Iraq announces the launch of preparations to withdraw foreign troops from Iraq

[Jultxxxyes]

"The Iraqi government has begun to restrict the movement of coalition forces on land and sea, which will only be limited to patrolling and arming and training personnel," according to a spokesman for Iraqi military forces.

 

Iraq officials say preparations to withdraw foreign troops from Iraq are already underway, a spokesman for Iraqi military forces told a news conference on Monday, local media reported.

"The Iraqi government has begun to restrict the movement of coalition forces by land and sea, which will only be limited to patrolling and arming and training personnel," the spokesman said. "The Government has limited the actions of international forces both by land and by air." It is now prohibited to make any movement, "he said.

He also added that Washington did not inform the General Command of the Iraqi armed forces of its operations.

Conflict development
On December 27, a US civilian contractor died and four soldiers were injured in a missile attack against a US military base. in Iraq

 

December 29, USA bombed the bases of the pro-Iranian Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah. At least 25 militants died in the operation.

Two days later, a crowd stormed the US Embassy. in Baghdad. Trump accused Iran of "orchestrating the attack" and warned that Tehran "will pay a heavy price" for it.

The death of general
On January 2, 12 people, including the prominent Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and the leader of Kataib Hezbollah and the Po[CENSORED]r Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, died in a US airstrike. The Pentagon assumed The responsibility of the murder.

Three days later, the Iraqi Parliament passed a resolution to "end the presence of foreign troops on Iraqi soil" and prohibit them "to use their land, airspace or water for any reason."

In response, Trump threatened to impose "sanctions as they have never seen before" if there is a forced withdrawal of US military from Iraqi territory.

 

Iraq doesn't want more wars
For his part, Iraqi President Barham Salih called to avoid a new armed confrontation in the country after the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by the United States.

"[I am] deeply concerned about the possibility of Iraq becoming involved in another cycle of conflict. [...] This would have terrible consequences for Iraq and the region in general. We must do everything possible to affirm moderation and move away from the edge." , said the president in an interview published this Sunday in The New Yorker.

"I would not tolerate military action, wherever it comes from," he said.

He also said that relations with the neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran are important for Baghdad. "Iran is an important geopolitical actor. Iran is a culture of thousands of years of civilization. [...] The interests of Iraq, its national interests, are to have very good neighborhood relations with Iran," said Salih.