Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (right) received US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski in Erbil on November 1, 2023. Photo: KRP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received the US ambassador to Baghdad, discussing the protection of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) forces in the Region and Iraq, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. The coalition troops have recently come under attacks by a pro-Iran militia group numerous times.
President Barzani and US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski met in Erbil, emphasising “the significance of ongoing collaboration and the importance of ensuring the security of coalition forces and diplomatic representatives across Iraq,” read the statement from the Presidency.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a pro-Iran militia group, has claimed most of the rocket and drone attacks against the US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since mid-October. The group has linked its assaults to Washington’s support for Israel in its fight against the Hamas Movement’s armed wing in Gaza Strip.
Romanowski said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that she met with President Barzani to "emphasize the US commitment to the region, ensure continued security cooperation, and work together to prevent attacks on US interests.”
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters on Tuesday that the US is set to deploy an additional 300 troops to the Middle East.
He added that 27 attacks have been carried out against US bases in Iraq and Syria since October 17.
Prominent Shiite politician and head of Fatih Alliance Hadi al-Amiri said in a statement on Monday that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s assaults on the American troops based in Ain al-Asad and Harir air bases is “a natural reaction to the biased position of the US and some European countries in favor of the usurping Zionist entity in committing war crimes against the people of Gaza.”
At least 21 US personnel received minor injuries in attacks on Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base and al-Tanf garrison on October 17 and 18, but all have returned to duty, according to the Pentagon.
One civilian contractor died in the initial attack on US troops at al-Asad air base after suffering a heart attack. Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbassi paid a visit to the air base the following day.
The multinational global coalition against ISIS was formed in 2014 to fight the radical group which had controlled swatches of the Syrian and Iraqi territories. The group became fully devoid of territorial control in Iraq 2017. While it lacks any territory, ISIS still continues to pose security risks through abductions, hit-and-run attacks, and bombings.
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