US commander expects increase in attacks on Iraqi bases

Layal Shakir

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A US military official on Thursday said he expects an increase in attacks on Iraqi bases housing American troops as the coalition formally shifts its combat role in Iraq to focus on military advising and training with thousands of its soldiers staying in the country.

Top US general for the Middle East Marine Frank McKenzie warned of an uptick in offensives "on US and Iraqi personnel by Iranian-backed militias" who oppose the Western, and especially American, presence in the country. 

“They actually want all U.S. forces to leave, and all U.S. forces are not going to leave,” McKenzie told AP in an interview, adding that as a result, “that may provoke a response as we get later into the end of the month.”

The militias are "determined to get the American forces out," he noted. 

The Joint Operations Command on Friday said the US combat forces “will leave Iraq completely by the end of this month.”

Iraq and the US have agreed to “transfer the coalition members with a combat role to outside of Iraq,” it added. 

The general’s comments follow Iraq’s announcement of ending the US-led coalition’s combat mission in Iraq on Thursday. “We officially announce the end of the combat missions of the coalition forces and their withdrawal from Iraq,” Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji said.

The coalition also declared the end of its mission in a tweet.

The global coalition was formally established in October 2014, after the Islamic State (ISIS) took control of large swathes of territories in Iraq and Syria. There are currently 3,500 foreign soldiers in Iraq, 2,500 of them Americans. 

McKenzie confirmed to AP that the number of American soldiers stationed in the country remains unchanged following the change in roles. 

“We’ve drawn down from bases we didn’t need, we’ve made it harder to get at us. But the Iraqis still want us to be there. They still want the presence, they still want the engagement,” he said. 

“So as long as they want it, and we can mutually agree that’s the case — we’re going to be there.”

The US has been under pressure to leave Iraq. 

Iran-backed militias are blamed for frequent attacks on or near bases in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. 

Erbil airport, which is home to US troops, was attacked with explosive-laden drones on September 12.

Shiite cleric and leader of the Sadrist Movement, which secured the largest number of seats in Iraq’s parliamentary elections Muqtada al-Sadr also opposes America’s presence in Iraq. He set out rules in October for the US, in anticipation for when his bloc assumes the premiership.

In a statement, he outlined the ideal of the US dealing with Iraq as “a state with full sovereignty,” adding that “serious and effective dialogue” should be made regarding US military presence in Iraq.

The coalition’s shift to high-level advisory work comes as ISIS threatens the security of the country, launching attacks on Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Two Iraqi soldiers and 22 Peshmerga fighters were killed in several ISIS offensives since November 27.

McKenzie said he believes ISIS militants will continue to be a threat in Iraq and that the group “keep recreating itself, perhaps under a different name.”

He reaffirmed that the coalition will still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq’s fight against ISIS. 

 

Updated at 1:55 pm