting our security forces go beyond the spirit and letter of the mandate that created the international coalition,” referring to a U.S.-led coalition that assisted in the fight against the Islamic State militant group and maintains forces in Iraq.
He said his government is following up on procedures that would end in the coalition’s withdrawal from Iraq.
