BAGHDAD - US Vice President Joe Biden has reportedly assured Iraqi Prime Minster Haider al-Abadi that any arms shipments to local forces will be passed through Baghdad.
According to a statement released Sunday by Abadi’s media office, the US vice president discussed Iraq’s latest political and security developments during a phone call with Abadi.
Abadi has reportedly expressed his concern over a US congressional provision to send arms directly to Sunni and Kurdish fighters, but Biden said the Baghdad-Washington agreement to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and unity was still in effect.
The measure in the House Republicans’ defense authorization bill would distribute a quarter of the $715 million authorized to train and equip the Iraqi army outside the government's control to local groups. It is unclear if the provision would survive the months-long debate process.
Recent reports indicate the US is under pressure from coalition partners to broaden the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. A bill submitted by Republicans to the US Congress suggests directly arming Kurds and Sunni tribes and has been seriously criticized by some Iraqi Shiite politicians.
An influential Shiite cleric threatened to attack US interests over the provision.
In a statement on Muqtada al-Sadr's website Wednesday, the cleric said if the bill was approved he would reactivate his forces and target "US interests in Iraq and even abroad."
Sadr’s Mahdi Army was a notoriously anti-US fighting force during the American-led occupation of Iraq starting in 2003.
According to a statement released Sunday by Abadi’s media office, the US vice president discussed Iraq’s latest political and security developments during a phone call with Abadi.
Abadi has reportedly expressed his concern over a US congressional provision to send arms directly to Sunni and Kurdish fighters, but Biden said the Baghdad-Washington agreement to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and unity was still in effect.
The measure in the House Republicans’ defense authorization bill would distribute a quarter of the $715 million authorized to train and equip the Iraqi army outside the government's control to local groups. It is unclear if the provision would survive the months-long debate process.
Recent reports indicate the US is under pressure from coalition partners to broaden the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. A bill submitted by Republicans to the US Congress suggests directly arming Kurds and Sunni tribes and has been seriously criticized by some Iraqi Shiite politicians.
An influential Shiite cleric threatened to attack US interests over the provision.
In a statement on Muqtada al-Sadr's website Wednesday, the cleric said if the bill was approved he would reactivate his forces and target "US interests in Iraq and even abroad."
Sadr’s Mahdi Army was a notoriously anti-US fighting force during the American-led occupation of Iraq starting in 2003.
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