Iraq's National Security Advisor reflects on ISIS era, regional challenges at MEPS24 forum
"We are in a challenging phase," al-Araji stated, reflecting on Iraq's struggle with ISIS. "The presence of ISIS and its sleeper cells, coupled with the absence of social justice and trust, created multiple threats to our security."
Nov. 23, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, speaking at the fifth Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS 2024) in Duhok on Saturday, provided a comprehensive overview of Iraq's security challenges and the evolution of its relationship with the Kurdistan Region.
"We are in a challenging phase," al-Araji stated, reflecting on Iraq's struggle with ISIS. "The presence of ISIS and its sleeper cells, coupled with the absence of social justice and trust, created multiple threats to our security."
Recalling the critical period of ISIS's advance, al-Araji highlighted the significance of Grand Ayatollah Sistani's fatwa, which he said "changed the direction of ISIS's assault on Baghdad and mobilized Iraqis of all ethnicities to stand alongside the Iraqi army."
The security advisor emphasized the role of international cooperation, stating, "The international coalition provided crucial support in defeating ISIS. However, we believe it's time to transition our relationship into a new phase of bilateral security cooperation, as the war against ISIS has concluded."
Regarding the Kurdistan Region, al-Araji noted its historical significance: "Since its establishment in 1991, the Kurdistan Region has served as a refuge for Iraqi leaders and has become a model of coexistence and tolerance, positively influencing all of Iraq."
Speaking about current challenges, al-Araji addressed the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, stating, "We maintain continuous communication with regional countries regarding this matter, and it's not in Iraq's interest to become involved in the current regional conflict."
He also highlighted recent progress in addressing post-ISIS challenges, revealing that "between 2022 and 2024, we conducted the largest operation to return ISIS families from al-Hol camp to Iraq." He emphasized that "sectarian discourse has no place in today's Iraq."
The MEPS forum, hosting 124 academics from 40 different countries, with 73% first-time participants, serves as a crucial platform for discussing regional security challenges. Al-Araji's remarks reflect Iraq's ongoing efforts to maintain stability while navigating complex regional dynamics, particularly in the aftermath of the ISIS conflict and amid current Middle Eastern tensions. His emphasis on the Kurdistan Region's role as a model of coexistence underscores the importance of Kurdish-Arab cooperation in Iraq's post-ISIS recovery and development.