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Two decades ago, the United States assisted the Iraqi people in overthrowing the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein and laying the foundations for a democratic system. It enabled Iraqis to taste freedom for the first time, eliminating the oppression and the misuse of resources that had caused problems not only for my country but also for the region more broadly.

Since then, U.S.-Iraqi relations have gone through ups and downs, periods of engagement and disengagement, with positions sometimes aligned and other times beset by tensions. Throughout, however, there has been a shared understanding among leaders of both countries that our relationship would remain a strategic priority, underpinned by shared interest and collaborative efforts to overcome difficulties. Together we have defeated terrorism, and security cooperation has allowed us to rebuild the Iraqi army and efficient security forces.

Today, we need to protect our strategic partnership by bringing it to a new phaseone that supports the sovereignty and independence of Iraq without foregoing fruitful cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. In late January, we formed the High Military Committee, composed of top military officials from both the United States and Iraq, to assess the ongoing threat of the so-called Islamic State (also known as ISIS), the capabilities of the Iraqi security services, and operational conditions throughout the country. That effort has led to an agreement among all stakeholders to end the international coalition in a gradual and orderly manner on an agreed timetable. (The coalition was formed in 2014 to fight ISIS, and it includes 86 countries, led by the United States and invited by Iraq.) Going forward, the High Military Committee will develop a road map for future relations, including the presence of U.S. advisers. Those moves, contrary to marking a downgrade in our relationship with the United States, will allow us to move to a new phase of partnership, based on cooperation that goes beyond just security and military affairs.

The U.S.-Iraqi relationship is key to the stability of the Middle East, as well as to the prosperity of the regions people. In recent years, tensions have occasionally arisen between our two countries as a result of conflict with armed groups that have existed in Iraq for the past two decades. These groups grew out of the complex circumstances that Iraq encountered while confronting terrorism. But little by little, as security and stability are restored, the need for weapons outside the control of the state and its institutions will disappear. We are working concertedly toward that end.

Iraq has a long and challenging road ahead. My government is aware of its sensitive position and the delicate balance that it must maintain between the United States and groups that sometimes enter into direct conflict with American forces. But our vision for this situation is clear: we reject attacks on American interests in Iraq or in neighboring countries. At the same time, we need time to manage internal complexities and reach political understandings with the various parties. The decision to make war and peace must be an exclusive matter for the state, and no other party can claim this right.

With the assistance of its friendsespecially the United StatesIraq has managed to defeat the most ruthless terrorist organization in recent history. Now, only small ISIS groups remain; they are being pursued by our security forces, across deserts and mountains and into caves, but they no longer pose a threat to the state. This conflict has significantly enhanced the experience of our security forces, placing them among the best armies in combating terrorism. The time has thus come to turn a page and redirect our resources and capabilities from waging wars toward promoting development.

Ultimate victory over terrorism is unattainable without genuine development, including a decent standard of health care, education, and other essential services. This is the objective of the program my government has developed and is determined to execute: pushing through economic and financial reforms, enhancing human rights, empowering women, generally fostering the principles of freedom and democracy. It is also crucial that we combat corruptionthe other face of terrorism, since its effect is no less devastatingand ensure that the Iraqi peoples money is put toward meaningful ends. We must also diversify our economy away from reliance on oil, even as we capitalize on our position as the second-largest oil-exporting country in OPEC (in addition to having substantial natural gas reserves). To that end, we are advancing cross-border projects (such as industrial zones with neighboring countries) and the Development Road, which serves to link the Gulf region with Turkey and Europe.

As part of this effort, we now have an opportunity to transform the relationship between Iraq and the United States from a single-faceted one to a comprehensive one. The time has come to activate all the provisions of the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2008 by Iraq and the United States. That agreement goes well beyond just security and military affairs, which have dominated the relationship for much of the past two decades, and features terms for cooperation in areas such as the economy and investment, energy and climate, agriculture and industry, and technology and education.

Given their collective sacrifices, both the Iraqi and the American people deserve to see continued benefits from this partnership. Iraqs current stability should encourage American companies to take part in significant development projects in energy, telecommunications, housing, health care, education, transport, and more. Our urgent need for American expertise and technology extends to clean energy and the green economy, as we aim to develop sustainable and renewable sectors. The Strategic Framework Agreement established the legal groundwork for these activities. And by investing in them we can position Iraq to enhance its democracy, strengthen the state, and reinforce the rule of lawthe pillars that will allow us to restore Iraq to its historical splendor.

The guiding principle of our foreign relations is Iraq firstbuilding strong partnerships based on common interests with friendly countries in our region and beyond. This principle means that we approach every country on equal terms, so that Iraq does not become an arena for any outside actor to settle scores. Iraq must be dealt with on the basis of sovereignty and mutual respect, not as a proxy for other conflicts.

That is also why we seek to restore Iraqs pivotal role in the Middle East, taking advantage of our strategic location. We welcome the opportunity to work with the United States to defuse crises and reduce tensions in the Middle East. Yet we are intent on avoiding becoming caught in the conflict between two of our partners, Iran and the United States. We consider a comprehensive de-escalation in the Middle East to be in both Iraqi and U.S. interests. That requires, above all, urgently ending the war in the Gaza Strip and respecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

When I visit Washington and meet with President Joe Biden on April 15, it will be an opportunity to put the U.S.-Iraqi partnership on a new, more sustainable foundation. Our discussions will emphasize the continued importance of our economic relationship, cooperation on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and using political and diplomatic tools to defuse regional tensions. The fight against terrorism will continue to be a central topic for both of our governments.

We recognize and value the crucial role of the United States and other members of the international coalition to combat ISIS in defeating terrorism. This support has helped Iraq achieve stability and make significant strides on democracy, the rule of law, and ensuring that the government has a monopoly on the use of force. Yet we believe the time is right for our relationship to become broader, recognizing the growing capabilities of our forces to defend Iraq and ensure the safety of its citizensand contributing in essential ways to the construction of a prosperous and stable Iraq. In its new form, our partnership can represent both a source of mutual benefit for both of our countries and a driving force in achieving stability in the Middle East.

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Iraq Needs a New Kind of Partnership With the United States - Foreign Affairs Magazine

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says Iraq has not received any reports or indications that missiles or drones were launched from Iraq during Irans attack on Israel.

Iraq is a rare ally of both Washington and Tehran. Iraqi airspace was a main route for Irans unprecedented drone and ballistic missile attack on Israel, and Iraqi officials say Iran informed them, as well as other countries in the region, ahead of the attack.

Our position is clear, and we will not allow Iraq to be thrown into the arena of conflict, al-Sudani says in a statement.

Yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said in an English-language statement that over the weekend, Iran launched a large-scale attack on Israel. Over 350 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, armed drones and rockets were fired from Iranian soil as well as Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon towards the State of Israel.

You're a dedicated reader

Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.

So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.

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Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

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Iraq denies any drones or missiles were launched from its territory during Iran attack - The Times of Israel

Iraqi lawmakers have postponed voting on a bill that includes the death penalty or life in prison for same-sex relations a measure that diplomats from Western countries said could have serious consequences for Iraqs political and economic ties if it goes through.

Parliament was in session today, with the bill an amendment to an anti-prostitution law second on its agenda.

It imposes life imprisonment or the death penalty for anyone engaging in same-sex relations or anyone who swaps their wife with someone elses for sexual purposes.

It also bans promotion of homosexuality and violations are punishable by at least seven years in prison.

Two lawmakers in the session say the vote was postponed over time constraints and that some disagreements remained over proposed amendments.

Currently, mainly Muslim Iraq does not explicitly criminalize gay sex, but loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have been used to target LGBT people.

Parliament was in session to vote on the bill just hours before Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington on a trip focused on pushing for more US investment.

More than 60 countries criminalize gay sex, while same-sex sexual acts are legal in more than 130 countries, according to Our World in Data.

When Uganda in May 2023 enacted a law that includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, the World Bank halted new lending to the East African nation and the US announced visa and travel restrictions against Ugandan officials.

You're a dedicated reader

Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.

So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.

For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

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Iraq postpones vote on bill including death penalty for same-sex acts - The Times of Israel

STROUDSBURG, Pa. - A Monroe County man learned he's spending the rest of his life behind bars for crimes he committed in Iraq back in 2015. Those crimes included torturing a former employee and illegally exporting weapons parts. Officials say the employee raised concerns about the company's weapons manufacturing.

The Department of Justice calls it proof that the U.S. will hold perpetrators accountable, no matter where in the world deplorable acts occur.

The Department of Justice celebrated a win of accountability after a Monroe County man was sentenced to 70 years in prison for crimes committed in Iraq in 2015.

The crimes include abducting, detaining, and torturing his employee at the time and illegally exporting weapons parts.

The DOJ says 55-year-old Ross Roggio had a former employee of his company -- the Roggio Consulting Company -- abducted. Court papers detail how back in 2015, the Stroudsburg man then had the victim detained at a Kurdish military compound for 39 days. And he directed Kurdish soldiers to suffocate, tase and beat the victim, even threatening to cut off a finger.

It happened after the victim, a man from Estonia, raised concerns about what they were doing at the company.

And what they were doing, according to Roggio's conviction on 33 counts last May, had to do with exporting weapons parts and services to Iraq without the approval of the U.S. Department of State, smuggling goods, wire fraud, and money laundering, among even more counts.

The DOJ says in connection with the weapons factory project, Roggio also illegally trained foreign persons in the operation, assembly, and manufacturing of the M4 automatic rifle.

Export evasion is often not a standalone crime, said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

Here, the same defendant who was illegally exporting weapons parts to his Iraqi weapons factory was also brutally torturing one of his employees there.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, says this sentencing follows just the second-ever conviction under the federal torture statute, which went into effect in 1994, according to the DOJ.

"Todays sentence," Argentieri said, "shows that, no matter where such deplorable acts occur, the United States is committed to holding the perpetrators accountable.

The FBI also credits the "sheer courage" of the victim to tell his story.

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Stroudsburg man sentenced to 70 years for torturing employee in Iraq - 69News WFMZ-TV

Five years ago, ISIS was defeated by a global coalition and its local partners in the controlled territory of Baghuz, Syria. This marked the final territorial defeat of the terrorist organization in its last remaining Iraqi stronghold.

Between 2014 and 2017, ISIS lost 95% of the territory it once controlled, thanks to the cooperation between the international communitys military and economic investments and Iraqi security forces. By July 2017, Mosul was once again under Iraqi government control. However, the country still had to regain stability after years under ISIS' grip.

Today, despite being almost fully liberated from the ISIS threat, Iraq still faces problems, particularly repatriating the 1.1 million people who were internally displaced by ISIS. They currently live in refugee camps or have been forced to resettle elsewhere due to continued fighting among various local militias.

In Sinjar [Iraq], Turkey and local militias, which are considered to be affiliated with the PKK, are still fighting. Other places in southwest Baghdad are still under the control of the militias, and those areas are practically depopulated. People are not allowed to go back home, and they make up about 3% of Iraqs population, Omar al Nidawi, a Middle East analyst focusing on Iraqi political, security, and energy affairs, told The Media Line.

The difficulties involved in repatriating the displaced people are partly due to the existence of unexploded munitions that remain in certain areas throughout the country, numerous cities that were completely destroyed, and pollution caused by past ISIS activities.

Another big problem for Iraq nowadays is its economic instability. More than 90% of the government's revenue comes from oil, leaving the country dependent on global prices and fluctuations within the market.

If oil prices were to drop to $60 a barrel, Iraq is going to be in deep trouble. It will be impossible to pay all the necessary state services as well as peoples wages, al Nidawi explained further.

The country's economy is still very weak. The government is the biggest employer in Iraq, and without real growth, especially within the private sector and its capacity to create jobs, it is almost impossible for the government to employ all the people in need. This is why Iraq may face another economic crisis in the next few years, he added.

In addition to the refugee repatriation issue and dire economic situation, Iraq faces another big challenge: rampant corruption. Corruption is almost entirely taking hold of the Iraqi government and civil service. This applies to the Kurdish region as well, Urban Coningham, a Research Fellow at RUSI, told The Media Line.

Despite these serious issues, ISIS has not been able to regain power in Iraq. The terrorist group has, instead, gained more strength in the Sahel region of Africa, which stretches along Niger, Mali, and some parts of Burkina Faso. ISIS is also gaining strength in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

We should never underestimate ISIS influence and ideology, but compared to the past years, we see today that Iraqs security forces are much stronger. In Iraq, the terrorist group is weaker than ever, al Nidawi asserted.

In the past, ISIS gained strength due to the civil war in Syria, the lack of US support, the corrupted environment, and the incompetent political leadership at the time. So, it is very difficult today that this scenario may return, but it is never impossible, he added.

Moreover, the militants are way less numerically speaking than in the past, and they also face shortages of weapons and resources, al Nidawi concluded.

Despite no longer having their caliphate, ISIS militants are still being recruited worldwide, especially in Western countries, as lone wolves, and this is becoming a common trend.

The power of this organization is to have influence outside the Middle East. They gain power from terrorist attacks in Europe and America, as we have seen in Moscow. Paradoxically, the threat of ISIS has to be monitored more in the West at the moment, Florian Hartleb, a political scientist and managing director of Hanse Advice in Tallinn, Estonia, told The Media Line.

Today, Iraq is aware that they need a strong ally, such as the United States, to face a potential future ISIS rebirth. Such an ally will help the country maintain control over its territory and gain expertise in intelligence and counterterrorism. It will also help them ensure economic growth.

Despite Iraqs call for US withdrawal, this cannot be possible. NATO is also in Iraq, and they want to keep their position there to counterbalance Irans influence in the country. Iraq is becoming a proxy of Iran. This is why the US wants to strengthen daily diplomatic relations with Iraq, Coningham said.

However, Iraq's government is trying to balance its ties with both the US and Iran. The government is passively allowing Iran to maximize its power among the Shia militias in the country. This is because the current conflict within the MENA region may lead to significant changes that will shape Iraqs future.

According to Coningham, There is a general turn among Middle Eastern countries towards Iran, which began even before the current war between Israel and Hamas. The elephant in the room that seems to be forgotten is that Iran is very close to acquiring nuclear weapons. This will create a domino effect and an arms race in the Middle East. This wont be only a regional problem, but an international one.

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Iraq's struggle, divided between the US and Iran - The Jerusalem Post