Before Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington, Iraq is preparing for a fourth round with the international coalition
Before Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington, Iraq is preparing for a fourth round with the international coalition
2024-03-30 04:53
Shafaq News/ Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, announced on Saturday that a third round of security discussions with the international coalition had ended, and while he indicated that there was a fourth round scheduled during the next two weeks, he stressed that there was no need for large international forces.
Al-Mohammadawi’s statements come two weeks before a scheduled visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia to Washington.
Al-Muhammadawi said in an interview with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that “there are 3 security committees that have been working for weeks” for the benefit of Iraq, noting that “these committees are working to evaluate the remaining ISIS hideouts, build capabilities, prepare weapons, and evaluate the status of operations.”
“ISIS has lost the ability to plan and recruit.”
He also added that ISIS has lost the ability to plan, recruit, and confront military units, and continued, “Cross-border infiltration of foreign ISIS members has decreased by more than 99%.”
He considered that the situation on the Iraqi borders had become better, “and there are repellent lines in the desert,” stressing that the Iraqi arena is currently being separated from the Syrian one.
As for the withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq, he indicated that the government’s vision is to reconsider the mission of the international coalition, “We do not need large international forces.”
“Scheduling the coalition’s withdrawal”
In the same context, he said that the security leaders will present a vision to the Commander-in-Chief, the Prime Minister, about developing air power, air defense, and intelligence to end the coalition’s mission, adding that the armed forces are in the process of providing accurate recommendations based on “intelligence data related to our security capabilities to set timings and schedules for the coalition’s withdrawal.”
However, he pointed out that there are some contradictory visions regarding the withdrawal of the international coalition from Iraq, but “our recommendations are directed towards ending the coalition’s mission.”
He explained that Iraq may need security and intelligence cooperation with the international coalition, and joining the international anti-terrorism system, revealing that Iraq is moving towards concluding bilateral security agreements with countries in the coalition related to the nature of the tasks.
“No coordination with Türkiye regarding a military operation”
As for the borders with Turkey, he denied the existence of any coordination with Turkey regarding launching an operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, explaining that “coordination with Ankara concerns security, political, economic, and water resources.”
He said that Baghdad is serious about addressing Turkish concern about the presence of armed groups near its borders, and we seek to “transfer the experience of the security agreement with Iran to the borders with Turkey.”
20 border points
He called on neighboring countries to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and prevent violations, stressing that Iraqi forces had begun to protect the borders with Turkey and opened more than 20 border points.
The Iraqi military official spoke in the interview about Al-Hawl Camp, which includes ISIS members within its walls, saying that this file is international and complex due to the presence of large numbers of nationalities, stressing that the survival of Iraqi families in Al-Hawl Camp under the influence of terrorism maintains extremism and adherence to the ideas and doctrine of the organization.
“Integration of Returnees from Al-Hawl”
He said, “No party or law can exempt those whose hands are stained with the blood of Iraqis,” pointing out that the integration of families returning from Al-Hawl camp into society is important.
He revealed that Iraq refused to receive and try children of foreign nationalities in Al-Hawl camp.
“Protection of diplomatic missions”
As for attacking embassies from factions loyal to Iran, he said that protecting diplomatic missions continues and is a legal, national and moral mission, pointing to coordination between the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs as well as joint operations.
He added that there is development in the forces charged with protecting diplomatic missions through training, preparation and arming, and that the government is contracting to purchase advanced surveillance means.
shafaq.com
