Iraq
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Fuad Hussein takes part in a session at the Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahraini capital on December 5, 2020. Photo: Mazen Mahdi / AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq’s foreign minister on Saturday urged for the prevention of regional conflicts through more pragmatic policy plans at a security conference in Bahrain's capital of Manama.
FM Fuad Hussein stressed that establishing stability in the Middle East will not be achieved "unless stable, realistic and lasting policies are pursued to resolve conflict centers and defuse crises in the region by peaceful means," during a speech given at International Institute for Strategic Studies’ (IISS) Manama Dialogue.
He noted out that Iraq should not be an arena for conflicts or a springboard for attacking neighboring countries.
The minister called for regional and international security, pointing out that "the absence of conflict resolution mechanisms in the region made it one of the most tense and crisis-stricken regions in the world, and created conditions of instability whose effects have become entrenched."
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States supports Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in his “push” against Iran-backed militants in the country during his video address to the conference on Friday.
Pompeo’s comments come one day after the US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller confirmed the “temporary” withdrawal of some diplomatic staff from Iraq, which Iraqi officials said stems from security concerns.
The US embassy in Baghdad has often been targeted by rocket attacks from Iran-backed groups, and was stormed by supporters of Iran-backed militias at the end of last year.
Rocket attacks resumed against the US embassy last month after a 40-day ceasefire.
The US previously threatened to withdraw all troops and close its embassy if Kadhimi was unable to rein in Iran-backed groups, most of whom are in or linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) – an umbrella network of militias.
Pompeo also praised the US assassination of Iranian top commander Qasem Soleimani in January. The killing of the top Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) commander and PMF deputy Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis prompted a flurry of rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting US troops, and led to a non-binding Iraqi parliament to expel US troops from the country.
Elements of the PMF are also said to be behind the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi protesters and activists since demonstrations began last October.
Kadhimi has previously vowed to hold the perpetrators to justice, but little progress has been made
FM Fuad Hussein stressed that establishing stability in the Middle East will not be achieved "unless stable, realistic and lasting policies are pursued to resolve conflict centers and defuse crises in the region by peaceful means," during a speech given at International Institute for Strategic Studies’ (IISS) Manama Dialogue.
He noted out that Iraq should not be an arena for conflicts or a springboard for attacking neighboring countries.
The minister called for regional and international security, pointing out that "the absence of conflict resolution mechanisms in the region made it one of the most tense and crisis-stricken regions in the world, and created conditions of instability whose effects have become entrenched."
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States supports Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in his “push” against Iran-backed militants in the country during his video address to the conference on Friday.
Pompeo’s comments come one day after the US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller confirmed the “temporary” withdrawal of some diplomatic staff from Iraq, which Iraqi officials said stems from security concerns.
The US embassy in Baghdad has often been targeted by rocket attacks from Iran-backed groups, and was stormed by supporters of Iran-backed militias at the end of last year.
Rocket attacks resumed against the US embassy last month after a 40-day ceasefire.
The US previously threatened to withdraw all troops and close its embassy if Kadhimi was unable to rein in Iran-backed groups, most of whom are in or linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) – an umbrella network of militias.
Pompeo also praised the US assassination of Iranian top commander Qasem Soleimani in January. The killing of the top Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) commander and PMF deputy Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis prompted a flurry of rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting US troops, and led to a non-binding Iraqi parliament to expel US troops from the country.
Elements of the PMF are also said to be behind the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi protesters and activists since demonstrations began last October.
Kadhimi has previously vowed to hold the perpetrators to justice, but little progress has been made
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