Al-Sudani: There is no need for the international coalition to be in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani stated today, Tuesday, that “the terrorist organization ISIS today does not represent a threat to Iraq.”

During an interview with “The National,” Al-Sudani stated that “there is no longer a necessity for the existence of the international coalition that was formed to confront ISIS,” indicating that “the joint committee will meet with the American side this month, and will emphasize the bilateral relationship with the United States for security cooperation.”

According to the Prime Minister, “the presence of Syria, with its political system and people, is preferable to an unknown alternative that could plunge the region into a second war with ISIS, and any security confusion in Syria will unleash the terrorists.”

Yesterday, in the presence of the American ambassador to Iraq, Al-Sudani welcomed General Joel Fowell, head of the international coalition forces against terrorism in Iraq and Syria. Security cooperation connections between Iraq and the international coalition were examined during the discussion, including advising, arming, exchanging intelligence information, and training. According to an official announcement, Iraqi security forces would be developed and enhanced in combat capabilities.

According to the statement, the meeting saw an emphasis on the continuation of the work of the joint committee between Iraq and the international coalition, which was formed following the visit of the security delegation led by the Minister of Defense to the United States of America last August, with the goal of determining the form of the future relationship with the coalition following the defeat of ISIS gangs. Terrorism, Iraqi forces’ rising skills, and their capacity to carry out their responsibilities in providing security in all regions and sectors of responsibility.

According to Al-Sudani, “the form of our relationship with the international coalition will be determined in the coming days.”

In a meeting with a group of media professionals, Al-Sudani stated that “the recent American movements were a process to replace the forces present in Syria, one brigade with another,” and that “there is no movement of the forces present in Iraq without the knowledge of the Iraqi government.”

He stated that “Iraq does not need any combat forces,” and that the Iraqi-American joint committee would meet in mid-September to define the structure of the partnership with the international coalition.

US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi inked an agreement that would officially terminate US combat missions in Iraq by the end of 2021, more than 18 years after US soldiers were first deployed there.

Biden emphasized that the United States’ participation in Iraq will include training aid, as well as combatting the terrorist organization ISIS and providing intelligence support.

There are presently roughly 2,500 American forces in Iraq, whose jobs are centered on battling ISIS remnants, and the American mission in Iraq will shift totally, with the American role being confined to training and advising the Iraqi army.

In March 2003, a coalition headed by the United States attacked Iraq on the grounds that President Saddam Hussein’s regime held weapons of mass destruction. Saddam was deposed, but such weapons were never discovered.