Undeclared cooperation between Baghdad and Washington thwarted faction attacks on American forces

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[size=52]Undeclared cooperation between Baghdad and Washington thwarted faction attacks on American forces[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad/ Tamim Al-Hassan[/size]
[size=45]Baghdad is cooperating with Washington in repelling faction attacks, and has already succeeded in thwarting a number of these attacks, according to what political sources and a former MP say. The authorities and parties in the coordination framework behind this cooperation hope to stop the expected expansion of the American response to the bombing operations.[/size]
[size=45]So far, Washington has responded three times outside the border, compared to more than 60 attacks carried out by Iraqi armed groups against American forces inside and in Syria.[/size]
[size=45]Attacks began to escalate against American sites in the middle of last month, due to the events of the war in Gaza.[/size]
[size=45]Yesterday, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned of military and economic consequences for Iraq due to these attacks, in the most serious statement by an Iraqi official since the beginning of the crisis.[/size]
[size=45]Hussein said during the Middle East Peace and Security Forum, hosted by the American University in Dohuk, that “the Iraqi government, especially Mr. Al-Sudani (meaning Muhammad Al-Sudani, the Prime Minister), is seeking to convince the factions that believe that there is a link between the foreign presence in Iraq and the war on Gaza, from Some operations are not in the interest of stability in Iraq, nor are they in the interest of the security situation in Iraq, and there are great risks.”[/size]
[size=45]Hussein added: “If these operations continue, and there are casualties, the question is, what will be the reaction of others, especially the coalition forces? From a military and security perspective, it will have political and economic consequences. We are all facing challenges.”[/size]
[size=45]In the same forum, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, commenting on the events in Gaza, said: “Whatever the pretexts, Iraq should not get involved in this war because that will cause it great harm.”[/size]
[size=45]In his speech, Barzani stressed that “Iraq must be stable in order to advance.”[/size]
[size=45]Recently, Washington imposed sanctions on five Iraqis, including the leader of the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, Abu Alaa al-Wala’i, a leader within the Shiite framework.[/size]
[size=45]He is the third figure in the Shiite coalition to be subject to sanctions after Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asaib, and Falih al-Fayyad, the head of the PMF.[/size]
[size=45]A leader in one of the parties affiliated with the Shiite coalition expects in an interview with Al-Mada that “the American response to the factional attacks will not develop at this point.”[/size]
[size=45]The leader, who requested that his name not be published, points out that the evidence for the lack of breadth of Washington’s response is “its avoidance of bombing the factions at home and being content with raids in Syria.”[/size]
[size=45]According to American officials, their country's forces were subjected to at least 61 attacks within a month, 29 of which were in Iraq, 32 in Syria, and they responded three times to Iranian arms in Syria.[/size]
[size=45]According to Western reports, officials noted that most of these attacks were thwarted or failed to reach their goals.[/size]
[size=45]At least 60 soldiers were injured in these attacks, with minor injuries, most of them brain injuries, since last October 17. Officials say all Americans who were infected have returned to duty.[/size]
[size=45]Most of these attacks are described as “warning,” according to observers, and that they do not achieve significant military results.[/size]
[size=45]The Shiite leader says, “The United States is satisfied with the government’s performance, and therefore it granted it a 4-month exception to import gas and energy from Iran, and dollar shipments continue and have not stopped.”[/size]
[size=45]But on the other hand, he does not deny that these armed groups are “outside the law, and the government has made this clear to Washington and is prepared to prevent them from attacking the headquarters of the international coalition.”[/size]
[size=45]It appears that this cooperation is behind the rivalry within the Shiite alliance, as framework leaders such as Hadi Al-Amiri and Qais Al-Khazali continue to attack Washington.[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, the government confirms that it is committed to protecting the international coalition, which it says is present at “the invitation of Iraq,” and the diplomatic missions.[/size]
[size=45]More than a month has passed so far since the Sudanese directed the prosecution of the missile launchers, but the government has not announced the arrest of anyone.[/size]
[size=45]Abu Ali Al-Askari, known as the security official for Kataib Hezbollah, described the recent US sanctions as “ridiculous” and said that they would not affect the factions’ operations.[/size]
[size=45]He added in the statement he posted on Telegram, “The inclusion of the brothers on the so-called (US sanctions list) is ridiculous and indicates the foolishness of the American decision-maker.”[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that these measures “will not deter our brave mujahideen from performing their role in the battle of truth against falsehood.”[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "Directing deliberate strikes against the resistance in Iraq against the enemies...is proceeding according to the strategy of exhausting the enemy."[/size]
[size=45]The recent US sanctions included a member of the Shura Council of the Hezbollah Brigades, a foreign affairs official, and a military commander who the Treasury Department said was working with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to train fighters.[/size]
[size=45]The US State Department designated the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, and its Secretary-General, Abu Alaa al-Wala’i, as global terrorists with a special classification.[/size]
[size=45]In a statement posted on Telegram, Al-Walaei described the inclusion of his name on the US sanctions lists as a “badge of honor” and a source of pride.[/size]
[size=45]The sanctions freeze any assets owned by the targets in the United States and generally prevent Americans from doing business with them. Those who enter into certain transactions with them also risk being subjected to sanctions.[/size]
[size=45]In this regard, Mathal Al-Alusi, the well-known politician, said in an interview with Al-Mada: “There is cooperation between the government and American intelligence against these factions, and they succeeded in thwarting a number of attacks.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Alusi added, “Baghdad and the parties are unable to end Iran’s hegemony, and Tehran was able to turn the country into a part of the Gaza war, so it is naive to say that Washington is satisfied with the government’s performance.”[/size]
[size=45]The politician and former MP continued, “There is great concern in Washington about the growth of militias and the deep state and its control over institutions, which has prompted Shiite parties to send messages to America confirming Baghdad’s inability to confront Iranian influence and stop threats against political figures by factions affiliated with Tehran.”[/size]
[size=45]The former representative considered that the actual purpose of America issuing sanctions on individuals and entities is “a final warning to these groups before the storm and taking new measures against the factions that may exceed Washington’s anger outside the borders and direct strikes at home.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Alusi confirmed that the process of targeting the factions inside the country is very close, and that he and other Iraqis have tried to mediate with American circles to spare Iraq from that scenario, but it does not seem possible now.[/size]
[size=45]Regarding the Shiite messages that the former representative says were sent to Washington, he said, “Some of the messages emphasized that the United States must act with those factions, as if it wanted America to eliminate its competitors before the elections.”[/size]
[size=45]It was also revealed that other messages told the United States, “Accept us as we are, otherwise you will have to deal with Muqtada al-Sadr (the leader of the Sadrist movement) instead.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Alusi stated that the cooperation he referred to between Baghdad and Washington regarding restricting factional attacks falls within “Iraq’s attempts not to carry out attacks internally, but it does not seem that these attempts will last and there is a painful blow imminent.”[/size]
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