Paul D. Shinkman, US News & World Report: The Iranian Fingerprints on Iraq’s Fallujah Plan
Disunity from abroad, tensions at home allowed Tehran to pressure Baghdad into a dramatic departure from the American war strategy.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s decision to engage the Islamic State group in Fallujah is about more than defeating the terrorist network. It’s about more than establishing safety in Baghdad, and it’s even about more than securing his own political future.
His abrupt departure from America’s script for the war against the Islamic State group, which prioritizes above all else the liberation of Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul, shows the strength of the other major international influence in Iraq, and its sway on Baghdad.
Iran has reportedly been pressuring Abadi for weeks, if not months, to prioritize Fallujah. But now domestic tensions in Baghdad and disunity among the world powers that have involved themselves in the conflict have cleared the way for the Islamic republic to have more potency than the U.S., Russia, Turkey or any other world power involved in the conflict.
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WNU Editor: Many Iraqis are not happy with this Iranian involvement .... Iraqi Lawmakers Condemn Quds Force Leader Qassem Soleimani's Presence in Iraq (Asharq Alawsat). But the Iraqis have no one else to blame but themselves .... Iraq PM Abadi urges lawmakers to stop squabbling, rally behind army (Reuters). But what is surprising to me is the silence from the U.S. on this Iranian involvement .... not even a whimper.
More News On Iran Directing The Battle For Fallujah
We just got the clearest sign yet that Iran's military mastermind is calling shots in Iraq — and that the US is letting him -- Business Insider
Soleimani: Iran to help Iraq as needed -- Tehran Times
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias signal readiness to enter Fallujah -- Long War Journal
Iranian military officers managing the Fallujah operation -- RUDAW
With Washington looking the other way, Iran fills a void in Iraq -- Reuters
Fallujah: Iranian revenge amid American silence -- Middle East Monitor
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