Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Anti- ISIS Coalition Commander Says There Is No Increased Threat From Iran-Backed Forces

Members of the international force fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, some of whose soldiers are pictured with French Defence Minister Florence Parly in February 2019, sees no increased threat from Iran (AFP Photo/Daphné BENOIT)

The Guardian: No Iran threat in Syria or Iraq, top British officer says, contradicting US

Deputy commander of anti-Isis coalition rebuts White House justification for sending troops

The top British general in the US-led coalition against Isis has said there is no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq or Syria, directly contradicting US assertions used to justify a military buildup in the region.

Maj Gen Christopher Ghika, who is a deputy commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition conducting counter-terrorist operations against Isis in Iraq and Syria, was repeatedly questioned by reporters about the threat from Shia militias in Syria and Iraq, cited by US officials over the past week as justification for speeding up the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group in the Gulf and for sending B-52 Stratofortress bombers and an anti-aircraft battery to the region.

Read more ....

Update #1: No increased threat from Iran-backed forces, anti-ISIS coalition leader says (CNN)
Update #2: Military officer says no rise in Iran threat in Iraq, Syria (FOX News/AP)

WNU Editor: The Pentagon has a different view .... Pentagon disputes British general's comments on Iraq militia threat (Politico). More here .... U.S. warns on possible 'imminent threats' to U.S. forces in Iraq (Reuters).

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