Iraqi PM open to discuss keeping U.S. presence in Iraq
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has privately expressed his desire to negotiate the presence of U.S. forces in the country, despite his recent announcement demanding their exit.
Senior advisers to the prime minister said that al-Sudani’s announcement was primarily aimed at appeasing domestic political audiences, while he remains committed to negotiating the future of the coalition’s presence in Iraq, according to a Jan. 6 State Department cable obtained by Politico.
A U.S. drone strike on Jan. 4 killed a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba militia in Baghdad, igniting public outrage in Iraq and leading to calls for the expulsion of American troops.
Although Iraq has shown a willingness to discuss keeping U.S. troops, political dynamics within the Iraqi parliament may compel al-Sudani to take steps towards their removal. The Pentagon stated on Jan. 8 that it has no plans to withdraw forces from Iraq and has not received any official requests from the Iraqi government to do so.
The U.S.-Iraq relationship has faced increased strain since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. On Wednesday, Pentagon Spokesperson Patrick Ryder revealed that U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq have been subjected to 127 attacks since Oct. 17, 2023.
While the U.S. mission in Iraq has shifted to a purely advisory role at the end of 2021, the presence of 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq, along with 900 in Syria, focused on fighting the Islamic State (ISIS), remains unchanged.