Jones: US troops guaranteed immunity in Iraq

Ambassador Stuart Jones said “Iraq’s Prime Minister has given the assurances that we need from the government’ on privileges for growing number of troops.”

“The US has reached an agreement with Iraq on privileges and immunities for the growing number of troops based in the country, helping in the fight against the Islamic State ISIL militant group,” the new US ambassador said to the Guardians on Thursday.

Stuart Jones said “Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has given assurances that US troops will receive immunity from prosecution.”

Under Iraq’s former prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, the issue was a major sticking point, ultimately leading to the decision to withdraw all remaining US troops in late 2011.

“That was a different situation and those troops would have had a different role,” Jones said.

“We have the assurances that we need from the government of Iraq on privileges and immunities,” he said. “It’s in the basis of our formal written communications between our governments and also based on the strategic framework agreement that is the legal basis of our partnership.” /End/