Iran is moving in Iraq after the US withdrawal decision

The reduction of US forces in Iraq has raised fears that Iran could exploit the vacuum that will leave the withdrawal process through the forces loyal to it in Iraq to extend its full control over the Iraqi street, in addition to fears that ISIS may re-activate its members in sleeper cells to carry out more qualitative operations in Iraq. Especially the liberated areas.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper quoted a senior security source as saying that "the pro-Iranian factions are working to increase the mobilization of their forces in the Nineveh Plains and Sinjar region, by increasing the number of volunteers in their ranks and pushing more military equipment to the region."

More than 100 military transport vehicles used by Popular Mobilization Forces were seen arriving in the Nineveh Plain area at the beginning of this week, and the source, who asked not to be named, confirmed that "a large shipment of military equipment arrived in the Nineveh Plain early this month."

This comes in light of security information confirming the possibility of Iran, through its arms, carrying out qualitative operations targeting US interests in Iraq, coinciding with the anniversary of the killing of the former Iranian Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, by US forces early this year.

In addition, the newspaper quoted a high-ranking security source as saying that "there is intelligence indicating that some factions are planning to carry out operations targeting US interests on the anniversary of Soleimani's killing," noting that "Iran wants these operations to respond indirectly to the killing of the Iranian nuclear scientist." Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Christopher Miller, the Acting Secretary of Defense, announced on November 17 that the United States would reduce its troop levels in Iraq to 2,500 soldiers from 3,000, by January 15, 2021.

T/S

ANHA