Speaking today at a joint Iraq-Kurdish press conference in Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Prime Minister Hayder Abadi confirmed that Iraq will continue to carry out airstrikes against ISIS targets inside Syria, and will also reserve the right to strike other neighboring countries if they approve.
Iraq launched its first strikes against Syrian border towns two weeks ago, with Pentagon support. The targets centered on ISIS towns near key border crossings. Abadi today revealed that he’d also gotten permission from the Assad government in Syria for the attacks.
“I respect the sovereignty of states, and I have secured the approval of Syria to strike positions,” Abadi insisted, adding that he is determined to keep on fighting ISIS not just in Iraq, but also in the surrounding area. Iraq is in the process of invading the city of Mosul, ISIS’ large significant city in the country.
While the eventual capture of Mosul wouldn’t actually end the ISIS war in Iraq, but rather shift it back to a more traditional insurgency, Abadi appears to be laying the groundwork for international operations, keeping Iraq’s military on the offensive.
It is a good diplomatic solution to US operation in Syria being legitimized. Iraq gets permission, and its allies come along.
It is amazing that the meeting of three heads of militaries in Turkey earlier this week did not get much coverage, if any. In Antalya, the heads of US, Turkish and Russian militaries met to talk ISIS. The issue of Kurdish hold on Manbij has been diplomatically difused. Technically, Kurds are keeping the.city no face lost. But US ordered Kurds to replace leadership, and allow Arab component of the alliance to take over.
Kurds ceded area adjacent to city to Syrian Army, creating a.buffer between Turkish forces
and Kurds. Turkey approved — Syrian Army is preferred to Kurdish control. With US forces in Manbij, and YPG not in charge, Tuurkey is no longer challenged by Kurdish presence. But the fighting might still erupt in Afrin area, where Kutds took Arab villages, and Turkey taking under its wing former Free Syria Army units — cannot hold them back from retaliating.
At present. there is still no indication as to the ISIS ouster from Raqqa. Much of this is due to US internal bickering. Clinton plan called for arming Kurds and some Arabs for decoration — and conquer ISIS st Raqqa. But with Kurds bring weak in numbers as well as in military capability — Clinton plan clearly aimed at getting larger US presence, shifted from Iraq, and nobody would be able to tell really the numbers in the ground — ss they would count ss Iraq reinforcements. Hillary’s plan called for Kurdish state — in whatever initial form it came. The state would have been secured by US presence, and authority for being on Syrian soil drawn from the fact that Kurds already came up
With constitution (written by State Department). That level of Kurdish intent to create an autonomous entity, was sufficient reason to have boots on the ground. The other option is to have Turkish Army move in, with some understanding for Kurds. Turkey has the firepower and a large army. And will be better accepted by population then Kurds.
Now, Hillary plan still has many supporters, while Trump must weigh the consequences of nation building and the impact of permanent presence that US bases have on region. As in Europe, the long term protectorate results in permanent entanglement, unhealthy codependency and the demand that weaker places on the stronger in the form of continuous proof of dedication and loyalty. In today’s world of communications and weapons capabilities, this approach to “control” is both very expensive to everyone, as well as utterly defying the very purpose. US must also decide if it needs Turkey as a friendly regional ally — not a vasal — or risk losing it altogether. Creating a Kurdish entity that is independent from Syria is crossing a red line — and Turkey will be forced to abandon NATO altogether.
The heads of militaries in Antalya indicates that steps are taken towards better understanding. With Thrkey, Iraq, Syria and Russia — all standing for territorial integrity of both Syria and Iraq, it will be hard to proceed with partition, or even an unclear long term presence of any forces outside the region. It is a grand opportunity for US to disintangle but retain friendly influenced. But With the constelation of people of poor vision in both Congress and burried in Administration — chances are not too great. But at least steps have been taken in the right direction.