U.S. Ambassador in Baghdad: ISIS Remains a Threat in Iraq and a 'Common Enemy'

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq told Reuters that ISIS continues to pose a threat in Iraq and that the collaboration of the U.S.-led military coalition with Iraq to completely defeat this group has not ended. Senior Iraqi politicians, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, have repeatedly stated that ISIS is no longer considered a threat in Iraq and that there is no need for the coalition's presence in the country, despite ongoing attacks by ISIS-affiliated groups around the world. Alina Romanowski, the U.S. ambassador in Iraq, stated, "We both assess that ISIS is still a threat in Iraq; the risk has significantly decreased, but our work is essentially not finished, and we want to ensure that Iraqi forces can defeat ISIS permanently." She made these remarks after the Khorasan branch of ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on Friday at a concert hall near Moscow that left 137 dead. The U.S. ambassador in Iraq, following this interview, remarked, "As this event reminds us, ISIS is a common terrorist enemy that must be defeated everywhere." She added, "That is why the U.S. and Iraq have a shared commitment to ensure the permanent defeat of ISIS, which includes cooperation to shape a strong bilateral security partnership between the U.S. and Iraq." Last week, at least three people were killed in a suicide bombing by the Khorasan branch of ISIS in Afghanistan, and this group also claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing in Kerman on January 3 of last year. The Prime Minister of Iraq is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on April 16 to discuss the future of the coalition in Iraq, as well as financial reforms in the country and U.S. efforts to free Iraq from dependence on Iranian electricity and gas. Although the coalition's mission is to advise and assist Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS, Western officials say the coalition's presence in Iraq is seen as a force to contain the influence of the Iranian government. Romanowski noted that discussions between Washington and Baghdad came amid reciprocal attacks between Iranian-backed Shiite armed groups and U.S. forces in February of last year, stating, "Ending the coalition's work will take more time." She emphasized that the end of the coalition's mission depends on the capabilities of Iraqi security forces, the operational environment, and the threat posed by ISIS. She mentioned that beyond security issues, U.S. efforts in Iraq focus on reducing the country's dependence on Iranian energy and steering its banking sector towards global standards. The U.S. strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack near Moscow, with the White House denouncing the "deadly terrorist attack" in Moscow. Swedish officials reported the arrest of four suspects linked to the "terrorist operation." The U.S. and three European powers continue to pressure for accountability regarding Assad on the thirteenth anniversary of the "Syrian uprising."