Iraq Seeks to Ease Tensions ahead of PM’s Meeting with Biden 

Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) and former Kurdish President Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo) 
Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) and former Kurdish President Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo) 
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Iraq Seeks to Ease Tensions ahead of PM’s Meeting with Biden 

Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) and former Kurdish President Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo) 
Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) and former Kurdish President Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo) 

The State Administration Coalition in Iraq announced its complete support to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's upcoming visit to the United States where he will meet with President Joe Biden.

Sudani sponsored the coalition’s meeting that was held at the government palace and attended by Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political leaders. The meeting was also notably attended by a prominent leader of the armed factions, Abu Alaa al-Walae, demonstrating that the truce between the government and groups remains in place.

Sudani is set to discuss several key issues related to Iraq’s ties with the US that have been nothing short of tumultuous since the US invasion 21 years ago.

The PM is seeking to resolve internal disputes so that he can dedicate himself to facing the Americans, who are banking on these disputes to continue to maintain influence in Iraq.

An informed Iraqi source told Asharq Al-Awsat that officials at the State Administration Coalition meeting held frank discussions over the future of relations between Iraq and Washington and the US-led anti-ISIS coalition.

The meeting clearly backed Sudani’s visit to the US and focused on security and relations between Baghdad and Washington whereby the state would be allowed to impose its control over all aspects of the country.

Sudani is hoping that his visit will be more successful than those carried out by previous PMs, who had headed to the US with various agendas and goals.

His predecessor Mustafa al-Kadhimi had paid two visits to the US during his relatively short two-and-a-half-year tenure.

Separately, Kurdish forces expressed their support to the outcomes of the visit carried out by Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani to Baghdad.

Barzani met with several senior officials, including Sudani.

Iraqi President Abdullatif Rashid stressed on Monday the need for cooperation between the Baghdad and Erbil governments so that they can overcome all disputes.

He also underlined the need for parliamentary elections to be held in Kurdistan.

Barzani and his accompanying delegation met with members of the pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Framework and the State Administration Coalition.



Israel Committing Increasing Violations in South Lebanon, the Bekaa

President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)
President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)
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Israel Committing Increasing Violations in South Lebanon, the Bekaa

President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)
President Joseph Aoun meets with US Central Command Commander General Kurilla on Monday. (EPA)

The Israeli military has intensified its attacks on Lebanon - despite the ceasefire – expanding its operations beyond the Litani River to the Iqlim al-Tuffah region in the south and reaching the Bekaa Valley and the eastern border with Syria.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with a high-ranking US military delegation to discuss Israel’s repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty and the need to implement UN Resolution 1701.

The US delegation, led by General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, also included Jasper Jeffers, head of the technical ceasefire monitoring committee, other senior officers, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.

Discussions addressed the security situation in South Lebanon and the progress of Israel’s withdrawal according to the agreed-upon timeline. A statement from the presidential palace noted that the talks covered the implementation of Resolution 1701, the coordination between the Lebanese army, international forces, and the ceasefire monitoring committee.

Aoun commended the cooperation between the Lebanese and US militaries, highlighting the US role in supporting Lebanon’s stability and development.

Later, the US delegation was joined by General Aroldo Lazaro, commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), French General Guillaume Ponchin, deputy chair of the ceasefire monitoring committee, and Acting Lebanese Army Commander Major General Hassan Odeh, who attended with a delegation of Lebanese military officers.

In the South, Israeli warplanes targeted areas between the southern towns of Arabsalim, Humin al-Fawqa, and Deir al-Zahrani. More strikes targeted the outskirts of Janta in the Baalbek district near the eastern mountain range, as well as border crossings between Lebanon and Syria in the areas of Qasir and Hermel. Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also flew at low altitudes over Tyre and its surrounding villages.

On the ground, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli force, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, conducted sweeps in the Mufilaha and Ras al-Zuhr areas west of Mais al-Jabal.

The set fire to homes in Mufilaha and detonated 15 explosive devices. The Israeli military also carried out an explosion in Aita al-Shaab and fired heavy machine guns from their position in the Metula settlement toward the Khiyam plains.

In Mais al-Jabal, Israeli forces conducted extensive sweeps with automatic weapons, and a powerful explosion was reported in the town. The Lebanese army, which had planned to enter the town on Monday, consequently postponed its deployment.

The escalating Israeli violations have raised concerns that Israel may delay its withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon beyond the Blue Line within the ceasefire deadline.

Retired Brigadier General Saeed Qazah told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel currently has freedom of movement during the 60-day period without requiring the monitoring committee’s approval.

Referring to recent strikes in Janta and Humin, he explained that Israel had informed the Lebanese army about suspected Hezbollah movements and, upon receiving no response, carried out the attacks. He added that the US had assured Israel during ceasefire negotiations that it could conduct strikes anywhere in Lebanon if Hezbollah’s activities were deemed a threat.

Despite the violations, the Israeli army is expected to withdraw from areas south of the Litani River by January 27.

However, Qazah emphasized that this withdrawal is contingent upon Hezbollah surrendering its weapons and positions to the Lebanese army and relocating its fighters north of the Litani. He warned that if Hezbollah adopts the same approach it did in 2006, Israel may refuse to withdraw, citing concerns over its security.