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Kerry Pledges 'Intense And Sustained' Support For Iraqi Forces

June 23, 2014
by RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says U.S. support for Iraqi security forces will be 'intense and sustained,' allowing government troops to confront Islamic militants more effectively.

Kerry made the remarks on June 23 in Baghdad after meeting with leaders of Iraq's divided Shi'ite, Sunni, and Kurdish political factions.

Kerry said Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki reaffirmed his commitment to form a new government by July 1.

He said the Iraqi leaders face a 'moment of decision' and must stand united against militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who recently seized large swathes of territory across western and northern Iraq.

The United States has pledged military advisers to help Iraqi government forces in that battle.

But Washington has said U.S. troops would not engage in combat operations against ISIL, a Sunni-led Al-Qaeda splinter group, also known as ISIS.

The militants who are fighting government forces also include Sunni tribal fighters who say they are disgruntled and alienated by Maliki's governance -- which has given Shi'a a larger stake of power than Sunnis.

Since the weekend, the Sunni militants have been consolidating their advances in the western province of Anbar and in areas north of Baghdad.

That has put them in a position where they can put military pressure on the Shi'ite cities of Karbala and Najaf just to the south.

By seizing all of the border crossings between Anbar Province and neighboring Syria, the militants have opened supply routes to territory they also control in Syria.

Those supply routes include a major highway from southeastern Syria that crosses into Iraq near the Euphrates River, as well as railroad links and an important nearby logistics hub at the Al-Qaim train station just inside the Iraqi side of the border.

It also includes a highway that links Iraq's northwestern borders with Jordan and Syria to ISIL's recent territorial gains.

Meanwhile, militants early on June 23 were continuing to move into parts of Haditha, positioning themselves close to where government troops have been deployed to protect the vitally important Haditha dam and hydroelectric power station.

Although, ISIL's advance has slowed, it has polarized Iraq along sectarian lines.

On June 21, Shi'ite militias loyal to firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr paraded through towns and cities in Iraq in a show of defiance against ISIL militants.

Iran has also come out in support of the Iraqi government and officials in Tehran have vowed not to allow ISIL to capture Shi'ite holy sites in Iraq.

Iran has already sent military advisers to Iraq to prop up government forces.

On June 22, Iranian President Hassan Rohani warned Arab Sunni governments suspected of supporting ISIL not to believe 'these wild terrorists who you directed toward others [will not harm you].'

Rohani said, 'Tomorrow will be your turn.'

The appearance of ISIL in Iraq has prompted Tehran and Washington to open a dialogue, as neither wants Iraq to fall to the extremist ISIL, who are blamed for carrying out hundreds of summary executions in Iraq.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kerry-arrives-in-baghdad-for-urgent-talks/25431683.html

Copyright (c) 2014. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.