West looks to reduce troops based in Iraq
Diplomats are working towards reducing the number of Western troops in Iraq to satisfy demands from pro-iranian factions in the country’s parliament. The parliament voted two weeks ago for foreign forces to pull out following America’s killing of Qassim Soleimani, the Iraqi general. It is hoped a compromise deal could defuse regional tensions. It is feared that a full withdrawal would give Tehran greater sway in the country, and hamper mop-up operations against Isil.
THE Western troop presence in Iraq is to be scaled down under a plan to defuse regional tensions over America’s killing of Iranian general Qassim Soleimani.
Rather than bowing to Iranian demands for a withdrawal of all coalition forces, diplomats are working on a compromise deal whereby the foreign troop presence will be reduced. They hope this will satisfy demands from pro-iranian factions in Iraq’s parliament, which voted two weeks ago for foreign troops to leave after Mr Soleimani’s death in a US drone strike on Jan 3.
The plan follows concerns among Western military chiefs that an immediate pull-out would hamper the ongoing mop-up operations against Isil remnants in Iraq. Iraq’s Kurdish and Sunni Muslim politicians also voiced fears that a complete withdrawal would give Tehran even greater sway over the Shia Muslim bloc that dominates the parliament.
One Western official told The Daily Telegraph: “Within the Shia bloc there are two views: Iranian-backed groups want the US and coalition forces to leave immediately, but pragmatists want a smaller coalition presence, which is where discussions are taking place.”
While pro-iranian factions in the Iraqi government are still pushing for a complete withdrawal, it is thought that a significant reduction in numbers would be acceptable as a conciliatory gesture.
There are currently around 5,200 US troops in Iraq, along with roughly 4,000 from other Western nations, including nearly 500 British soldiers.
An exact timeline for the plan is as
yet unclear. Adel Abdul Mahd, Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, has said that any final decision should be made by his successor, who may not be appointed for months. However, he is thought to favour the compromise.
Diplomats are particularly worried about the pro-iranian Shia militants in Iraq, who have threatened to attack American targets. The Western official said that the death of Soleimani, along with Abu Mahdi al-muhandis, deputy leader of Iraq’s main Shia militia umbrella group, the Popular Mobilisation Forces, meant the militias were now even more of a law unto themselves.
He added. “There is a concern that they could … start killing Americans.”
A potential flashpoint looms this Friday, when Shia cleric Moqtada al-sadr plans to organise a “million man” march through Baghdad to demand that the US presence ends.