Al-Maliki engages in talks with US Ambassador Romanowski amid escalating regional tensions

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki engaged in a significant meeting with US Ambassador Alina Romanowski on Sunday, as confirmed by Al-Maliki’s office.

The diplomatic encounter took place just a day after a targeted attack on US forces in the country by pro-Iranian militants. Against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict, the meeting explored key issues affecting bilateral relations and the broader Middle East landscape.

The recent ballistic missile strike on a base hosting US forces in western Iraq, claimed by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a coalition of Iran-linked militants, further intensified the already volatile situation. Since mid-October, a series of attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have occurred, coinciding with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Al-Maliki, a prominent figure in Iraqi politics and a leader in a pro-Iranian bloc, used the meeting to discuss the future of relations between Iraq and the United States, emphasizing the need to address the escalating regional tensions.

During the discussions, Al-Maliki underscored the importance of strengthening friendship and cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. He cautioned against the expansion of the conflict, expressing concerns about multiple crises in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, the Red Sea, Syria, and Iraq. Urging swift action to de-escalate tensions and halt mutual attacks, Al-Maliki’s statements reflected the urgency of the situation.

While the details of Ambassador Romanowski’s response were not disclosed, it is noted that she regularly engages with Iraqi officials across the political spectrum. Al-Maliki’s political faction is aligned with the Coordination Framework, Iraq’s primary pro-Iran coalition with a parliamentary majority. The current Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, nominated by the Coordination Framework, relies on the support of Iran-aligned parties.

The Coordination Framework, a coalition of veteran politicians and former paramilitaries, includes opponents of Saddam Hussein’s regime who assumed leadership post the 2003 US-led invasion. Notably, it encompasses Hashed al-Shaabi, a collection of predominantly pro-Iranian former paramilitary units now integrated into the Iraqi armed forces. Kataeb Hezbollah, a faction of Hashed al-Shaabi, expressed support for the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” signaling a complex geopolitical landscape.

As the United States maintains approximately 2,500 soldiers in Iraq and nearly 900 in Syria, Al-Sudani has reiterated his desire for foreign troops to leave Iraq in recent weeks. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing diplomatic efforts crucial to mitigating tensions in the region.