An “extraordinary” meeting of the armed factions in Iraq regarding the American presence.. What about the truce?, 20 JUNE

 An “extraordinary” meeting of the armed factions in Iraq regarding the American presence.. What about the truce?

The "Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee", which includes a number of armed factions allied with Iran, announced the holding of a meeting, which it described as "extraordinary", to discuss the issue of the American presence in Iraq, as it confirmed its ability to end it "by all means" during the first meeting of its kind since the cessation of bombing operations and targeting of interests. The US has been in Iraq for more than five months, as the Iraqi arena is witnessing a calm state of security.

Since the beginning of last February, the "Iraqi Resistance" factions have entered into a truth with the American side following their assassination of the leader of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades, Abu Baqir al-Saadi , and no operation has been carried out against American interests Since that period, despite the continued activity of American aviation. Flying in Iraqi airspace, especially in Baghdad, Anbar, and the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement, which is part of those factions, confirmed at the time that “societal, political and religious pressures” pushed for what it called “calm” with Washington, to pave the way “for the Iraqi government to take the initiative towards developing solutions to end the presence of the coalition.” international in the country. The leaders of the armed factions are awaiting the results of the work of the Iraqi-American Military Committee, which is responsible for assessing the field situation in Iraq and the threat of the terrorist organization ISIS, and setting a date for ending the presence of the international coalition.

In a statement, the first of its kind since the armistice, the coordination stated, last night, Wednesday, that it “held an extraordinary meeting to discuss events in the region in general and in Iraq in particular,” indicating that it discussed what it called “the opportunity that it gave the government - more than four months ago.” “Including scheduling the withdrawal of the American presence from Iraq.”

Criticism of the American presence in Iraq

She explained, "The attendees stressed the need to continue moving forward to achieve the country's autonomy, after the enemy's procrastination and stubbornness, so that it remains occupying our land, despising our skies, controlling the security and economic decisions, and interfering in Iraqi affairs with all reccklessness and arrogance, as if he does not know what awaits him after this opportunity," stressing that "The Iraqi people, their proud resistance, and loyal politicians, tribesmen, and people's representatives are able and determined to end this file and close it, using all available means, to restore security and stability, and achieve full autonomy.”

The “Coordination Committee” did not reveal a clear position regarding the truth or whether it was considering ending it, but a government source confirmed that “an agreement was made with the factions to stop all attacks until the file of the American presence in Iraq is resolved, which is the file that the Iraqi government and the American side are working on,” indicating. He told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, on the condition that his name not be mentioned, that “the facts had previously provided guarantees to the government not to violate the truth until the issue was officially resolved.”

The source confirmed that “to date, no notification has reached the government from the facts of their intention to carry out specific attacks, which means that the guarantees are still in place,” noting that “the government is following up on the file and will soon hold subsequent meetings with the American side in light of anticipated reports of the American-Iraqi Committee.” .

Iraq is an arena of conflict

The candidate to assume the position of US Ambassador to Baghdad, Tracy Ann Jacobson, said that “the militias allied with Iran are the main threat to Iraq,” as she stressed, in her opening speech before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, several days ago, the importance of enhancing stability, security, and independence. Iraq, considering that ISIS still poses a threat in the region, and that the US Army is still providing support to the Iraqi security forces.

Anne Jacobson also stressed the importance of Iraq strengthening its relations with its neighbors, and that “the presence of economic development, and a government capable of providing services to its people, reduces the attraction of terrorism” and also reduces the influence of militias allied with Iran, which she said “pose a great danger to the future of the country,” considering “Iran is a malicious actor in Iraq and destabilizes the region,” she added, adding: “We realize that the main threat to Iraq is the militias allied with Iran.”

Talks between Baghdad and Washington began last January, less than 24 hours after three American soldiers were killed in an attack in Jordan. The United States said that it was carried out by extremist groups allied with Iran in Syria and Iraq, which prompted Washington to carry out retaliatory strikes in Iraq that resulted in the assassination of prominent leaders in the armed factions, which prompted them (the factions) and the political parties associated with them to escalate their demands to remove the coalition forces from... The country.

The first round of bilateral dialogue between Baghdad and Washington, which was held in Baghdad, on January 27, led to an agreement to form a joint military committee to review and end the coalition mission and move to bilateral security relations, in light of the widespread criticism against the American presence in Iraq.   link