Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

US Secretary of Defense in Iraq on an unannounced visit

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen Net + Agencies
  • 7 Mar 2023 15:18
2 Min Read

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes an unplanned visit to Baghdad as part of his tour to Jordan, Egypt, and "Israel."

  • x
  • Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, updates reporters at the Pentagon about the military campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. (AP)
    US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, updates reporters at the Pentagon about the military campaign in Iraq, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. (AP)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Baghdad on Tuesday, as part of the Middle East tour, which started in Jordan, and will continue to Egypt and "Israel". 

Austin said in a tweet on Twitter, which he attached to a video of the moment he arrived in Iraq, that he is "here to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq." 

Wheels down in Baghdad. I’m here to reaffirm the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq. pic.twitter.com/hJVJjefuyv

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) March 7, 2023

It is noteworthy that this visit comes before the twentieth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003, and that Austin was the last commander-in-chief of US forces in Iraq.

Related News

US, China to resume talks in Madrid; tariffs, TikTok on agenda

China warns Philippines against provocations in South China Sea

It also came in light of a wide diplomatic movement in recent weeks, with Iraqi officials successively recieving the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia, and then the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in early March. 

Read next: US occupation steals 53 Syrian oil tankers, smuggles them to Iraq

An official said it aims to show Washington's commitment to maintaining its military presence there, nearly 20 years after the US-led invasion of Baghdad.

A senior US defense official told reporters that he aims to make a pledge to the Iraqis to maintain the presence of US forces, but not just "about a military tool," adding that the US is interested in a partnership with Iraq. 

Austin's tour took off in Jordan on Sunday, aiming to assure key allies of the "US commitment to the region" despite Washington's focus on Russia and China. It is noteworthy that Iraq had announced in January 2021 the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, while maintaining the relationship with foreign forces in the field of training and empowerment.

  • United States
  • Baghdad
  • Lloyd Austin
  • Pentagon
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS