Al-Hakim clarified that, contrary to the initial agreements, there’s no sign that the United States has fully withdrawn its forces from Iraq. The American authorities announced that they intend to keep a number of their forces as ...
Radio Goftogoo had a phone call interview with Mohammad Ali al-Hakim, director of the Al-Nakheel news agency in Iraq, about the ultimate withdrawal of American troops from the Iraqi bases.
Regarding the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, especially the military base in Erbil province, Mohammad Ali Al-Hakim said; “According to some statements that have been issued, it seems that the US should ultimately be withdrawing its forces from bases such as Ain al-Assad. But at the same time, there are serious questions as to whether the United States is earnestly intending to do so.
He continued; “Many Iraqi experts and politicians doubt if the United States really intends to leave Iraq after building the world's most spacious embassy in this country and spending huge sums of money.”
The director of Al-Nakheel News Agency in Iraq stated that the Iraqi government, parliament, and authorities as well as the nation declared that there’s no need for American forces at the moment; “Iraqi forces are in control of Iraq and they can protect the whole country. So we have no need for American troops, and we hope we never will.”
“In 2014, and under the name of helping Iraqi government, the American troops entered Iraq, but they had vicious intentions in fact, so much that we have repeatedly seen them helping ISIS forces,” al-Hakim said in this interview with Radio Goftogoo. “In the recorded and published videos and images, we could often see the American forces providing the necessary equipment and supplies to ISIS.”
At the same time, he emphasized that against the initial agreements, there’s no sign of the US troops formal and full withdrawal from Iraq; “The United States announced it plans to keep a number of its troops in Iraq as advisers.”
The director of Al-Nakheel News Agency in Iraq then mentioned; “It doesn’t make any senses: The number of advisory forces may eventually reach 2,000, but the presence of 50,000 troops cannot be justified under the title of advisory forces. Apparently, the Americans have only changed their titles from combat forces to advisory forces.”
By Zahra Judaki
