Iraqi PM Calls for Reduction of U.S. Troops
BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called on the U.S. to reduce its military presence in his country as Washington has begun a surge of troops in the face of Daesh terrorists facing a final rout in the country.
"As we are crushing Daesh, it is clear that there is a need to reduce the number of our allies who are helping us,” Abadi told the Middle East Eye news portal.
He made the remarks ahead of his visit to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Daesh is about to collapse and is on the verge of defeat. Their family members are fleeing,” he said.
Abadi, however, noted that Baghdad wants the U.S. to expand its training of the Iraqi army, federal police and local police.
"We have to strengthen our armed forces and security forces and this will need a lot of help from our allies to give proper training,” the Iraqi premier said.
Iraqi forces and allied fighters had gained control of the eastern side of Mosul in January, after 100 days of fighting.
They have managed to liberate several areas of western Mosul, a city divided into two halves by Tigris River.
On Thursday morning, Iraqi soldiers were trying to encircle Mosul’s Old City to bottle up Daesh terrorists, but military officials say the operations have been slowed due to bad weather as well as the bombs and booby traps planted across the combat area.
"Operations in the Mosul west Old City have been halted on Thursday due to bad, rainy weather. We can’t advance without airstrikes cover due to the fog,” Reuters quoted an Iraqi Rapid Response unit as saying.
More than 150,000 people have fled fighting in and around the western side of Mosul since security forces launched an operation to retake the area from Daesh terrorists.
According to Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displaced, civilians continue to leave Mosul’s western side as armed forces are struggling to dislodge Daesh terrorists from their last urban stronghold in the country.
The ministry said 152,857 people have so far fled the operation zone since February 19, when the battle began. In the figures released on Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration had put the number of those who have escaped at nearly 100,000.
"As we are crushing Daesh, it is clear that there is a need to reduce the number of our allies who are helping us,” Abadi told the Middle East Eye news portal.
He made the remarks ahead of his visit to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Daesh is about to collapse and is on the verge of defeat. Their family members are fleeing,” he said.
Abadi, however, noted that Baghdad wants the U.S. to expand its training of the Iraqi army, federal police and local police.
"We have to strengthen our armed forces and security forces and this will need a lot of help from our allies to give proper training,” the Iraqi premier said.
Iraqi forces and allied fighters had gained control of the eastern side of Mosul in January, after 100 days of fighting.
They have managed to liberate several areas of western Mosul, a city divided into two halves by Tigris River.
On Thursday morning, Iraqi soldiers were trying to encircle Mosul’s Old City to bottle up Daesh terrorists, but military officials say the operations have been slowed due to bad weather as well as the bombs and booby traps planted across the combat area.
"Operations in the Mosul west Old City have been halted on Thursday due to bad, rainy weather. We can’t advance without airstrikes cover due to the fog,” Reuters quoted an Iraqi Rapid Response unit as saying.
More than 150,000 people have fled fighting in and around the western side of Mosul since security forces launched an operation to retake the area from Daesh terrorists.
According to Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displaced, civilians continue to leave Mosul’s western side as armed forces are struggling to dislodge Daesh terrorists from their last urban stronghold in the country.
The ministry said 152,857 people have so far fled the operation zone since February 19, when the battle began. In the figures released on Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration had put the number of those who have escaped at nearly 100,000.