Joint military operations with the US-led coalition to counter ISIS have resumed after a nearly three-week pause, an Iraqi military statement said Thursday, as Defense Secretary Mark Esper revealed that Washington is trying to secure permission from Iraq to bring Patriot missile defenses into the country to better defend American forces.
The pause came amid heightened tensions after a Washington-led airstrike killed Iran’s Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
The statement said joint operations had resumed in light of the continued threat posed by ISIS. Militants belonging to the group are holed up in parts of northern Iraq.
The statement also implied that Baghdad was standing by intentions to reorganize Iraq's military relationship with the US.
“In light of continued activities by the terrorist group (ISIS) in many areas of Iraq and for the purpose of making use of the remaining time of the international coalition before organizing a new relationship ... it was decided to carry out joint actions,” the statement said.
The statement was issued by the office of the armed forces' commander in chief. As prime minister, Adil Abdul Mahdi assumes that role.
The coalition paused operations in support of Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS militants on Jan. 5 after a US airstrike killed Soleimani and senior Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on Iraq soil, sparking outrage among Iraqi officials.
Lawmakers passed a resolution to oust foreign troops from Iraq after the US strike. The coalition refocused on protecting military personnel amid fears of an Iranian counter-attack.
Despite signs of de-escalation after Iran retaliated with a barrage of missiles on two Iraqi military bases hosting US troops that caused no fatalities, outgoing PM Abdul Mahdi has been vocal that American troops should withdraw and has said steps are being taken to move the process forward.
Iran's Jan. 8 missile attack on Ain al-Asad airbase has wounded 50 American troops.
The United States did not have Patriot air defenses deployed to the base, where at least 11 of Iran's ballistic missiles struck.
Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made clear on Thursday that they want Patriots in Iraq as part of an effort to improve protection of US forces there.
Esper defended President Donald Trump's response to American troops being diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries from the Iranian strike, saying he cared about the service members.
Last week, Trump appeared to play down the injuries, saying he "heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things," prompting criticism from lawmakers and a US veterans group.
"I've had the chance to speak with the president; he is very concerned about the health and welfare of all of our service members, particularly those who were involved in the operations in Iraq, and he understands the nature of these injuries," Esper said during a news conference.
