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Pressure mounts on US to withdraw army from Iraq

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Pressure mounts on US to withdraw army from Iraq

The US administration is facing growing pressure to withdraw its forces from Iraq, while Washington has been trying to get more forces from NATO member states for deployment in the country with the aim of providing “training” and “advice” to the Iraqi armed forces.

According to Press TV, Hadi al-Ameri, a senior commander of t Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has told in an interview, on Tuesday, that now Daesh (IS) has been defeated in the country  and there is no need for the presence of US troops.

He was quoted saying, “We are told that the presence of US forces in Iraq is on the request of the government in Baghdad. We are yet to get a clear statement from the government regarding the number of US troops which is said to be a large number.”

PMU commander stressed that they will not permit foreign interference in the country’s affairs. “Therefore, our hope is that the government announces the number of American troops which it demands to be in Iraq and the others be asked to leave,” Ameri noted.

The PMU is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization of some 40 groups, which are mainly Shia Muslims. There are 25000 to 30,000 Sunni tribal fighters, a number of Kurdish Izadi and Christian units among the 100,000 strong force.

The force was founded in 2014 after a decree (fatwa) by Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Siestani, Iraq’s tolp Shia cleric, that called on all capable forces to join the defence of the country against Daesh (IS).

The US forces first came to remove Saddam Hussein regime in 2003.  The highest number of US forces in Iraq was recorded at 1,70,300 in November 2007.

However, US began withdrawal of its forces in December 2007 and completed by December 2011. The US forces intervened again when Daesh (IS) advanced from Syria to Iraq’s western provinces along with other coalition partners to defeat the evil forces.

The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), which has been helping Iraqi army in their fight against Daesh (IS), has on numerous occasions said that they have documented evidence showing that Washington provides Daesh terrorists with weapons and military support.

On February 7, Jaafar al-Husseini, spokesperson for the Kataib Hezbollah, while talking to Beirut based al-Mayadeen TV, had threatened to target the US forces powerfully in Iraq if they refuse to leave the country. “We are serious about getting the Americans out, using the force of arms because the Americans don’t understand any other language”.

The militia group previously several times made similar threats against the US troops in Iraq, calling them occupation forces on the soil of Iraq. The group is considered to be in close links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).Pressure mounts on US to withdraw army from Iraq

According to Wikipedia, Kataib Hezbollah (Brigades of Party of God) of Hezbollah Brigade is an Iraqi paramilitary group supported by Iran. It has been active on the fight against Daesh (IS) in Iraq and Syria. During the Iraq war, the group fought against American invasion forces.

The Badr Brigade, another powerful militia group within PMU has also said that extension of US military presence in Iraq would cause further instability in the region.

Karim Nuri, spokesperson of Badr Brigade said, “The two governments should coordinate to ensure a full withdrawal. U.S. presence will be the cause for internal polarization and a magnet for terrorists.”

The pressure on US to withdraw from Iraq has been growing when NATO Defense Ministers have recently announced their agreement to deploy a larger military mission to Iraq after the US urged them to look into a long-term stay in Iraq only after the defeat of Daesh terror group.

The NATO Defense Ministers announcement came at Brussels meeting on February 15 when they agreed to expand the alliance’s small mission in Iraq with the aim of providing “training” and “advice” to Iraqi armed forces.

Earlier in January, US Secretary of Defcnse Jim Mattis sent a formal request to NATO while he was quoted saying “We will go to a consistent mission in Iraq”.

In December last, Iraqi commanders had rejected calls by French president Emmanuel Macron to disband the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hash al-Sha’abi.

Iraq’s Vice President and former PM Nouri al-Maleki  had also rejected French President’s call through social media saying,  Emmanuel Macron interfered unexpectedly in Iraq’s internal affairs by calling for the dismantling of a legal institution, Hashd al-Sha’abi (…) We don’t want any country to impose its will on the Iraqi government and the brave Iraqi nation.

Ahmed al-Assadi, one of the PMU’s leaders told AFP that “any such discussion is rejected and we do not accept interference in Iraqi affairs (…) Asking for dissolution of the Hashd is like asking for the dissolution of the Iraqi army, because Hashd are the key element of the Iraqi security.”

Macron, while in Baghdad on December 2, called for a “gradual demilitarization” and the “dismantlement” of all militia forces.

Earlier in October, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had strongly defended the PMU in response to similar statements by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

PMU is directly controlled by Prime Minister of the country and has been proven to be an efficient fighting force in the battle against Daesh (IS).

Earlier this month, Fox News had reported that US military was pulling its forces from Iraq to Afghanistan after the defeat of Daesh (IS) militants in the country.

The US soldiers in groups were leaving the base on daily flights. There were 5000 US military personnel stationed in Iraq in 2016, with nearly 4000 were deployed to support and assist local groups fighting the ISIS militants.

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US reiterates its call for fair, transparent, legal process for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, speaks on Congress frozen accounts

The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections.

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A day after India summoned an US diplomat over their remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the US reiterated its call for fair, transparent, timely legal processes on Wednesday.

Responding to questions on India summoning Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that they will continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Notably, the meeting at the foreign ministry’s South Block office lasted nearly 40 minutes yesterday with India objecting strongly to the US remarks on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

Matthew Miller also responded to a question on the Congress party’s frozen bank accounts. The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. He added that the US encourages fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of the issues.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last week by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the Delhi liquor policy scam. Earlier, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh were arrested in the same case.

The External Affairs Ministry had earlier stated that states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies, adding that it could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.

The Ministry further emphasized that India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. It mentioned that casting aspersions on India’s legal procedure is unwarranted.

The United State’s remarks followed days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial. The Indian government labelled their remark as blatant interference in internal matters.

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5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

This is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

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Nearly five Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion during an attack on their convoy by a suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday. Reportedly, the suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers travelling from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur said that five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack. As yet, none has claimed responsibility for the attack. Bisham Station House Officer (SHO) Bakht Zahir asserted that the incident was a suicide blast and the authorities concerned were collecting the evidence.

The Station House Officer further added that security arrangements were tightened at the spot and the bodies were being shifted to a hospital. He added that they will investigate from where and how the vehicle of a suicide bomber came and how it happened. Notably, this is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

Previously, two attacks hit an airbase and a strategic port in the southwest province of Balochistan where China is investing billions in infrastructure projects. Several Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have for multiple years been working on hydroelectric projects as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative in the western province of Khyber-Paktunkhwa.

Notably, Dasu is home to a significant dam project, has been a target of previous attacks. Earlier in 2021, the attack in Dasu resulted in the deaths of nine Chinese nationals, along with two Pakistani children. The incident occured when a bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the Dasu Hydropower Project site was targeted.

There was confusion surrounding the nature of the attack initially, with some reports suggesting it was a bus accident. Nonetheless, subsequent investigations revealed that it was indeed a terrorist attack. The bus was hit by a blast, leading it to plunge into a ravine.

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US bridge collapses after being hit by ship

The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

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Major portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US collapsed on early Tuesday morning after it was hit by a large container ship. The incident occurred at nearly 1.30 am (US local time). The Baltimore City Fire department said the collapse is a mass casualty incident.

According to reports many vehicles fell into the river below. The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

It seems the vessel had hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in many places and plunge into the water. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink. Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the registered owner of the ship, and the manager, Synergy Marine Group, said it is a Singapore flagged ship Dali which collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

He said the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined; the Dali has now mobilized its qualified individual Incident response service. It added that all crew members, including the 2 pilots who were aboard, have been accounted for and there are no reports of injuries.

The local traffic police said all lanes on both directions of the bridge have been closed and the traffic is being de-toured. Maryland Governor Wes Moore also declared a state of emergency after the collapse of the bridge. The bridge was opened in 1977, spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. It is named after the writer of the Star Spangled Banner.  

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