With the strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Washington kicking off next month, Iraq announced a new strategy for fighting the terrorist organization ISIS.
Iraqi General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, in his first speech since being appointed head of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), has vowed to crush ISIS.
He said the CTS will launch new operations west of Kirkuk and near Mosul. This will include the governorates of Nineveh and Salahuddin.
“The anti-terrorist units will have a big role in chasing extremist organizations,” Saadi said. “We have plans to eliminate these organizations according to timetables,” he added.
Saadi also noted that the CTS will coordinate with the international coalition the way it did during the war on ISIS. This includes the exchange of intelligence, air support and other technical aspects.
Saadi explained that Iraq is currently facing a critical stage in terms of security and economy, which calls for the development of quick solutions, stressing that “the CTS has responsibilities towards protecting the security of the state and the citizen from any future terrorist threats.”
The CTS forces and Saadi are considered legendary in Iraq. However, he was pushed aside in September because of political wrangling in Baghdad. Saadi, however, was reinstated by Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
In other news, the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi Parliament announced that there are many axes that will be discussed during negotiations, which will take place in June between Iraq and the US regarding the security agreement between the two countries.
Committee member Abbas Sarout confirmed that many issues will be discussed upon the visit of the US delegation and their meeting with senior Iraqi officials. One of the main topics of discussion will be the scheduling of the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and the future of cooperation between the two states.
