Asa’ib Leader Acknowledges Sudanese Ability to Repel Americans in Iraq

Days after the Iraqi armed groups announced a difficult position regarding the American presence, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, came out with a seemingly different position regarding the mechanism for the removal of the h -Americans from Iraq.

Khazali, in an interview with the “Political Forum of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq Movement,” said on Friday, “It is not an easy matter to leave the American forces. “

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani from Washington announced last April that the nature of the relationship between Baghdad and Washington was gradually changing from the level of the international coalition to a bilateral relationship.

Iraqi political forces welcomed this news in the context of their support for the outcomes of the trip.

Qais Khazali, leader of the Asa’ib movement (AFP)

Popular location

It was previously reported that the armed groups adhered to a truce aimed at not targeting Americans in Iraq, but the groups “Hezbollah Brigades” and “Al-Nujaba” resisted several times.

Al-Khazali explained that “the departure of the resident requires a popular and political stance of rejection,” stressing that “popular situations and resistance groups reject the presence of foreign forces in in the territory of Iraq. “

Al-Khazali pointed out that “the position of Iraq is strong and patriotic and able to impose its will and remove foreign forces,” and that “the position of the government is irreconcilable and is represented by forcing the departure of foreign forces on a technical basis. “

However, Al-Khazali said, “The Iraqi government wants the departure date of the American forces to be based on technical reasons.”

Al-Khazali pointed out that “the defense agencies and their work sent clear messages to expel the resident,” and suggested that “it is unlikely that the American forces will leave within months, and the government awaiting the opinion of the military leaders.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani (X)

“Al-Nujaba” threatens

Although the position of “Asa’ib” appears to be different from the beginning from the position of the other groups due to their involvement in the political process; Since he has a parliamentary block and a ministry in the government (higher education and scientific research), he always takes positions refusing to continue the American presence in Iraq in its combat form, but he prefers official frameworks in dealing with the Americans.

In the context of the continuing difference in opinion within the armed groups regarding the American presence in Iraq, the importance of Khazali’s statements comes at a time when he and the Al-Nujaba movement are positioned in terms of increasing the American presence in Iraq.

The Hezbollah Brigades, through its spokesman Abu Ali Al-Askari, recently announced that they “did not see any seriousness” regarding the withdrawal of America from the country.

Al-Askari went so far as to cast doubt on what Al-Sudani considers to be the most important development project in Iraq, namely the Development Road Project, which was recently signed during the visit of – the seat of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad, between Iraq. , Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

As for Al-Nujaba, who was largely committed to peace with the Americans, after the strike on his headquarters, including his satellite office in Damascus, he vowed to respond to Israel, saying in a statement that he would reach deep into Israel.

Although the threat affects Israel and not the United States of America, there is often a confusion of objectives whether within Iraq or Syria, which makes these groups vulnerable. injured to two types of strikes, some of them made by Israel and the other by the United. The United States, which over the past months has reached the level of murder.