Iraq's Caretaker PM Adel Abdul Mahdi, arrived this morning to Erbil Governorate, capital of the Kurdistan region, accompanied by a senior delegation, to discuss the latest political and field developments in Iraq.
The visit came as Iran has targeted, days ago, two American bases in Erbil and Anbar provinces in retaliatory strikes for the killing of its top General Qassem Soleimani.
The discussions came as the United States has formally refused Iraq’s request to prepare for the withdrawal of its forces and, in its response, said it was considering expanding the presence of NATO there.
A statement from Prime Minister Abdel-Mahdi’s office said that he submitted his request during a call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo two days ago in line with the Iraqi parliament’s vote last week.
The US State Department said that no American delegation will discuss the withdrawal of US forces because its presence in Iraq is "appropriate."
US President Donald Trump said earlier, "If Iraq wants the American forces to leave, they will have to pay us the money we paid.'" I think they will agree to pay. Otherwise, we will remain there."
Mean while, Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, the supreme religious authority for Iraqi Shiites, denounced the military confrontation between the United States and Iran on Iraqi soil and said it threatens to drag the country and the Middle East region into a greater conflict.
Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that Iran had given its enemy America ‘a slap in the face’ after targeting two Iraqi bases containing US troops with a dozen of ballistic missiles.
‘Last night we slapped them on the face. When it comes to confrontation, the military actions of these kinds are not enough. The corrupt presence of the US should come to an end’.
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