U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad where he pledged to continue the fight against the Islamic State group until the extremists are defeated.
Austin, whose visit came just days before the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, later disclosed in a statement that he had discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Defense Minister Thabet Muhammad Al-Abbasi.
Al-Sudani’s office disclosed that he and Austin discussed cooperation between their countries in the fight against IS.
The Iraqi Premier reaffirmed his government’s “keenness to strengthen and consolidate relations with the United States of America at various levels and fields.”
Austin was greeted on touchdown in Baghdad by Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, the U.S. commander in Iraq.
“We’ll continue working to accomplish this mission together. Through the global coalition to defeat Daesh, we liberated more than 50,000 square kilometers from Daesh and freed more than 4.5 million Iraqis from their cruel grip,” Austin averred, using an Arabic name for IS.
“The United State remains committed to this fight in support of Iraq’s security and the security of the entire region.”
Lloyd Austin
Austin iterated that U.S. forces are ready to remain in Iraq at the invitation of its government, adding that these forces are operating in a non-combat and advisory role in support of the “Iraqi-led fight against terrorism.”
“This is a critical mission and we’re proud to support our Iraqi partners,” Austin opined.
Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that removed longtime dictator Saddam from power, Iraq has been a point of friction between the United States and Iran. Tehran has widely expanded its influence in Iraq over the past 20 years.
“I’m here to reaffirm the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq,” Austin tweeted upon arrival.
“We continue to believe that Iraq’s greater integration with its Arab partners in the region will deliver increased stability, security and prosperity, and it will pay dividends not only for Iraqi citizens, but for all people of the region.”
Lloyd Austin
Despite their defeat in Iraq in 2017, IS militants and their sleeper cells are still launching attacks in the country, as well as in neighboring Syria.
IS has killed and wounded dozens of Iraqi troops over the past months.
Austin Urges Countries To Repatriate Their Citizens From Al-Hol
In a related issue, the U.S. has been urging countries around the world to repatriate their citizens from al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, home to tens of thousands of Syrians and Iraqis crowded into tents in the fenced-in camp.
Nearly 20,000 of them are children; most of the rest are women, wives and widows of IS fighters.
Iraq has repatriated more than 500 women and children from al-Hol over the past few weeks.
Reading from a statement to gathered reporters, Austin urged that all countries with citizens in the detention facilities and displaced persons camps in northeast Syria “must take similar steps.”
Austin added that the U.S. stands ready to continue supporting Iraq and all countries working to repatriate their citizens.
The U.S. Defense Secretary did not take questions.
“We are focused on the mission of defeating Daesh, and we are here for no other purpose. Any threats or attacks on our forces only undermine that mission,” Austin said, apparently referring to Iran-backed fighters who were blamed for attacks on facilities housing U.S. troops in Iraq.
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