An American representative warned against the United States repeating what it did previously in Iraq, after the war and the overthrow of the regime of the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
US Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss said in an interview with CNN: “I believe that when the US administration charts the future course in Syria, the United States must be clear about what we are trying to do and what we are not trying to do.”
Auchincloss added, “What we are not trying to do is build a state like we tried in Iraq.”
He continued: “What we are trying to do is to prevent the resurgence of ISIS or provide a safe haven for it, and we are trying to ensure that any government in Syria respects the rights of minorities, women, Kurds, Druze, etc..”
Auchincloss continued: “We want to ensure that the new Syrian government adopts a non-aggressive stance towards Israel and its neighbors, and I believe that achieving these things is a major victory for the United States and Israel.”
This comes amid renewed fears in Iraq, with escalating talk about movements of ISIS members in various areas of the country, amid questions about the nature of these movements, and ISIS’s capabilities to rise again.
Since the fall of the regime, experts and analysts, in addition to official security data, have been monitoring the movements of ISIS members in Kirkuk Governorate and areas near the Iraqi border.
The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, said in a phone call with the British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, that “the terrorist organization ISIS is reorganizing its ranks, as it has seized quantities of weapons as a result of the collapse of the Syrian army and its abandonment of its weapons stores, which has allowed He may expand his control over additional areas.”
Hussein warned of “the danger of ISIS members escaping from prisons, and of the chaos in the Al-Hawl Camp, and the impact this will have on security in Syria and Iraq.”
The Iraqi Foreign Minister’s warnings coincided with the US Central Command’s announcement of the killing of ISIS leader “Abu Yusef,” known as Mahmoud, in Deir ez-Zor Governorate in Syria.
In Iraq, the Military Intelligence Directorate announced the implementation of several specific operations that resulted in the arrest of seven people wanted by the Iraqi judiciary in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of Terrorism in the Al-Adala and June 1 areas of Kirkuk Governorate.
According to an official statement, “The detainees belonged to ISIS, as one of them worked as a major transporter of people, weapons, and logistical equipment.”
Previously, the ISIS flag was raised in a village in Kirkuk Governorate. According to Iraqi sources, on Friday, a security force cordoned off a village in Kirkuk Governorate, after raising the ISIS flag at the gate of one of its schools, which sparked a state of panic and terror.
US Central Command indicates that it will not allow ISIS to exploit the current situation in Syria and reconstitute itself again.
A statement was quoted by the Commander of the US Central Command, General Michael Corella, as saying, “ISIS has an intention to liberate more than 8,000 members of the organization who are currently detained in facilities in Syria,” stressing that the United States will strongly target these leaders and members, including those who attempt to carry out operations. Outside Syria.”
However, a former officer in the Iraqi army said that “ISIS members are languishing in the prisons of the Syrian Democratic Forces and some Iraqi prisons, and these prisons must be secured,” noting that “the recent Turkish movements in the areas of SDF influence, and the expected military operation against them, raise concern and should The international community and Iraq should pay attention to this.”
Last updated: December 21, 2024 – 17:27
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