Kataib Hezbollah warns US forces against postponing Iraq withdrawal
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Kataib Hezbollah warns of severe blows if US forces don’t fully withdraw from Iraq bases, including Ain al-Asad and Camp Victoria, by the agreed timeline.
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Army commanders tour the operations sectors of the Iraqi army Seventh Brigade, in Anbar, Iraq, Sunday, December 29, 2019. (AP)
Senior Kataib Hezbollah security official in Iraq, Abu Ali al-Askari, issued a strong warning on Monday evening, stating that the group was closely monitoring the withdrawal of US occupation forces from Iraqi territory and expects a complete exit from all military sites, including the Joint Operations Command, Ain al-Assad Airbase, and Camp Victoria.
“We are watching closely and waiting for the full departure of the American occupation forces,” al-Askari said, adding that the group's patience is not unlimited. He urged all factions and authorities to work collectively to end what he called "American stalling tactics" regarding the timeline and scope of the withdrawal.
Al-Askari cautioned that if Washington fails to follow through with its commitments, Kataib Hezbollah is prepared to “deliver severe blows” that would force US troops to leave "under fire."
His statement follows the announcement by Washington earlier this year that the US and Iraq had agreed on the first phase of the US troop withdrawal, set to begin in September 2025. However, concerns remain among Iraqi Resistance factions about the sincerity and completeness of the planned exit, especially regarding key strategic locations still under US military control.
US unwelcome
At the time of the US-Iraqi talks, a statement from the Iraqi parliament emphasized the irrevocable nature of the legislation adopted in January 2020, requiring the government to end the presence of all US-led foreign military forces in the Arab country.
The United States redeployed a large force in Iraq following an agreement with the Iraqi government, which mandated the US military to support the country in its fight against ISIS. Under a Combined Joint Task Force, dubbed "Operation Inherent Resolve," the US has maintained a large presence, including two airbases, through which it claims to fight terrorism in the region.
Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi declared that the bill enjoys widespread popular support and urged the government to implement the legislation while focusing on bolstering Iraqi security forces rather than relying on foreign troops to combat terror groups.
