Ahead of a new round of strategic dialogue ... Iraqi factions threaten to strike the American forces

Armed Iraqi factions threatened to launch large and precise strikes on the American forces in the country, if Baghdad and Washington did not announce a clear date for the withdrawal of those forces.

This came in a statement by the "Coordinating Committee for the Iraqi Resistance", which includes armed factions, headed by the Iraqi "Hezbollah" brigades, the "Ahl al-Haq Brigades", the "Sayyid al-Shuhada" Brigades, and the "al-Nujaba" movement.

This threat comes hours before the third round of the strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Washington, as the round will be conducted via video conference technology today, Wednesday;

To discuss issues of concern to the two countries, including cooperation in combating terrorism.

In its statement, the commission said, "The resistance today finds itself obligated (...) to respond with all strength and solidity, and to direct big and precise blows in the event that this dialogue does not include a clear and explicit announcement of the final withdrawal date for the occupation forces: land, air, and in full."

She added that she had confirmed information that the statement that would be issued in the current round of the dialogue would be "a loose statement .. and does not contain any reference to the implementation of the (Iraqi) House of Representatives decision to expel the American occupation forces from Iraqi soil."

She stressed that she rejects in advance the statement that will be issued at the end of the dialogue round.

This is the first round of talks between Washington and Baghdad to be held under the new US administration headed by President Joe Biden.

The strategic dialogue with Washington, in its third phase, is of interest to the Iraqi government, and through it we look forward to strengthening relations of common interest at all levels between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America.

Fouad Hussein,

Minister of Foreign Affairs

2021/4/7 pic.twitter.com/UQ5ECQ5Eqw

- The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@Iraqimofa) April 7, 2021

Strategic dialogue

Earlier in the day, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that the strategic dialogue that will be launched between Iraq and the United States is receiving the attention of the Iraqi government.

He explained - in a brief statement - that "the strategic dialogue with Washington in the third stage of it enjoys the interest of the Iraqi government," adding, "We look forward - through this dialogue - to strengthening relations of common interest at all levels between Iraq and the United States."

On January 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted on a resolution that includes the removal of foreign forces from the country.

The decision came two days after Washington assassinated the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, and the prominent leader of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, in an air strike near Baghdad International Airport.

There are about 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq as part of the "international coalition to fight ISIS."