Iraq will not accept foreign ground troops says Iraqi PM while Iranian and Hezbollah forces operate in Iraq
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) On Wednesday the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that he is totally opposed to Arab states joining US-led air strikes against ISIS.
In his interview with the BBC, the Iraqi Prime Minister said “Western air strikes by the United States, France and Britain had filled the gap in our battle against the ISIS threat. The Iraqi forces can defeat ISIS if there is a good air cover, and without any ground intervention.” said Abadi.
He also said “We are very clear we will not accept any troops on the ground except Iraqi troops.”
Despite these assurances by the Prime Minister IraqiNews.com has reported extensively about foreign troop activity in Iraq and their coordination with the central government, including Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces:
- URGENT: Hezbollah fighters in Iraq threaten to withdraw if America’s army joins fight against ISIS
- URGENT VIDEO: Hezbollah militias torture, execute Sunni civilians in Iraq
- URGENT: 1st Hezbollah leader killed in Iraq while fighting ISIL
- URGENT: Iranian pilot killed fighting in Iraq
- Iran deploys military to fight Sunni ISIL insurgents in Iraq
The United States alone has carried out over 200 air strikes on ISIS positions in Iraq since August 2014. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar have recently participated in conducting US-led air strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Earlier today, Australia announced, that it has joined the US-led operations and will carry out air strikes on ISIS positions. Turkish President had sent two memorandums to the Turkish Parliament in relation to the border situation with Syria and ISIS threat in Iraq on last Monday, and has pointed out that Turkey may need to join the military operations soon.
Iran’s officials have also declared that Iran would send ground troops to combat ISIS in deep Iraqi territories if their border was threatened.
Related links:
- CoM: Iraq does not need foreign ground troops
- Iran threatens to target ISIS in Iraqi territory with ground forces
- Iraq Prime Minister rejects international ground forces in Iraq
- Australian forces begin support mission in Iraq
- Turkey considers ground troops, President says it cannot stay out of the alliance against ISIS