Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reiterated on Monday his country’s commitment to protecting advisors from the US-led International Coalition.
He made his remarks hours after reports said security forces had released suspects held in attacking the Ain al-Asad base that houses American troops and advisors.
Sudani received late on Monday a telephone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was set to visit the Middle East but delayed it over “uncertainty” in the region, according to Axios on Tuesday.
Sudani and Blinken discussed the heightened tensions in the region. A statement from the PM’s office said he “underlined Iraq’s initial position over the real reasons for the instability, which is [Israel’s] ongoing aggression against Gaza.”
He called on “major countries and United Nations agencies to assume their full responsibilities in putting a stop to the crimes being committed against the Palestinian people.”
He also called for violators of international law to be held accountable and tried for crimes against humanity. He demanded an end to “this terrible barbarity and an end to violations of the sovereignty of regional countries.”
Moreover, the PM underscored Iraq’s “commitment to preventing any action that may undermine stability or expose the International Coalition advisors to any danger.”
Sudani underlined the ongoing communication between Baghdad and Washington to end the mission of the coalition in Iraq and establish bilateral security relations that would bolster security and stability.
The State Department said Blinken and Sudani “discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to advance stability in the region and the importance of preventing escalation.”
“Blinken reiterated the importance of Iraq’s responsibility to protect Coalition military advisors from attacks by Iran-aligned militias,” it added.
The officials “committed to continuing to consult one another on issues in the region and to advance the US-Iraq relationship.”
The region has been on edge in anticipation of an attack by Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel in retaliation to the assassination of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has held direct contacts with American officials to avert an escalation and prevent Iraq from being dragged into the conflict after the so-called “Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee” declared that it would retaliate to any American attack against Iran that uses Iraqi airspace.
Meanwhile, aide to Sudani, Dr. Hussein Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “strategic contacts between Iraq and the US demonstrate the deep relations between them when it comes to exchanging views on regional affairs.”
“Iraq believes that a ceasefire is key to ending the crisis in Gaza and restoring stability,” he added.
“Iraq is working on preventing itself from getting dragged into an open conflict in the Middle East,” he went on to say, stressing that it was committed to protecting diplomatic missions and International Coalition advisors.
Moreover, he stressed that Iraq is keen on developing its ties with Washington in economic, political, educational, technological, climate and renewable energy fields.
Separately, media reports said security forces released five suspects held over the attack on the Ain al-Asad base in the Anbar province.
Security officials from the Joint Operations Command did not respond to Asharq Al-Awsat requests for a comment.
