ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Following the Obama administration’s decision to send additional troops to Iraq last week Iraqi politicians, mostly Shiite leaders and MPs, reacted with anger, denying that Iraq needs foreign forces to take part in the Mosul battle.
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who fought the Americans during the invasion of Iraq, sent a warning to the US, saying that if the Americans deploy troops and participate in the Mosul battle they will become a target.
“They are target for us,” he bluntly said on his website.
“The US will deploy an additional 560 troops to Iraq within the next few weeks,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on July 11.
“The troops will deploy for infrastructure and logistical support at Qayara airfield south of Mosul. The troops have already received their warning orders to deploy,” he stated, according to NBC News.
An MP from the National Alliance bloc believes that the Iraqi forces alone can liberate the Mosul area without participation of any foreign military.
“We have a military institution that day-by-day shines with victories. This is done through high level coordination between the military divisions, among them [Shiite militia] Hashd al-Shaabi, which is a strong face of the forces and part of the military institution,” said Mohammed Naji on Monday.
The Iraqi military has liberated several key areas from the Islamic State in recent months, most notably the city of Fallujah.
“These victories proved that we do not need the presence of any foreign military such as the coalition, US, or others. We have enough security forces and our proof is the victories against ISIS and retaking most of the occupied territories, the last one which was the Qayara base,” Naji added, according to the Iraqi Media Network.
Another MP has warned that if the American troops participate in the Mosul liberation, they will be treated as occupiers.
“We will deal with the [US President Barak] Obama decision to send an extra 500 troops to the liberation of Mosul as occupiers and as if they are going to occupy the Iraqi territories,” said Rassul Tayee, an MP from the Al-Ahrar bloc on Monday.
“Army, police, Saraya al-Salam and Hashd [militias] and tribal forces can liberate Mosul as they did liberate Fallujah and other cities,” he added.
He described recent statements from US Central Commander General Joseph Votel as revealing the Americans are trying “to occupy Iraqi land and build military bases” in order to stay after the liberation of Mosul. Therefore, “he asked PM Abadi to take a stance against sending those troops and any other coalition troops to Iraq,” according to the Iraqi Media Network.
"What we don't want to do is declare victory and depart after that. I think we want to see this through,” Votel told Reuters on July 15,
They want the Americans troops to stay longer in the country in case ISIS moves to other areas, "To ensure we can achieve that lasting defeat," he added.
A Shiite cleric has also warned the Iraqi government against accepting the US administration’s decision to deploy more troops in Iraq, especially in Qayara base. “By listening to the request to use the Qayara base, establish a US command and artillery there, without Iraqi permission, we have to ask why after our heroes retook the base, expelled terrorists, cut their way through other provinces, then the Americans came?” said Sheikh Kassim Al Taai, a Shiite religious authority, in a statement on July 14.
The American’s main goal is to use the Qayara base to put the Iraqi army under their guidance, Al Taai claimed, and influence them according to American strategy in the country to make the political situation serve their own goals and, ultimately, work towards dividing Iraq.
He believes that the American’s presence will block the Shiite militia forces in the future.
“This creates a direct and clear threat to Hashd forces. This will prevent their participation and make the Mosul liberation an American achievement using Iraqi instruments. The Iraqi government is responsible for the consequences of this by targeting and decreasing the liberation role of the Hashd forces,” he explained.
Hadi Al-Amri, leader of the Shiite militia Badr Organization, rejected Ash Carter’s comments and insisted that: “The Iraqis can liberate Mosul and they refuse Americans who replace ISIS,” according to Summaria News last Thursday.
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who fought the Americans during the invasion of Iraq, sent a warning to the US, saying that if the Americans deploy troops and participate in the Mosul battle they will become a target.
“They are target for us,” he bluntly said on his website.
“The US will deploy an additional 560 troops to Iraq within the next few weeks,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on July 11.
“The troops will deploy for infrastructure and logistical support at Qayara airfield south of Mosul. The troops have already received their warning orders to deploy,” he stated, according to NBC News.
An MP from the National Alliance bloc believes that the Iraqi forces alone can liberate the Mosul area without participation of any foreign military.
“We have a military institution that day-by-day shines with victories. This is done through high level coordination between the military divisions, among them [Shiite militia] Hashd al-Shaabi, which is a strong face of the forces and part of the military institution,” said Mohammed Naji on Monday.
The Iraqi military has liberated several key areas from the Islamic State in recent months, most notably the city of Fallujah.
“These victories proved that we do not need the presence of any foreign military such as the coalition, US, or others. We have enough security forces and our proof is the victories against ISIS and retaking most of the occupied territories, the last one which was the Qayara base,” Naji added, according to the Iraqi Media Network.
Another MP has warned that if the American troops participate in the Mosul liberation, they will be treated as occupiers.
“We will deal with the [US President Barak] Obama decision to send an extra 500 troops to the liberation of Mosul as occupiers and as if they are going to occupy the Iraqi territories,” said Rassul Tayee, an MP from the Al-Ahrar bloc on Monday.
“Army, police, Saraya al-Salam and Hashd [militias] and tribal forces can liberate Mosul as they did liberate Fallujah and other cities,” he added.
He described recent statements from US Central Commander General Joseph Votel as revealing the Americans are trying “to occupy Iraqi land and build military bases” in order to stay after the liberation of Mosul. Therefore, “he asked PM Abadi to take a stance against sending those troops and any other coalition troops to Iraq,” according to the Iraqi Media Network.
"What we don't want to do is declare victory and depart after that. I think we want to see this through,” Votel told Reuters on July 15,
They want the Americans troops to stay longer in the country in case ISIS moves to other areas, "To ensure we can achieve that lasting defeat," he added.
A Shiite cleric has also warned the Iraqi government against accepting the US administration’s decision to deploy more troops in Iraq, especially in Qayara base. “By listening to the request to use the Qayara base, establish a US command and artillery there, without Iraqi permission, we have to ask why after our heroes retook the base, expelled terrorists, cut their way through other provinces, then the Americans came?” said Sheikh Kassim Al Taai, a Shiite religious authority, in a statement on July 14.
The American’s main goal is to use the Qayara base to put the Iraqi army under their guidance, Al Taai claimed, and influence them according to American strategy in the country to make the political situation serve their own goals and, ultimately, work towards dividing Iraq.
He believes that the American’s presence will block the Shiite militia forces in the future.
“This creates a direct and clear threat to Hashd forces. This will prevent their participation and make the Mosul liberation an American achievement using Iraqi instruments. The Iraqi government is responsible for the consequences of this by targeting and decreasing the liberation role of the Hashd forces,” he explained.
Hadi Al-Amri, leader of the Shiite militia Badr Organization, rejected Ash Carter’s comments and insisted that: “The Iraqis can liberate Mosul and they refuse Americans who replace ISIS,” according to Summaria News last Thursday.
