Africa
U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Iraq on Tuesday on a surprise visit that came ahead of the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
“I’m here to reaffirm the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq,” Austin wrote on Twitter upon landing in Baghdad.
Chaos and sectarian strife followed in the wake of the invasion on March 20, 2003.
The conflict spawned the Islamic State Sunni extremist group, which controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The Iraqi government declared military victory against Islamic State in December 2017.
However, the group’s operatives continued to carry out attacks and kidnappings across the country.
The U.S. military deployment is a contentious issue in Iraq.
The two countries have agreed in recent years to move to a non-combat role for U.S.-led international coalition forces in Iraq, and focus solely on training and advising security forces.
There are currently some 2,500 U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq, who use Iraqi bases that have been repeatedly attacked by rockets.
Iran-allied militia have repeatedly demanded the U.S. forces’ withdrawal. (NAN)
E.C
Tags: Lloyd Austin
