Quds Force Chief Says US ‘Expelled’ From Iraq After Withdrawal
“This year’s anniversary is being observed at a time when the US, despite possessing vast resources and equipment, has been expelled from Iraq,” Qaani said.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani, said the United States had been “expelled” from Iraq and suffered a “humiliating defeat” against Iran.
Qaani made the remarks Thursday night at the “Nasr Qarib” ceremony in Tehran, held to mark the second anniversary of the deaths of Lebanese Hezbollah leaders Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, according to Iran’s Press TV.
“This year’s anniversary is being observed at a time when the US, despite possessing vast resources and equipment, has been expelled from Iraq,” Qaani said, praising what he described as a victory achieved through the resistance of the Iraqi people and the “Resistance Front.”
He said the Resistance Front was advancing despite difficult conditions, claiming that its members were coordinating across different arenas through what he called “prudent planning and calculated actions.”
Qaani also said the United States had expected to force Iran to surrender within four days or, at most, two weeks, but had instead encountered a situation different from its calculations.
Referring to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Qaani said Muslim unity and support for peoples facing aggression were essential to confronting what he described as common threats.
He called for strengthening what he termed the “belt of defense” and pursuing independence and dignity across the Islamic world, from Afghanistan to Yemen and from Iran to Gaza and Lebanon.
On Iraq, Qaani said the country had expelled the United States and expressed hope that coordination between the Iraqi government, state institutions and Iran-aligned resistance groups would contribute to Iraq’s “well-being, steadfastness, and sovereignty.”
He also said remaining traces of the US presence in the region should be eliminated, claiming that signs of such a process were already visible.
Qaani accused Washington of attempting to downplay the significance of the end of its military presence in Iraq by focusing on peripheral issues, including aircraft flights.
The United States formally completed the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq on September 30, bringing an end to its 12-year combat mission against ISIS under Operation Inherent Resolve.
The withdrawal also marked the end of the US military footprint in Iraq that began with the 2003 invasion, although Washington and Baghdad have maintained broader security and diplomatic ties.