Iraqi Prime Minister: ISIS No Longer Represents a Threat to Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia’a Al-Sudani stated today, Tuesday, that there is no need for the international coalition to be present on Iraqi territory, as ISIS no longer poses a threat. In an interview with The National newspaper in the UAE, Al-Sudani emphasized, "ISIS does not represent a threat to the Iraqi state today, and there is no longer a necessity for the international coalition formed to confront ISIS." He added, "When the security situation in Iraq was chaotic due to ISIS's control, the entire region was affected," confirming the need to maintain Iraq's stability. The United States leads an international coalition against ISIS in Iraq and Syria under Operation Inherent Resolve, led by General Matthew McFarlane. Regarding Syria, Al-Sudani remarked, "Having Syria with its political system and people is better than an unknown alternative that could plunge the region into a second war with ISIS, and any security disruption in Syria will unleash the monsters of terrorism and threaten security in Iraq and the region." On another note, Al-Sudani commented on early Iraqi elections, stating that they "would come following the self-dissolution of the Council of Representatives, at which point the government would be ready for any elections, but political forces, according to our reading, have confidence in the government."