Iraqi President Barham Saleh denounced Wednesday, September 23, at the UN General Assembly, foreign interference in Iraq at a time when the country is facing tensions between pro-Iran armed groups and the Americans.
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“
We do not want Iraq to become a playground for other forces that will kill each other in our territory.
We have suffered enough wars and attacks on our sovereignty,
”he said in his speech recorded in advance and broadcast at the annual meeting.
“
The fight against outlaw groups and gun control are part of a fierce struggle for the Iraqi state
,” he added.
“
We are confronted with anarchic groups, extremist groups, extremist elements.
Our challenges are tough,
”he admitted.
Additional pressure on the Iraqi government
The bombs and rockets targeting the Americans for the past year have put additional pressure on the Iraqi government, which has vowed to control pro-Iran groups fiercely hostile to the United States.
The speech of the Iraqi president comes at a time when the American army has just announced a further reduction of its troops in Iraq, in accordance with the promises of President Donald Trump who is seeking a second term in November and wants "
to end endless wars
" .
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The American military will go from around 5,200 to 3,000 during the month of September.
In early September, Washington justified this withdrawal by the successes in training Iraqi soldiers and in the fight against the jihadist group Islamic State.
“
The fight against terrorism is far from over.
Transnational extremism continues to exist in the form of sleeper cells scattered across our country, especially in desert regions
, ”warned Barham Saleh.
“
We must not underestimate the danger of terrorism, and the risk that it will reemerge.
"
