Washington: US Military Movements Are not Linked to the Iraqi Interior

US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle south of Mosul (File photo: AP)
US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle south of Mosul (File photo: AP)
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Washington: US Military Movements Are not Linked to the Iraqi Interior

US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle south of Mosul (File photo: AP)
US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle south of Mosul (File photo: AP)

 

United States Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski denied any possible action after news circulating about large-scale movements that US forces have been making in Iraq in recent weeks. 

The US official made the remarks on Wednesday following a meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein at the Iraqi ministry’s headquarters.  

These movements were part of the exchange of existing forces, Romanowski said, denying that these military movements are linked to Iraq’s internal affairs. 

The US ambassador stressed the US government's keenness to continue cooperation and development of common interests with Iraq. 

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Wednesday that the two officials discussed the overall Iraqi-American relations, and ways to enhance joint cooperation in the economic and development fields, in light of the strategic framework agreement, and in a way that benefits the interests of the two friendly countries. 

The meeting also discussed the Al-Hol camp in Syria and the problems that face the transfer of some families from the camp to Iraq. 

Earlier, Khalid Al-Yaqoubi, the security affairs advisor to the premier, refuted claims about a US troop buildup in Iraq.  

However, in statements to the official Iraqi News Agency, he affirmed that “there is a rotation of American units present in Syria.” 

Iraq has witnessed nearly daily reports, images, and videos showing significant American military activity in the country. 

Kataib Hezbollah issued a statement on Thursday saying that the movement of the American occupation military convoys in some Iraqi cities is evidence of the enemy’s intransigence to keep its forces in the country.  

It added that if the resistance decided to fight then it would smack their malicious plots for the region. 

Dr. Ihsan Al-Shammari, head of the Iraqi Political Thinking Center in Baghdad, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talk about these movements is linked to several factors. 

Among these factors is the link between these rumors and the recent escalation between armed factions and the American forces, in addition to the US forces' movements and repositioning on the Iraqi-Syrian geographical level in order to tighten the grip on the armed militias.  

The talk about military build-up is linked to the Iraqi’s frustration with the political parties and forces and the current authority’s equation as well as the corruption and mismanagement resulting from it. 

These factors contributed to suggesting that an American military intervention in Iraq is likely. 

“I personally don’t rule out that the forces respond in case their interests were jeopardized in Iraq or were targeted by some factions,” added Al-Shammari. 



Berri Says War with Israel ‘Most Dangerous Phase’ in Lebanon’s History

FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
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Berri Says War with Israel ‘Most Dangerous Phase’ in Lebanon’s History

FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Aziz Taher

The speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, said on Wednesday the war with Israel had been the "most dangerous phase" his country had endured in its history, hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect.
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the US and France, a rare victory for diplomacy in a region traumatized by two devastating wars for over a year.
Lebanon's army, which is tasked with helping make sure the ceasefire holds, said in a statement on Wednesday it was preparing to deploy to the south of the country.
The military also asked that residents of border villages delay returning home until the Israeli military, which has waged war against Hezbollah on several occasions and pushed around six km (4 miles) into Lebanese territory, withdraws.
The agreement, which promises to end a conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year, is a major achievement for the US in the waning days of President Joe Biden's administration.
Biden spoke at the White House on Tuesday shortly after Israel's security cabinet approved the agreement in a 10-1 vote. He said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and that fighting would end at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).
Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon's army takes control of territory near its border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there, Biden said.