Iraqi PM urges Trump to ‘work towards ending’ Middle East wars
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has been in a delicate balancing act to ensure his country is not drawn into the fighting.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed hopes during a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump that he would keep his “promises to work towards ending wars” in the Middle East.
Amid Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Mr Sudani – who was named premier by a majority bloc of Iran-backed political factions – has been in a delicate balancing act to ensure his country is not drawn into the fighting.
In the phone call, the Iraqi Premier pointed to Trump’s “campaign statements and promises to work towards ending wars in the region”, a statement from Mr Sudani’s office said late on Nov 8.
“The two sides agreed to coordinate efforts in achieving this goal,” it added.
About 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq as part of a US-led coalition that was formed to help battle the ISIS group.
Bases hosting the American troops have been the target of dozens of rocket and drone attacks launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq, which have also claimed attacks against Israel.
Baghdad has for years called on Washington to provide a clear timeline for the withdrawal of their remaining coalition troops.
The US and Iraq announced in late September that the international coalition would end its decade-long military mission
But the joint statement and US officials did not say whether any American troops would remain in Iraq.
Under Trump’s first term in office, relations deteriorated between the two countries after a US drone strike in January 2020 killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani
Also killed in that strike was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq’s former paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi, which has been integrated into the armed forces.
As part of their investigations into Muhandis’ assassination, the Iraqi judiciary issued a warrant for Trump’s arrest in January 2021. AFP
