FREE Iraq and Syria of ILLEGAL US occupation forces

[Anthea]

US occupation cannot persist

In its statement, Syria's military emphasizes that the US is working on reviving ISIS in Syria and Iraq
(would not surprise me, US bases in Syria are illegal, US is stealing Syrian oil)

A Syrian military statement addressed the aerial aggression launched by the US occupation forces on sites and towns in the eastern region of Syria and near the border with Iraq.

The statement revealed that the aggression led to the killing of several civilians and soldiers, injuring others, as well as causing significant material damage. It also stressed that the targeted area in eastern Syria is the same one in which Syria has been fighting ISIS, emphasizing that the United States is working on reviving ISIS as its field arm in Syria and Iraq by "all dirty means."

The statement also affirmed that the Syrian army will continue to defend Syria's land and people, and strike all terrorist groups, regardless of how much their sponsors and supporters try to obstruct this goal. It added that it is determined to liberate the entire Syrian territory from all terrorism and occupation, including the US occupation which "cannot persist."

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Aleppo reported that the US aggression lasted approximately 40 minutes at dawn today, and was carried out by aircraft and war bombers, targeting approximately 20 sites in Deir Ezzor, al-Harabesh, the city of al-Mayadin, and al-Bukamal in eastern Syria.

He confirmed that most of the targeted areas were evacuated before the attack; however, the aggression targeted civilian facilities, including bakeries, food warehouses, and libraries.

Yesterday, the US Central Command announced the targeting of sites belonging to the IRGC and its allies in Iraq and Syria as a response to the killing of three US occupation troops, and the wounding of 40 soldiers in a drone attack last week that targeted a US occupation base.

US targeted Syria, Iraq

US airstrikes had earlier targeted military sites near Ain Ali, south of the city of Al Mayadin in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, Syria.

CENTCOM revealed that US forces struck more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria with numerous aircraft, including long-range bombers that were said to have taken off from the United States.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ot-persist

[Anthea]

Iraq should be cleansed from foreign presence

Falah al-Fayyad speaks during the funeral procession of the 16 martyrs killed in the US aggression, vowing that the crime will not pass heedlessly

Describing the attack as "blatantly rude", Al-Fayyad vowed that they "will not pass heedlessly." The Iraqi Resistance leader stressed that the "blood of the Popular Mobilization Front's martyrs" represents "the dignity and honor of Iraq."

The PMF's chief revealed that the recent aggression is one that "directly targeted" the PMF, which marks a clear escalation.

Iraqi PMF Chief Faleh al-Fayyad: "This incident will not pass heedlessly, as it represents a blatantly rude assault, and the blood of PMF martyrs symbolizes the [elevated] status and dignity of #Iraq." https://t.co/QW9vivuF8Q
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 4, 2024

He emphasized that the force "will not [let] the blood of its sons be a cheap political commodity," as he urged the Iraqi Parliament and political forces to take a clear stance against the aggression, which "crossed red lines."

In this context, al-Fayyad highlighted the necessity of "cleansing" Iraq from all foreign military presence.

It is worth mentioning that the PMF is a military group mainly relying on the Iraqi citizens who took on the responsibility of fighting rapidly spreading terrorism in the region. The PMF act under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi government, therefore holding an official governmental status.

No negotiating

The president of the We Build Alliance and the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization in Iraq, Hadi al-Amiri, stated that the alliance does not "believe in negotiations" and called for the "immediate withdrawal" of US forces from Iraq. He added that the US mobilizes terror cells in the country as it pleases.

It is worth noting that the We Build parliamentary alliance was formed to include representatives of the most prominent Iraqi Resistance factions.

On Saturday, the Iraqi government's PMF affirmed their readiness to carry out any orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to preserve Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The PMF's remarks come in the wake of a US aggression on Iraq and Syria late Friday, which resulted in the martyrdom of 16 people in Iraq, including Iraqi soldiers and civilians, in addition to significant material damage.

On his part, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced three days of mourning in all government departments and institutions on Saturday in commemoration of those murdered in US airstrikes in western Iraq.

According to a statement by the government of Iraq on social media, the Prime Minister announced mourning "across all state departments and institutions... in honor of the souls of the martyrs from our armed forces and the civilians who lost their lives due to the American bombing."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... n-presence

[Anthea]

US Killed Senior Militia Leader

“At 9:30 p.m. February 7, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a unilateral strike in Iraq in response to the attacks on U.S. service members, killing a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region,” CENTCOM said in a statement

“There are no indications of collateral damage or civilian casualties at this time,” the statement added. “The United States will continue to take necessary action to protect our people. We will not hesitate to hold responsible all those who threaten our forces’ safety.”

According to security sources, on Wednesday night, a drone strike aimed at a vehicle in Baghdad resulted in the deaths of at least two militia leaders. The attack occurred after a sequence of loud explosions was heard across different areas of the city.

Reports suggest that a drone launched three rockets at a 4X4 vehicle in eastern Baghdad, particularly in the Mashtal neighborhood. Another anonymous source claimed that the targeted vehicle belonged to an official affiliated with Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition mainly consisting of pro-Iran paramilitaries now integrated into Iraq's regular security forces.

However, conflicting reports arose regarding the number of casualties, with one source stating that three individuals were killed in the attack. The vehicle, purportedly used by the pro-Iran Hashd al-Shaabi, was the primary target of the strike.

The deceased were identified as Abu Baqir al-Saadi and Haj Arkan Aliawi, leaders of Kataib Hezbollah.

Iraqi security forces have closed all roads leading to the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad as Telegram channels linked to Iranian media have called on Iraqis to march towards the US embassy in the capital city.

The drone attack occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Iraq, marked by retaliatory strikes between extremist Iran-backed armed factions and US forces deployed in the country since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/838875

[Anthea]

Withdrawal of US Coalition

Iraq's Federal Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, Yahya Rassoul, announced on Thursday evening that measures to expedite the withdrawal of international Coalition forces from Iraq had been initiated

Rassoul stated that decisive actions would be taken in the upcoming days to terminate the presence of these forces. Additionally, he emphasized plans to establish bilateral agreements with several countries to equip and train Iraqi forces, noting the willingness of many nations to engage in such agreements.

Tensions have escalated as Iran-backed militias launched over 170 aerial attacks on US bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria, citing the United States' support for Israel during the Gaza War.

In response, the US conducted multiple retaliatory strikes on Iran-backed militias and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Iraq and Syria, targeting key commanders and logistical centers.

These actions on Iraqi soil have sparked outrage from the Iraqi government, which asserts that the US is violating Iraq's sovereignty and destabilizing the region. Consequently, Iraq is pursuing measures through its parliament and state apparatuses to compel the Coalition to withdraw from the country.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/838972

[Anthea]

Iraqi Militia Attacks on US Forces

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has announced its decision to resume attacks on United States forces and positions in Iraq, in response to the killing of Abu Bakr al-Saadi, a senior militia commander

This move marks a resurgence in hostilities after a temporary suspension following previous incidents.

The decision to resume the attacks was made in the wake of the targeted killing of Abu Bakr al-Saadi prompted the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to call for intensified actions against US military presence in the region. Senior militia commanders in Baghdad have reportedly agreed to retaliate against the assassination, signaling a unified stance among various armed groups.

Heightened tensions have been observed in Baghdad, as US drones have been spotted flying at low altitudes over the city in recent days. This surveillance activity has raised concerns among militia leaders, with fears of potential airstrikes targeting them. The presence of US drones has noticeably restricted the movements of militia groups and their leaders, as they anticipate potential attacks.

Iraqi political analyst Mohannad Janabi characterized the current situation as indicative of Iraq's transition into an "unorganized war," emphasizing the escalating conflict between local militias and US forces. Janabi further underscored the ramifications of this development, warning of its adverse impact on stability in the region.

The resurgence of attacks by the militia group comes after a temporary halt in hostilities following the United States' vow to retaliate for the deaths of three soldiers in attacks on a US base in Jordan on January 30. The suspension of attacks by Iraqi Hezbollah militias was in response to this declaration, reflecting a temporary de-escalation in tensions prior to the recent developments.

The United States has yet to respond to the recent escalation, but observers fear that further military actions could exacerbate the already volatile situation in Iraq.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/839050

[Anthea]

Why US should leave Syria

A commentary on War on the Rocks discusses the US deviation from its main goal in fighting ISIS and what it can allegedly go back to its claimed goal

A Commentary by Thanassis Cambanis on War on the Rocks titled "Leave Syria, Keep Fighting the Islamic State" sheds light on how the daily attacks from the Axis of Resistance have made life hell for the US troops in Syria and Iraq. It mentions how last month's attack is a clear reminder of the dangers with three service personnel dying.

The commentary states that even though the United States has had years to plan a well-organized withdrawal, it has not done so yet. It's currently a matter of months or at best a year, before the United States exits from Syria instead of keeping its troops' lives at constant risk. It further explains that the latter is tied to the results of the upcoming elections as if Donald Trump wins, it's possible he would proceed with his October 2019 effort of stopping the Syria mission. On the other hand, if Biden wins the commentator believes that "although he’s sleepwalking the United States deeper into a regional war," would have to weigh the constant loss of US lives as he does not want it.

The key is fighting terrorism as a main focus

It urged the US government and its allies to prioritize the main objective that allegedly brought US troops to Syria in the first place: the Islamic State. On one hand, some alarmists and supporters of an open-ended US presence have deceitfully alleged that the Islamic State is "as strong as ever." On the other hand, others, including the Iraqi government, have excessively dismissed the possibility of the presence of the exaggerated number of "50,000 committed terrorists" in al-Hol ever causing problems again.

It further stressed the United States to come to terms with its real priorities and "make the hard tradeoffs," stressing that the American forces are in Syria and Iraq for a purpose different than fighting Iran, and it is countering the Islamic State(ISIS). Hence, it’s time for the United States to stop all other points pulling it into "unwinnable local conflicts" and instead direct all of its energy toward fighting terrorism.

The commentary suggested the United States should work in parallel with Syria which wants to avoid the emergence of the Islamic State and negotiate a well-trusted plan for its government to have control over detention centers where ISIS members are held noting that the US already plans for an organized withdrawal from northeast Syria and a smaller presence in Iraq.

As for Iraq, the commentary stated, that the United States should be open to taking "a hit to its prestige" by shrinking its military presence, in return for proceeding with intelligence and counter-terrorism cooperation with "security forces in federal Iraq as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government," adding that "The United States no longer occupies Iraq, and Iraq’s government includes a bevy of problematic militant factions." This means that Washington should be ready to make a deal declaring Iraq’s sovereignty rather than risk losing a crucial partner.

Further emphasizing the commentary highlighted that even though the United States does not possess any leverage to control either Syria or Iraq, it shares some common goals with them, and at least with Iraq, "a desire for a deep continuing security partnership." So, a lower arrangement can still effectively fight the Islamic State and possibly even eliminate many of the trigger points that "keep pulling the United States into a regional war."

The commentary ends by stressing that if the US is "willing to swallow the hit to American prestige" on one hand and work on its relationship with Iraq, on the other then it can possibly protect its alleged core mission while shrinking the US military presence in the Middle East.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -the-rocks

[Anthea]

US withdrawal from Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani says his trip to Washington will cover various issues, including the Israeli war on Gaza and an end to the international coalition's mission in Iraq

On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stated that he plans to discuss with US President Joe Biden the significance of de-escalating the situation in the Gaza Strip and ending the war to prevent its escalation across the region.

Before leaving Baghdad for Washington, al-Sudani emphasized that his visit is at a critical and sensitive juncture for bilateral relations and the region. He stressed that the purpose of his visit is to enhance relations, including the implementation of the provisions outlined in the Strategic Framework Agreement.

The agreement, signed in 2008, outlines the development of close cooperation on security and defense matters while respecting Iraqi sovereignty.

He emphasized that he would discuss with Biden the joint US-Iraqi Supreme Military Committee's operations, aiming to establish a timeline for ending the coalition's mission in Iraq. Subsequently, the discussions will focus on bilateral relations with coalition countries.

Two days ago, al-Sudani announced that the joint US-Iraqi Supreme Military Committee has agreed to end the international coalition's mission according to a timetable.

"We consider a comprehensive de-escalation in the Middle East to be in both Iraqi and US interests. That requires, above all, urgently ending the war in the Gaza Strip and respecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," he said in an article for Foreign Affairs

"We believe the time is right for our relationship to become broader, recognizing the growing capabilities of our forces to defend Iraq and ensure the safety of its citizens," he said, alluding to ending foreign intervention in Iraq's security and military.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... rawal-from