ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- The Saraya al-Salam, or the Peace Brigades of Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr's militia have stated that they oppose any American involvement in the battle for Mosul and that US troops will be targeted if they are deployed to the country. “The Iraqi army and the Shiite Militia (Hashd al Shaabi) are capable of liberating Mosul from the hands of Islamic State and they do not need the Americans,” said Alaa Aboud, the spokesperson for Saraya al Salam on Sumaria TV on Wednesday. Aboud warned that American troops will be legitimate targets of his militia who want to handle Mosul themselves. “The Saraya al Salam is ready to push ISIS out of Mosul with the participation of 10,000 fighters if the Americans do not interfere.” He added. “They are ready to target the Americans and they are thirsty for their blood.” The group leader Sadr also warned the Americans against any troop deployment this week, following a US statement of sending extra special forces for the Mosul offensive. Sadr’s Mahdi Army fought with US troops in Iraq for several years following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. “The US will deploy an additional 560 troops to Iraq within the next few weeks,” US 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. The powerful Shiite militia leader Hadi Al-Amri similarly rejected Carter’s plans, saying, “The Iraqis can liberate Mosul and they refuse Americans who replace ISIS,” according to Sumaria News last week. After the recapture of the Qayara airfield by the Iraqi army southeast of Mosul earlier this month, there has been talk of turning it into a major air base for Iraqi and coalition forces in the final offensive against ISIS stronghold.
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