Al-Kazemi: More than half of American forces will leave soon

On the centenary of Iraqi army founding, Al-Kazemi said yesterday, “It is truly regrettable that Iraq has turned into an arena for liquidations and challenges of a global and regional war on its soil,” adding: “We will not allow the lands of Iraq to be used to settle scores between countries.”

The United States had withdrawn some of its forces from Iraq within technical timings during the past year, as a result of the repeated targeting of the Green Zone in Baghdad, where the American embassy building and diplomatic missions, in addition to international coalition convoys being under attacks.

Al-Kazemi pointed out, "As a result of the continuous strategic dialogue with the United States, the withdrawal of more than half of these forces will be completed in the coming days, and only hundreds of them will remain, for cooperation in the fields of training, rehabilitation, armament and technical support."

He pointed out that "this development was based on the readiness of our armed and security forces of all kinds to protect the land of Iraq and preserve the dignity of its people," adding: "We will not allow the Iraqi national decision to be kidnapped by any party.. and we will not submit to political and electoral auctions."

Al-Kazemi declared 2021 the year of "the Iraqi achievement," and said, "We have a duty to bring Iraq and its people to safety," considering that the stage of "depleting Iraq's wealth" and its potential has ended "irreversibly."

J.O