Following the death of a pro-Iran commander in Baghdad in a US military airstrike, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is determined to put an end to the US-led international military coalition in his country.
The justification for the coalition's existence has expired, said a statement released by Sudani's office today. A “dialogue” that will take place soon will determine “the procedure for ending the presence,” he said.
USA: “Act of self-defense”
Yesterday, a US airstrike killed a pro-Iranian commander of the Harakat al-Nujaba militia, who Washington said was involved in attacks on US soldiers. The US described the attack as an “act of self-defense”, but the Sudanese government, which is supported by pro-Iranian parties, spoke of “aggression” by the US-led military coalition.
Since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas on October 7, attacks on bases used by the US army in Iraq and Syria have increased significantly. The US military has recorded more than a hundred such attacks since mid-October.
A group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which Washington says is linked to Iran, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks. Around 2,500 US troops are stationed in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria. The international military coalition led by the US in these countries was founded in 2014 to push back the jihadist militia Islamic State (IS).