US military mobilization in Iraq questionable: Experts

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraq has denied that a mobilization of US forces within its borders has anything to do with the country itself, saying it is solely about Syria.

Khaled al-Yaqoubi, the security adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, spoke exclusively about the stepped up presence of American troops in Iraq in recent days and claims that these soldiers will be redeployed in Iraq.

Al-Yaqoubi said allegations of US military shipments to Iraq are also “unfounded.”

He noted that the mobilization is related to the military changes the US will make on the Syrian side.

“The security negotiations between Iraq and the US have been successfully concluded,” Al-Yaqoubi pointed out, adding there will be no situations that compromise his country’s sovereignty and that the US-led coalition forces will be able to fight ISIS in Iraq.

While it is claimed that Washington is shipping military vehicles to various parts of Iraq, some unconfirmed images of this have also been published on social media.

Weakened ISIS 

Iraqi military experts also spoke with Anadolu about the US military mobilization in the country in recent days, which has stirred controversy.

One of them, Muayyed Ciheishi, stressed that Iraq does not need foreign troops at this stage as the number of ISIS terrorists is small and they do not have the ability to organize attacks.

Iraqi security forces need training to be able to use advanced weapons, Ciheishi said.

Arguing that the US military mobilization in Iraq is a show of force, he said: “The US wants to prevent Iran from sending weapons, explosives and military reinforcements to Syria via Iraq.

“The US aims to cut the connection between Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon,” he asserted.

“That is why they are conducting an operation in eastern Syria.”

Not a routine procedure 

Another Iraqi military expert, Mohammad Sabir, also spoke about the US military activity in recent days along an anti-Iranian line.

“Militia groups affiliated with Iran were keeping the Albu Kemal line under control to send weapons and military supplies between Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

“The US has now cut off that line. This is a very important and strategic point,” he said.

Sabir said this situation would mean cutting off Iran’s ties with its allies in Syria and Lebanon, noting that “Iran cannot reach the Mediterranean in this way either.”

“The military activity of the US is not ordinary. It is a harbinger of a major war,” he warned.

“This mobilization of the US is similar to that of 1991 and 2003,” he said, noting that the country landed troops with two large warplanes.

“This cannot be seen as a routine procedure.”