US Defense Secretary: Washington has no plans to withdraw from Iraq

On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Mark Asper confirmed that Washington has no intention of withdrawing from Iraq.

And Esber said in a press statement, "His team is trying to find out more about the note he announced about the withdrawal of the international coalition forces from Iraq," noting that "Washington has no intention to withdraw."
He added that "the document may be for the purpose of redeploying the forces, not their withdrawal."

According to a document confirmed by Agence France-Presse, the international coalition responded, on Monday, January 6, 2020, by agreeing to the request of the Iraqi parliament, which includes the departure of foreign forces from Iraq, while disclosing its preliminary procedures.

In a letter addressed to the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, Marine Corps Brigadier General William Seeley said in a letter that he "respected the sovereignty of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi parliament and prime minister, a commanding force will Common tasks - the solid determination process, by repositioning the forces in the coming days and weeks. "

He added, "In order to carry out this mission, the coalition forces must take certain measures to ensure a safe and efficient exit from Iraq," noting that "there will be an increase in helicopter flights in and around the Green Zone in Baghdad."

He pointed out that "this increase in helicopter will be by aircraft (47-CH, 64-AH and 60-UH)", explaining that "some of these aircraft will be for the purpose of escort and protection only."

He added that "the coalition forces will take all measures to reduce and reduce the inconvenience to the public, pointing out that" for this reason these missions will be carried out during the night hours, because this will help to exercise caution and the withdrawal will not be understood as being to bring in more troops. "

He continued: "As we start implementing the next stage of operations, I confirm the value of our partnership, and invite you to us to support your republic in a time of need during the defeat of ISIS, we respect the sovereign decision that demanded our departure."

The Iraqi parliament, on Sunday, voted in favor of the government’s obligation to remove foreign forces from the country, cancel the security agreement with the United States, and cancel the request to assist the international coalition led by Washington in combating terrorism.

And US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Baghdad after the parliament voted to remove foreign forces, on condition that Baghdad pays Washington the cost of building its air base.

"If Iraq demands the departure of American forces and this is not done on an amicable basis, we will impose sanctions on them they have never seen before. Iran's sanctions will be a small thing next door," Trump said.

And the region is witnessing an unprecedented tension, following an assassination operation carried out by the United States targeting the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, in an air strike in a plane that dawned last Friday, in the vicinity of Baghdad Airport, to threaten the Iranian government An "overwhelming" cold to avenge Soleimani.

Article Credit: https://baghdadtoday.news/
Special thanks to Charles Bright!!