UPDATE: Iraq PM to U.S.: Plan Withdrawal of Troops. Pompeo: U.S. Troops: No talk of withdrawal from Iraq: Protestors Demand U.s. Troops Leave
Thousands Rally In Baghdad Against U.S. Military Presence RFE
Thousands of Iraqis have gathered at two locations in central Baghdad after a prominent Shi’ite cleric called for a “million-strong” protest against the U.S. military presence in the country. With RFE Reporting
The march was called by Muqtada al-Sadr, who has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran.
Marchers started gathering early in the day at Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near the city’s main university. Marchers avoided Tahrir Square, symbol of mass anti-government protests.
Men and women marched waving Iraqi flags and chanting slogans against the United States, which leads a military coalition against the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
Witnesses said the marchers were protected by Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam brigades and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella grouping of Iran-backed Shi’ite militias.
Main roads in Baghdad were barricaded by security forces and the city’s Green Zone, which houses foreign missions, was blocked off with concrete barriers.
On January 5, Iraq’s parliament passed a resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country in the wake of a U.S. air strike that killed a top Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani, near Baghdad on January 3.
However, following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih, on January 22 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the White House said the two sides agreed on the need for the U.S. military to maintain its presence in the Middle Eastern country.
Many anti-government protesters in Iraq fear the rallies against the U.S. military presence could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed Shi’ite groups’ grip on power. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
BACKGROUND
8 JANUARY Iraq’s PM asked the U.S. to start preparing for the safe withdrawal of American troops do the parliament passed a resolution to have US troops withdraw.
The Prime Minister accused the United States Of violation of sovereignty in the killing of General Solemeini
“The National Security Council condemns the US attack, and considers it a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and of the conditions governing the presence of US forces in Iraq. The Council also reviewed several measures to protect Iraq’s stability, security and sovereignty,l” PM Iraq government tweeted after the assassinations.
10 Jan. Sec. Pompeo: “America is a force for good in the Middle East. Our military presence in Iraq is to continue the fight against ISIS and as the Secretary has said, we are committed to protecting Americans, Iraqis, and our coalition partners. We have been unambiguous regarding how crucial our D-ISIS mission is in Iraq.
At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership—not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East.
Today, a NATO delegation is at the State Department to discuss increasing NATO’s role in Iraq, in line with the President’s desire for burden sharing in all of our collective defense efforts.
There does, however, need to be a conversation between the U.S. and Iraqi governments not just regarding security, but about our financial, economic, and diplomatic partnership. We want to be a friend and partner to a sovereign, prosperous, and stable Iraq.“
9 Jan The following is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus: Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke to Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdel-Mahdi today. Secretary Pompeo reiterated the United States’ condemnation of the Iranian regime’s January 7 launch of ballistic missiles into two sites in Iraq that host Iraqi, American, and Coalition forces working together to defeat ISIS. The Secretary underscored that, as President Trump has said, the United States will do whatever it takes to protect the American and Iraqi people and defend our collective interests.
In the meantime the Prime Minister of Iraq is networking with Neighbors including Turkey