Protests Against Qassem Soleimani's Presence in Fallujah Continue

Iraqi Sunni politicians condemned the presence of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Fallujah on Saturday, where he was accompanying forces fighting to liberate the city from Islamic State control. According to Reuters, three representatives from Anbar province stated that Soleimani's presence exacerbates divisions and conflicts in Iraq. Recently, Iranian media published images of Soleimani, reportedly taken during his visit to Fallujah and his meeting with leaders of the Shia military coalition in Iraq known as Hashd al-Shaabi. These images have sparked a wave of criticism in recent days. One of the protesting representatives told Reuters that they are not Iranian but Iraqi, and Soleimani's presence is suspicious and concerning, indicating that Iraq is clearly not welcoming him. Another representative stated that Soleimani's presence in Iraq only fuels sectarian tensions. Soleimani's presence in Fallujah has also drawn criticism from Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, who on June 6 expressed strong objections to Soleimani's presence in Iraq and Syria, accusing the IRGC of sabotaging the region. The Saudi foreign minister also deemed Soleimani's actions in Iraq unacceptable. In response to Jubeir's remarks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that Soleimani is in Iraq at the request of Baghdad. The spokesperson also mentioned that the Iraqi people do not need the statements of a foreign minister from a country that has been a major source of instability in the region and the world over the past decade and a half to identify their friends and enemies. These statements are part of the ongoing verbal tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Iraqi Muslim Scholars Association, an organization formed after the fall of Saddam Hussein to represent Iraq's Sunnis, announced on Friday that they have no interest in the presence of Shia forces in the liberation of Fallujah. They stated that these forces are not interested in liberating Iraq but are only pursuing their divisive goals led by Iran. However, the Iraqi government spokesperson did not confirm Soleimani's presence in Fallujah but stated that Iranian advisors, similar to the coalition forces against ISIS led by the United States, are present in Iraq and assisting the Iraqi army. This is the second time that Soleimani has appeared in combat zones in Iraq, confirmed by Iranian media. About a year ago, eyewitnesses reported that he was present during Hashd al-Shaabi operations to liberate northern Baghdad from ISIS. Fallujah was the first city in Iraq to fall to ISIS in the winter of 2014 and was the second largest city after Mosul to come under ISIS control. Iraqi forces and government-backed militias began operations to retake Fallujah on June 3. These operations have recently resulted in the deaths of dozens of ISIS militants, including a commander named Maher Bilawi. The news of Bilawi's death in Fallujah was confirmed on June 8 by Steve Warren, spokesperson for the coalition against ISIS.