An Iraqi military official says the US had no role in the country's liberation of Mosul from ISIS terrorist group, rejecting Western media reports that American troops played a leading role in the operation to retake the key Iraqi city.
The spokesman for Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU), commonly known in Arabic as Hashd al-Sha'abi, Karim al-Nouri told Iran's Mehr News Agency that "Washington wants to have a share in the final victory announcement against ISIS and benefit from it, but I have to emphasize that this victory was won by the Iraqi people and the United States did not play any role in it."
"A few remaining terrorists are awaiting their deaths and this is definite." he said.
On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced an end to ISIS's "state of falsehood" following the recapture of Mosul's landmark Grand al-Nuri Mosque, from where the terror outfit proclaimed its so-called caliphate three years ago.
Popular Mobilization Forces, incorporating members of all ethnic and religious groups, have joined government forces in operations against ISIS across the country. They were given legal status by Iraq's Parliament last November.
PMF re-established Iraqi security
PMF troops, Nouri said, have helped re-establish security in Iraq and prevent Mosul's break-up along ethnic lines.
"This is because Turkey and some of the local parties sought to break up Mosul, but PMU foiled their plot. It also did not allow the conspiracy of the enemies to divide Mosul and other parts of the region to realize".
Nouri said all of the liberated areas will be under the control of the Iraqi government like before the ISIS terrorist attack, adding there will be no change in the demographic make-up of the city, which has an array of Turkmen, Arab and Kurdish communities.
""This is our red line and we will not retreat from it in any way," the spokesman said as he dismissed claims by Iraqi Kurdish leaders to parts of the city.
""Everyone agrees on the Constitution, and the Kurdish regional government cannot oppose the Constitution. Mosul is a red line," he said.
The spokesman said the US-led coalition, which has been bombing Iraq and Syria for the past couple of years, is not serious about fighting ISIS.
Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces spokesman Karim al-Nouri
ISIS working for US interests
"ISIS is working in line with US national security interests," he said, adding that contrary to Washington's claims of fighting ISIS, the US-led coalition even helps the group.
"The Americans are not reliable. US leaders, for the sake of their public opinion, claim to be fighting terrorism but in practice this is not the case," he added.
The PMF spokesman further praised Iran and the commander of the Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani for their role in Iraq's victories.
"Iran was the first country to stand with Iraq and support us. General Qassem Soleimani has been and continues to serve as the best adviser on the battlefield against ISIS," he said.
"There were not many Iranians, but the very few who were in Iraq have had a huge impact on the fight against ISIS through presenting good plans," he added.
Iran's Gen. Soleimani ignited fear within ISIS ranks
Nouri said Soleimani's occasional presence on the frontline was causing a wave of panic and fear among ISIS terrorists and leading to Iraqi victories.
"Hajj Qassem has a high humanitarian character," he said, using an affectionate nickname by which Soleimani is known to his admirers in the region. "He would not allow any harm to the Iraqi people in any way. He defended Iraq and the oppressed. We thank Iran's position and the actions of Hajj Qassem Soleimani," Nouri concluded.
Immediately after the emergence of ISIS, Iraqi government forces, who overwhelmed by the terror group's lightening advances, suffered heavy blows on the battle ground.
However, PM forces helped the army regain strength and achieve an upper hand in the fight against ISIS terrorists.
The Iraqi parliament last year recognized PMF as an official force with similar rights as those of the regular army.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/7377
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