MOSUL TIME RADIO
The English-language newspaper, The National, reported that the missile attack on US forces at the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq last Monday may derail talks on the fate of the presence of international coalition forces and the possibility of their withdrawal.
The newspaper’s report indicated that Baghdad and Washington had engaged in negotiations during the past months , for arrangements for the future of the American military presence in Iraq, but the talks were progressing more slowly than what the Iranian-backed militias were demanding, which may be an indication of the reason for the renewed attacks on Americans , According to the newspaper.
The report quoted a diplomatic source, who requested anonymity, as saying, “It is important to point out that an attack like this violates Iraq’s own interests, especially with regard to negotiations on the withdrawal of foreign forces .”
After the report pointed out that the Iranian-backed militias agreed to an informal truce earlier this year, a truce that generally remained holding despite sporadic attacks on American forces, the diplomatic source was quoted as saying that “it is not important whether the violations were violated.” ” No truce .”
The report continued that the attack on Ain al-Assad came in light of fears of a broader regional escalation between Iran, Lebanon and Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Lebanese Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr .
According to the diplomatic source, the attack on Ain al-Assad “may be a response to the American strike on the Popular Mobilization Forces last July 20” in Babylon, which led to the death of 4 members of the Mobilization Forces, and which American officials said targeted militants preparing to attack the coalition forces and the Americans with aircraft. March .
The report quoted the diplomat as saying, “We reject any attack, whether from inside or outside Iraq, on foreign interests in Iraq,” adding that the attack on Ain al-Assad “affects Iraq’s sovereignty and only contributes to escalating the difficult regional security situation.”
