The Iraqi premier spoke about the security, economy, climate, and administrative challenges Baghdad is facing, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“Today, after the aggression on the Iraqi security forces’ positions, we have to start a discussion in order to reach an understanding to form a timeline to end the mission of the international advisors and move towards bilateral relations in every sector, just like any other country in the region and the world,” said PM Sudani regarding the possibility of coalition forces withdrawing from Iraq following American retaliatory strikes on Iran-backed militias.
Iran-backed militias have struck bases of the international coalition in Iraq and Syria with rockets and drones over 100 times since October 17, against the backdrop of Washington’s support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip.
US forces have responded with several retaliatory strikes, targeting militia groups they blame for the attacks. The Iraqi government has strongly condemned American retaliatory attacks, which have killed at least 11, describing them as a “violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty.
“The end of the global coalition’s mission in Iraq is necessary for the security and stability of Iraq and it is necessary to maintain constructive bilateral relations between Iraq and global coalition countries,” Sudani said.
Sudani noted that the justification for the presence of the coalition forces in Iraq is to fight ISIS, which is no longer a threat.
“Today, with the people of Iraq as witnesses, ISIS is no longer a threat to the Iraqi people," he said, suggesting that there is no need for the coalition forces to be stationed in Iraq. Nevertheless, he also added that “The Iraqi government and people are respectful and appreciate the position of the international coalition that contributed along with the Iraqi people to defeat ISIS."
The Iraqi government has recently been under mounting pressure to expel international coalition forces from the country, following a series of American retaliatory strikes targeting bases of state-linked militia groups.
Around 100 members of the Iraqi parliament on Saturday announced that they had signed a petition calling for the issuing of a binding resolution to expel forces of the US-led coalition from the country, labeling the foreign presence as a “threat” to Iraqi security.
In January 2020, angry over the US killing of Soleimani and Muhandis, the Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution to expel all foreign forces.
On Saturday, the parliament’s First Deputy Speaker Muhsin al-Mandalawi said that the legislature’s resolution “has the acceptance of the Iraqi people,” urging the Iraqi federal government to implement the decision.
Thousands of foreign military personnel are stationed in Iraq as part of the international coalition which has assisted Kurdish and Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS and has continued to provide training and advice to the armed groups since the militant group’s territorial defeat in 2017.
