Spanish PM at NATO occupation base: We support Iraqi sovereignty

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Dec 2023 17:12
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The Prime Minister says that his country, at the request of the Iraqi authorities, will support will support the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Iraq.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for a summit of heads of state and government at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 (AP)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his country's unwavering support for Iraq's "sovereignty", during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani concluding a formal visit to the country.

Sanchez was accompanied by a delegation of Spanish businessmen. During his visit, he said he was dedicated to developing trade relations between the two countries.

Sanchez emphasized that "at the request of the Iraqi authorities," Spain will support "the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Iraq".

Shortly before the statement, Sanchez had passed by the NATO occupation military bases in the highly securitized Green Zone, where he thanked the 300 Spanish troops stationed there on behalf of the Spanish state for what he described as "efforts and sacrifices in favor of international security and stability".

Check out: Islamic Resistance in Iraq hits US base near Erbil airport (Footage)

In 2016, Spain deployed their troops into Iraq as part of a NATO coalition headed by the US under the pretext of fighting ISIS in Iraq.

Recently with the onset of the genocidal war against Gaza, the US-led coalition in Iraq had become subjected to intensified operations against the resistance to pressure on the US to end the war on Gaza.

Since mid-October, Washington has documented more than 100 drone and rocket attacks against US and other coalition troops deployed to Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi government condemns US attack against resistance

Earlier this week, the Iraqi government condemned the United States’ targeting of the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi Resistance faction, noting that such attacks on Iraqi sovereign soil are "unacceptable" under "any circumstances, pretext, or justification."

The government further underscored that the targeting, which led to the martyrdom of a member of the Resistance and the injury of 18 others, including civilians, is "a clear hostile act, not constructive, and does not serve the path of long-term common interests in extending security and stability, and works against the declared desire of the American side to strengthen relations with Iraq."

Kataib Hezbollah Warns US

Earlier this month, a senior official in the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah, Abu Ali Al-Askari, confirmed that the Resistance operations against the US occupation will continue until the last soldier is expelled from Iraq.

"Any foolishness from the American enemy will be met with severe retaliatory measures and an expansion of operations."

Al-Askari opened up his statement by commending the fighters of the Iraqi Resistance who are racing to execute valiant operations against the US occupation sites in the country, saying that many in Iraq quiver with the onset of these operations as they fear for their bureaucratic privileges, which are conditioned upon the persistence of the occupation.

"If the Iraqi government wishes to negotiate with the [US] over their withdrawal from Iraq, [then be it] we will not stand in the way, even though we categorically believe that [negotiation] is but another US lie."