Islamic resistance in Iraq vows continued strikes against US-led coalition forces

Armed groups aligned with Iran pledged to persist in their attacks on US-led coalition forces stationed in Iraq. This announcement precedes crucial talks between Washington and Baghdad focusing on the presence of foreign troops in the nation.

While US forces are in Iraq as part of the international coalition combatting the Islamic State (IS), recent escalations in attacks prompted retaliatory strikes by the US in response.

The ongoing instability has compelled Iraq’s Prime Minister, reliant on support from Iran-aligned parties, to advocate for the coalition’s departure. Both the United States and Iraq disclosed on Thursday that discussions on troop presence would commence, with Baghdad anticipating the development of a timeline for the reduction of forces. In a statement conveyed through Telegram, the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a coalition of Iran-linked groups opposing US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict, characterized the talks as an attempt to “reshuffle the cards” and buy time.

The group asserted, “The Islamic Resistance’s response will be to continue its operations against the foreign presence until their true intentions and the seriousness of their commitment to withdraw their forces are proven.” Iraq’s Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday that both nations agreed to establish working groups, aiming to formulate a specific and clear timeline for the gradual reduction of the coalition’s advisers in Iraq. The timeline would be contingent on evaluating the threat posed by IS and reinforcing the capacities of Iraqi security forces.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed on Thursday that the US military footprint in Iraq would indeed be a focal point in the upcoming discussions. A senior US defense official clarified that while the talks were not negotiations on a complete withdrawal, Washington acknowledged the need to transition to a normal bilateral security cooperation relationship. Currently, approximately 2,500 US troops are deployed in Iraq and around 900 in Syria, forming part of the anti-IS coalition established in 2014.