Sadr opposes proposed US military bases in Kurdistan Region
Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr delivers a speech to his supporters .
(IraqiNews.com) ERBIL — Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr recently condemned growing US military influence in Iraq, especially in Kurdistan Region, and alleged that the US is setting up military bases in the region.
Sadr on Friday said that the ‘Iraqi government should react against a US plan to establish military bases in the Kurdistan Region’.
“The Iraqi government must prevent such a plan before its too late,” Sadr urged Baghdad.
Despite al-Sadr’s allegations there is no official statement yet confirming a US plan to build bases in Kurdistan Region. These allegations arose after Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga Ministry and US Department of Defense signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 12.
According to the MoU, Washington will commit to provide Kurdish Peshmerga forces with financial and military assistance until ISIS is completely defeated.
Shi’ite militia groups, including Hashd al-Shaabi and Asiab Ahl al-Haq, have also stated earlier that ‘Iraq does not need foreign troops to participate in Mosul’s liberation’ as according to them ‘Iraqi forces alone are capable of retaking Mosul and other territories’.