Iraq: The “resistance” pledges to continue its operations... and the government requests internal su

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[size=52]Iraq: The “resistance” pledges to continue its operations... and the government requests internal support to complete the dialogue with America[/size]

[size=45]At a time when the Iraqi government called on the political forces to support it in providing a suitable environment for completing negotiations with the Americans with the aim of removing their forces from Iraq, and considered that the tasks of the international coalition led by Washington had ended with the end of ISIS, and the “Islamic Resistance” pledged to continue its attacks against the coalition.
The “Resistance” considered in a statement that “American compliance with the Iraqi government’s request would not have occurred without the resistance’s strikes.”
However, at the same time, it considered this to be an American attempt “to shuffle the cards, turn the tables on the resistance, and buy time.”
It pledged that “the response of the Islamic Resistance is to continue jihadist operations against the foreign presence” until “the truth of their intentions and the seriousness of their commitment to removing their invading forces from Iraq become clear,” according to what was stated in the statement.
Baghdad announced the launch of working groups within the framework of the “Supreme Military Committee” with Washington, which will study the future of the coalition in light of the “danger” posed by ISIS and the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces. However, the Pentagon denied the existence of negotiations with Baghdad to remove American forces, within the recently announced meetings of the Joint Military Committee.[/size]
[size=45]“Security partnership”[/size]
[size=45]Deputy Press Secretary of the Pentagon, Sabrina Singh, confirmed that the announcement of the launch of the meetings of the US-Iraqi Joint Supreme Military Committee does not include negotiations for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, indicating that this matter is “not on the table,” while indicating that the start of the committee’s work means the transfer of US forces. and Iraq to a “permanent bilateral security partnership.”
She said in a press conference: “The United States and the Government of Iraq will begin working group meetings for the US-Iraqi Supreme Military Committee in the coming days, to begin a process that both sides committed to during the Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue between the United States and Iraq in the period from August 7 to 8 in 2023.” ».
She stated, “During the August 2023 meeting, the United States and Iraq committed to starting the work of the Joint Supreme Security Committee, to discuss the coalition’s mission to defeat ISIS, which will move according to a timetable that takes into account three main factors: the threat posed by ISIS, the operational and environmental requirements, and the capacity levels of the forces.” Iraqi security.
According to her, “Expert working groups of military and defense specialists will study these three factors and advise the Joint Committee on the most effective development of the coalition’s mission against ISIS, ensuring that ISIS cannot re-emerge, in consultation with coalition partners at all stages of the operation.”[/size]
[size=45]According to Singh, “The meeting of the Joint Supreme Committee is not a negotiation about the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq,” adding: “The United States and the coalition are present in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government to fight ISIS. Our Iraqi partners have assured us of their commitment to working together to shape this future on the US military presence and the enduring defeat of ISIS, and the Joint Supreme Committee will be able to transition to a permanent bilateral security partnership between the United States and Iraq, building on the successes of the Defeat ISIS campaign in partnership with Joint Forces Operation Inherent Resolve. Joint tasks.[/size]
[size=45]What does a bilateral relationship look like?[/size]
[size=45]Regarding the special capabilities of the Iraqi forces and the extent of their continued need for American forces, she stated, “We want to make sure that the threat that we saw 10 years ago is not the same threat that we face today, and that is why we entered into this. The working group of the Joint Supreme Committee is working to address how “It will be the future, what the partnership looks like, what the bilateral relationship looks like, it is about the future and making sure that Iraq is prepared to succeed in defending itself.”
The American official’s statement coincides with the confirmation of Fadi Al-Shammari, advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, that the federal government is in the process of formulating a timetable for the presence of international coalition advisors, pointing out that Iraq desires to develop the relationship with the United States and move from a security and military relationship to political and economic partnerships. .
He spoke to the official channel, saying: “The formulation of a timetable for the presence of international coalition advisors came as a result of a group of dialogues that began last February when the Iraqi delegation went to Washington and the dialogue culminated in the agreement that was signed last August,” indicating that “the agreement determined the nature, type and form of the relationship that It will be resolved with the international coalition in general and the United States in particular.”
He added, “The message that arrived yesterday (the day before) from the American administration was in response to what happened in the discussion that took place between the Prime Minister and American National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Davos, and is related to the Iraqi demand that the international coalition’s mission ended with the end of ISIS,” pointing out, “We seek To build bilateral relations with the coalition countries in general and the United States in particular and develop the relationship to be political, security and economic.
According to Al-Shammari, the Iraqi government is also seeking “an understanding with the United States and our other partners in the West on clear foundations,” pointing out that “the Baghdad-Washington dialogue will begin in the coming days through the Iraqi-American Supreme Military Committee.”
He stressed that “Iraq aims to develop the relationship with the United States and move from having the relationship based on security and the military to having political and economic partnerships and attracting major companies in the world, and this is a double start for the Iraqi economy and its armament,” considering that “the task of the political forces is to help the government and its team.” By providing the appropriate environment for negotiations with the United States regarding the international coalition.”
He went on to say: “We are heading towards a new Iraq after the end of the dialogue with the international coalition countries,” pointing out that “the government’s policy with every file that threatens the stability of Iraq is to solve it from the roots and not resort to patchwork solutions.”
The Iraqi Defense Minister, Thabet Al-Abbasi, also believes that the Iraqi forces are ready to take charge of the security file following the withdrawal of the anti-Islamic State coalition forces.
The day before yesterday evening, the minister announced that the Iraqi-American Supreme Military Committee would resume, in the next few days, its dialogue with the international coalition countries after the issuance of special orders in this regard by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He said in a statement, “The timing of the coalition forces’ withdrawal will be determined and joint cooperation relations will be built between Iraq, the United States, and the coalition countries in various political, economic, cultural, security, and military fields, consistent with the vision of the Iraqi government.” He stressed that “our armed forces are fully prepared for the withdrawal of coalition forces and to take full control of the security file in the country, especially after the experience they have gained in recent years and their dealings with and eliminating security threats.”
Meanwhile, the Iraqi writer and political analyst, Ali Al-Baidar, commented on the announcement of the start of new negotiations between Baghdad and Washington regarding the fate of the international coalition, saying: “The United States refuses to withdraw in the way the armed groups want, as this represents a defeat for the American side amid a raging conflict that the region is experiencing, while it has proven The 2011 experience was a failure, and the government does not want to repeat it without extensive study, while Washington has reservations about it.”
He stated that “the American presence in Iraq is greater than the war on terrorism, as the American administration sees the necessity of protecting the democratic experience in the country and imposing influence to protect (its interests) in the region. Moreover, the Kurdish and Sunni political and popular parties reject this withdrawal, given the fact that the foreign armed presence in The country creates a state of military balance that cannot be denied, and these parties may find themselves facing a new reality with undesirable consequences.”
Al-Baidar pointed out that “the Shiite political forces that do not have armed factions rejected the idea of ​​withdrawal, for fear of the state being swallowed up by armed groups and emptying power of its content. There are many experiences.”
In the same context, the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, denied any link between the start of talks between the United States and Iraq within the Supreme Military Committee and the recent attacks on military bases.
A Pentagon official said in statements to reporters, “The dates for holding the Supreme Military Committee meeting between the United States and Iraq are not related to the recent attacks by groups linked to Iran on American military personnel and the coalition in Iraq and Syria.”
The official added, "These attacks began in mid-October, and will not, in fact, affect the decision of the United States and Iraq to hold a meeting of the Supreme Military Committee between the two countries."
The official declined to answer a question about the possibility of withdrawing American forces from Iraq and Syria, noting that “the two sides will discuss possible changes regarding the American operation against ISIS,” stressing that the Pentagon “cannot predict anything in this regard or set any dates.”[/size]
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