Iran-backed al-Badr parliamentary group warns against US expansion in Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – An Iraqi Shia parliament member has warned against “plots” by the United States who he said was using the Islamic State (IS) war as a pretext to establish bases in Iraq.

Ali al-Morshidy, an Iraqi Parliament member from the al-Badr Organization bloc, claimed the US was trying to expand its military bases in Iraq, affirming that Iraqi forces no longer needed US trainers or security units in the country.

“The US is using tricks, based on the excuse of IS’ presence and training of Iraqi forces, to prepare for a long-term stay in Iraq,” the Shia MP said.

Morshidy admitted that although Iraq was in need of military experts and advisers, there were countries other than the US and its allies who could help Iraq and support its efforts in fighting terrorism and stabilizing the security of the country.

“There are plots to expand the US bases in Iraq instead of reducing the number of bases and handing them over to the Iraqi forces,” Morshidy said, noting that “those bases are being reinforced from time to time.”

He added that there was a significant opposition at the parliament level and from the people of Iraq who disagree with the US’ expansion in the country.

The al-Badr Organization is an Iranian-officered military wing of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq formed by Hadi al-Amiri in 1982 in Iran. A US federal indictment has linked Amiri to a 1996 attack in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 US Air Force servicemen.

An Iraqi official recently claimed the US Army had taken precautionary measures at its bases in Iraq after continuous threats by the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias against America’s military presence in the country.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany