Iraq is caught in the trap of regional tensions.. Will negotiations to withdraw US forces continue?

Posted on[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[size=52]Iraq is caught in the trap of regional tensions.. Will negotiations to withdraw US forces continue?[/size]

[size=45]The work of the Supreme Military Committee to end the mission of the international coalition in Iraq is witnessing a state of stagnation, even with the start of the second round of negotiations, amid questions from Iraqi forces about the seriousness of Washington in withdrawing its forces from the country.[/size]
[size=45]According to political data and media statements, the issue of removing the forces of the so-called international coalition headed by Washington will not pass easily, especially since the American delegation negotiating with the Iraqi committee is imposing a lot of pressure on the committees tasked with their exit.[/size]
[size=45]The Iraqi government seeks to achieve the demands of the Iraqi street and the political elites and their rejection of the American presence in the country, through negotiations divided into several rounds. The first round has been completed and the second round is being worked on. Slow procedures and attempts to delay the demands, which many describe as a joke. Despite that, even if they are completed and Iraq gains the final decision, Iraq will not witness the withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]procrastination[/size]
[size=45]The Ministry of Defense revealed details of Iraq's talks with the United States regarding the withdrawal of international coalition forces.[/size]
[size=45]The ministry said in a previous statement that it "led, with the US Department of Defense, the second US-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue in Washington, on July 22-23, 2024," indicating that "their commitment to security cooperation and the common interest in regional stability was emphasized."[/size]
[size=45]She added, "The two delegations discussed a range of bilateral security issues within the framework of the 2008 US-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement, and in recognition of our comprehensive partnership."[/size]
[size=45]Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and representatives from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, US Central Command, the State Department, and National Security Council staff.[/size]
[size=45]The Iraqi delegation was headed by the Minister of Defense, who also met separately with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, the Director of the Counter-Terrorism Service, the Deputy Commander of the Joint Operations Command in Iraq, and other senior defense officials.[/size]
[size=45]The US and Iraqi delegations affirmed their “commitment to developing Iraq’s security and defense capabilities and their determination to deepen security cooperation across a full range of issues to advance the common interest of both countries in Iraq’s security and sovereignty, and in the stability of the region.”[/size]
[size=45]The 2024 Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue builds on discussions held during the visit of the Iraqi-Sudanese Prime Minister to Washington, D.C., in April of this year and the inaugural Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue last summer.[/size]
[size=45]During the first Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue, the two sides decided to establish a bilateral Higher Military Committee to analyze three factors – the threat from ISIS, operational requirements, and the capability levels of the Iraqi Security Forces – to determine the future of the international military coalition in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]The Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue continued, building on the work of the Higher Military Committee over the past six months and in recognition of the upcoming tenth anniversary of the Global Coalition’s military mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq. A detailed joint statement on the future of the Global Coalition’s mission and presence in Iraq is scheduled to be issued shortly after the conclusion of the Higher Military Committee.[/size]
[size=45]MP Yasser Al-Husseini confirmed that there is procrastination by the administration in the file of withdrawing American forces from Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Husseini said in a press interview that “America deals with Iraq according to its interests, in addition to not adhering to the agreements and treaties concluded between the two governments,” stressing “its recent disregard for the discussions on the withdrawal of its forces, and it even reached the point where it officially backed down from the decision to withdraw combat forces from the country.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The procrastination in removing the American forces will not last long, and there will be a real popular revolution to remove the forces in light of the complete rejection of their presence," noting that "the statements of the new American ambassador are evidence of upcoming scenarios in Baghdad."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "the government is obligated before the people to expel the American forces and support the parliament's decision," stressing that "hesitation, procrastination, or responding to pressure from this or that party will provoke the anger of the Iraqi street."[/size]
[size=45]Reduce not terminate presence[/size]
[size=45]The New York Times reported that the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is trying hard to enter into negotiations to withdraw US forces from Iraq to balance its foreign policy with Washington and Tehran.[/size]
[size=45]The American newspaper wrote a report in which it stated that “Al-Sudani’s government is trying hard to enter into negotiations to withdraw American forces from Iraq, to ​​balance its foreign policy between maintaining a sustainable relationship with Washington on the economic and security levels, as well as a stable relationship with Tehran, which, along with active political parties in Iraq, is demanding the withdrawal of the Americans as soon as possible.”[/size]
[size=45]The report added, "When the Iraqi Prime Minister left for Washington last April, he was hoping to negotiate the most wanted file, which is the economic development file, and to discuss common strategic interests with the United States, which is one of the country's most important international allies."[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "The last round of discussions in Washington on reorganizing the military relationship and the presence of forces, in which Iraq called for reducing the presence of the US-led coalition forces within a year, which confirmed its determination to reduce the US presence."[/size]
[size=45]He added, "Al-Sudani and his advisors tried to take a delicate position, as they hope for a formula to rearrange the military situation in a way that guarantees the continuation of some American military contributions, such as the provision of necessary equipment and parts, and the continuation of training, which may lead to some withdrawals, such as a reduction in forces, and this is what will satisfy the demands of the political blocs calling for this."[/size]
[size=45]Today, Monday, the Federal Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit regarding the continued presence of US forces in Iraq, due to lack of jurisdiction.[/size]
[size=45]The lawsuit was filed by MPs Basem Khashan and Mustafa Sand against the Prime Minister and the President.[/size]
[size=45]The two representatives in the lawsuit request that the defendants’ agreement to allow American forces to remain on Iraqi territory be ruled invalid, and that it be cancelled, and that they be obligated to restore the areas and facilities exploited by American forces after the expiration of this agreement, as well as to demand compensation for the damages resulting from the operations that took place after the expiration of this agreement and from the exploitation of Iraqi areas and facilities during the period from 11/1/2009 until the date of their handover to the Iraqi government.[/size]
[size=45]Regional tensions[/size]
[size=45]In late July, US forces targeted fighters in Iraq’s Babil province with a defensive airstrike who tried to launch drones that threatened US and coalition forces, killing four members of the Popular Mobilization Forces. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strike was the first of its kind since February, when US forces killed a pro-Iran commander.[/size]
[size=45]The British newspaper, The Guardian, highlighted yesterday, Sunday, the extent to which it is possible to stop the Middle East region from drifting towards a comprehensive war, after Israel’s assassination of the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, led to “humiliating Iran’s leaders” and dashed hopes of achieving a ceasefire.[/size]
[size=45]The report said that Iraq took a tough stance on the conflict in Gaza from the beginning, condemning the Israeli invasion and refusing to criticize Hamas, which reflects Iraq's historical support for the Palestinian cause, not Iran's political influence, although this influence is significant.[/size]
[size=45]While the report referred to the attacks launched by Iranian-backed militias on US forces in Iraq and Syria over the past months, it saw that fears have increased that a regional war could attract Iraqi militants, in addition to similar groups in Syria, after three attacks on US forces in the past few days, and after the United States launched air strikes south of Baghdad last Tuesday.[/size]
[size=45]A security source reported, on Monday evening, that the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq was targeted.[/size]
[size=45]Our correspondent confirmed hearing two explosions near the Ain al-Assad base, which houses American forces in western Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]On January 5, 2020, the House of Representatives voted to terminate the security agreement with the international coalition against the terrorist ISIS, and in the same session voted on a resolution calling on the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country, and not to use Iraqi territory or airspace for any reason.[/size]
[size=45]It is noteworthy that the American forces are deployed in the Ain al-Assad and al-Harir bases, and they include thousands of soldiers in addition to heavy weapons and warplanes.[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]