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
Information Minister in Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Five civilians killed and at least 29 others injured in shelling across the border with India
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: So he [Trump] decided to cut off contact. That might still change, but that’s the situation right now
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: Trump’s circle told him [Dermer] that Netanyahu was manipulating him, and there’s nothing Trump hates more than being portrayed as someone being played
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Meetings between the Israelis, Egyptians, and Qataris are all centered around the Israeli proposal, which does not guarantee an end to the war [on Gaza]
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is threatening to expand the ground offensive if Hamas rejects the proposal
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Hamas rejects the Israeli proposal, viewing it as failing to guarantee an end to the war
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is sticking to its proposal, and insists there is no alternative offer on the table for negotiation
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: The meetings between the Israelis and the Egyptians and Qataris all revolve around the Israeli proposal
The administration was clearly looking for an off-ramp for this campaign against Ansar Allah, NBC News reports, citing US official
Trump's operation against Ansar Allah cost more than $1 billion, NBC News reports, citing US official

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

Trump, Netanyahu aide held meeting before MidEast trip: Axios

US won't meddle in India-Pakistan conflict: JD Vance

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

Pro-Palestinian protesters march toward the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US House to vote on bill criminalizing boycott of 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 3 May 2025
Throughout Operation Prosperity Guardian, current and former US military and intelligence officials expressed disquiet at the enormous “cost offset” involved in battling Ansar Allah. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

Ansar Allah triumphant: US facing Red Sea defeat again

  • Opinion
  • 3 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • Today

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
UN experts warn: Stop the genocide or witness Gaza's end
Politics

Stop the genocide or witness end of life in Gaza: UN experts warn

Israeli police attack mourners as they carry the casket of killed Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in occupied al-Quds, Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP)
Politics

Israeli sniper who killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh identified

The Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

Pentagon’s unused properties drain billions in taxpayer funds

Haaretz
Palestine

Israeli military avoids calling up unwilling reservists: Haaretz

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