US Ready for Negotiations with Iraq on American Military Presence

Iraqi demonstrators block roads with burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani
Iraqi demonstrators block roads with burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani
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US Ready for Negotiations with Iraq on American Military Presence

Iraqi demonstrators block roads with burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani
Iraqi demonstrators block roads with burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

The United States is prepared to enter into talks with Iraq on the removal of US troops from the country, as demanded by the Iraqi parliament, Ambassador James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for Syria and the coalition against ISIS, said Thursday.

"Our position, as you know –- we've said it several times -- is that we're prepared to discuss with the Iraqi government our overall strategic relationship," Jeffrey told reporters in Washington.

"We have not seen an uptick in violence in Iraq” by ISIS in this period, he said at the State Department.

Jeffrey said US-led coalition operations have been on pause in Iraq as the focus has been on force protection and talks with the Baghdad government on the way forward after Iraq's parliament voted to expel foreign troops.

The lawmakers were furious at the Jan. 3 drone strike on Iraqi soil that killed Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

The Pentagon is likely deploying a missile-defense system to Iraq in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on the Iraqi base of Ain al-Asad housing American troops to avenge Soleimani’s death, US defense officials tell Fox News.

The move comes after US troops were sent to a medical facility in Germany after complaining of head injuries following the Iranian missile attack.

Fox News previously reported that the US military didn’t shoot down any of Iran’s ballistic missiles because there was no missile defense system in position.

A senior Pentagon official told Fox News that they believed an Iranian missile attack was “unlikely.” US officials say a Patriot air defense system will now likely be deployed.



Houthis in Yemen Say They Won’t End Support for Gaza

 Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Houthis in Yemen Say They Won’t End Support for Gaza

 Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

A top leader of the Iran-backed-Houthi militias in Yemen said they will keep up their support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip until Israeli “aggression stops, and the siege is lifted.”

“Our operations in support of Gaza will not cease, no matter the sacrifices,” said Mahdi al-Mashat in a statement Wednesday.

The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

They have been firing long-range missiles at Israel in the months since it resumed the war in Gaza, setting off air raid sirens but generally causing few casualties. They have also been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.