Iraq military body vows to escalate attacks against US forces

Iraq’s Resistance Coordination Commission yesterday threatened to escalate attacks against US forces in the country with the aim of forcing them to leave.

The armed group said in a statement that following several mediation efforts led by politicians, “the resistance” gave more than one opportunity for the government to conduct negotiations with the American side regarding the fate of foreign forces in the country, however, after two rounds of talks, the results were very disappointing.

“The US military officials stated that there is no imminent schedule for their forces’ withdrawal,” the statement read, adding that it was the Iraqi government who had asked them to stay.

“As the current government did not deny these statements, the government is neither sincere, qualified, nor able to fulfil the Iraqi people’s will to expel the occupation forces from their land, preserve their sovereignty, and defend their constitution,” the statement said, adding that the negotiations with the American side “were nothing more than an attempt to procrastinate” in a continuous violation of the Iraqi constitution.

READ: US Lockheed Martin leaves Iraq’s Balad base following rocket attacks

In January 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted in favour of a resolution to remove all foreign troops from the country.

It is estimated that there are about 3,000 foreign soldiers affiliated with the US-led anti-Daesh coalition in Iraq, including 2,500 American soldiers.

The Resistance Coordination Commission includes the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades, Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada Battalions, and Harakat Al-Nujaba Brigade.