Iraqi MPs
have passed a motion calling for the expulsion of US troops, but they are
unlikely to be forced to leave. Photograph: Handout/Reuters
Anti-Isis
coalition suspends operations as Iraqi MPs vote to expel US troops
Group to
focus on protecting its forces after US killing of Iranian general Qassem
Suleimani
Dan Sabbagh
Defence and security editor
Sun 5 Jan
2020 15.12 GMTLast modified on Sun 5 Jan 2020 16.32 GMT
The
international coalition fighting Islamic State has suspended operations against
the terrorist group so its forces can concentrate on protecting US, UK and
other troops at bases in Iraq following the killing of Qassem Suleimani.
The
announcement came minutes before the Iraqi parliament passed a motion calling
for the expulsion of US troops, in the aftermath of the assassination by the US
of the Iranian general and the leader of Iraq’s Hezbollah militia outside
Baghdad airport on Friday.
A statement
on Sunday from Operation Inherent Resolve said the US-led coalition was “fully
committed” to protecting its bases in the light of “repeated rocket attacks”
from pro-Iranian militias over the past two months.
“This has limited our capacity to conduct
training with partners and to support their operations against Daesh [Isis],
and we have therefore paused these activities, subject to continuous review,”
the coalition said.
There have
been many warnings that the assassination of Suleimani would compromise the
final stages of the fight against Isis, which has been forced to yield all its
territory by local ground forces in Iraq and Syria with the help of coalition
air power, training and other military support.
There are
an estimated 6,000 US troops based in Iraq, whose primary function had been
helping train the Iraqi military in anti-Isis operations, but their presence
has become controversial.
There is
considerable unhappiness in Iraq that Donald Trump authorised the unannounced
drone strike on Suleimani and others on Iraqi soil. But few believe the US will
be forced to remove its forces.
The Iraqi
parliament resolution specifically calls for ending an agreement under which
the US sent troops to Iraq more than four years ago to help in the fight
against Isis. It was backed by most Shia members, who hold a majority of seats,
but many Sunni and Kurdish legislators who oppose abolishing the deal did not
attend the vote.
Another 400
British troops are also stationed in Iraq, often located with US and other
coalition forces, and are affected by the decision to halt training and support
activities, UK sources confirmed.
Hostility
to US troops in Iraq has increased in recent weeks, as tensions between
Washington and Tehran have ratcheted up. Late last year, a US civilian
contractor was killed and several service personnel injured in a rocket attack
on a base in Kirkuk.
The assault
prompted the US to launch airstrikes that killed an estimated 25 members of an
Iran-backed militia, which in turn led to attacks by protesters on the US
embassy in Baghdad.
Since the
killing of Suleimani, the US has said it will deploy an additional 3,500 troops
in the Middle East to deter Iran from an aggressive response. They are expected
to be based in Kuwait.
Operation
Inherent Resolve said it hoped it could eventually resume counter-Isis
activities. “We remain ready to return our full attention and efforts back to
our shared goal of ensuring the lasting defeat of Daesh,” the coalition’s
statement concluded.
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