Pockets of ISIS remain a threat, warns Iraqi president

Iraqi President Barham Salih yesterday said that pockets of ISIS fighters threatened to reappear across the country and emphasised the role of American and Nato military support in the battle against extremism.

The civil war in neighbouring Syria has contributed to the problem, he said during an online interview at the Brookings Institution’s week-long panel on the Middle East under the administration of US President Joe Biden.

“There remain pockets of these terrorists across the Middle East, particularly Syria,” Mr Salih said.

“You look at Idlib. You look at some of the other areas.

“And we are already witnessing signs of revival of some of the activities by ISIS in the Iraqi deserts near Mosul, near Anbar, sometimes in Kirkuk and so on.

“I do not want to underestimate the significance of the victory accomplished, but we also have to acknowledge that the mission is yet to be accomplished fully and definitively.

“Without addressing some of the fundamental issues like the Syrian conflict, like dealing with these pockets and areas of the presence of the extremist groups, this war against terror … will have to continue.”

He also spoke about the Iraqi Parliament’s vote last year to expel US troops after president Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis.

“Iraq definitely is committed to retaining its full sovereignty,” Mr Salih said.

“Neither the United States nor Iraq want to have foreign troops, or American troops for that matter, across its territory.

“The US administrations have all called for the withdrawal of troops. But all of us are committed to maintaining the fight to the end against ISIS.”

Mr Trump reduced the number of troops in Iraq to 2,500.

Mr Salih said that an ongoing strategic dialogue with the US would determine the future role of American forces, and said that “there is now also a focus on Nato enhancing its mission in Iraq to provide training to Iraqi forces”.

Mr Biden discussed the strategic dialogue in a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi – his first with an Arab leader since taking office – on Tuesday.

It took place after three rocket attacks against US forces in Iraq within a week.