Ya Libnan

Iran general ‘destabilizing’ efforts in Iraq, says CIA chief

Share:
Qassem Suleimani , the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards elite the Quds Force, has been described by the intelligence community as the “most powerful operative in the Middle East today and the sole Iranian authority on Iraq.” He has been organizing Iraqi forces and have become the de facto leader of Iraqi Shiite militias that are the backbone of the fight. He was reportedly injured earlier this year in Samara and was flown for treatment in Tehran but returned earlier this month to lead the battle for retaking Tikrit , Saddam Hussein's hometown, from Islamic State
Qassem Suleimani , the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards elite the Quds Force,is contributing to instability in Iraq and complicating the U.S. mission against terrorism with his command of some of the Iraqi forces battling Islamic State militants, according to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan

The leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force is contributing to instability in Iraq and complicating the U.S. mission against terrorism with his command of some of the Iraqi forces battling Islamic State militants, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency said.

The comments by John Brennan, broadcast Sunday on “Fox News Sunday,” are among the strongest yet voiced by U.S. officials about the involvement of shadowy Gen. Qassem Soleimani in the war against the extremist group.

Brennan described Soleimani as being “very aggressive and active” as he advises Shiite militias battling the extremists, mostly recently in the ongoing offensive targeting Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown.

Brennan said he “wouldn’t consider Iran an ally right now inside Iraq” even though Iran and the U.S. both consider the Islamic State group an enemy.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, testifying at a congressional hearing this past week, said the U.S. worries that Shiite militiamen eventually might turn against Sunni and Kurdish Iraqis, further destabilizing the country.

But Brennan said he didn’t believe the presence of Soleimani and his advisers pointed to Iran having a larger position in Iraq and its future. However, he acknowledged it’s not for lack of trying. Baghdad’s Shiite-led government has forged closer ties with Iran, its adversary in a 1980s war.

“We’re not letting them play that role,” the CIA chief said. “I think they’re working with the Iraqis to play that role. We’re working with the Iraqis, as well.”

Brennan said the Iraqis themselves, not the pullout of U.S. troops, are responsible for the country’s insecurity. Iraqi security forces crumbled in the Islamic State group’s lightning offensive last summer. The militants now hold a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in their self-declared caliphate.

“I think the fault really lies with a number of the Iraqis who wasted and squandered the opportunity they had after the government was reconstituted not to put at rest some of these sectarian tensions and not to be more inclusive as far as bringing the Sunni community in,” Brennan said.

ABC/AP

Share:

Comments

6 responses to “Iran general ‘destabilizing’ efforts in Iraq, says CIA chief”

  1. Rascal Avatar
    Rascal

    It is clear that Iran has its own agenda when it comes to Iraq. They are not there for the simple good of the Iraqi people. All they see is Shiites or terrorist and spreading their Shia resistance to bring Iraq under Iran’s control.

    1. arzatna1 Avatar
      arzatna1

      You nailed it !!
      This is obviously not about good neighborhood
      This is about taking advantage of your neighbor when he needs you the most

      1. o Avatar
        o

        You both nailed it

    2. Christina Metron Avatar
      Christina Metron

      so you’re assigned to this webpage today rascal, are you being harassed too much at the Daily Star, Is it easier for the Hasbarat trolling Vermin to come here and post, a lot more support here not too many Lebanese commenting so you trolls have a bit more room to spread your hate ehh.

      1. Rascal Avatar
        Rascal

        Have a nice day Hezbo shiite-head. Most times I can’t be bothered to respond to such Hezb bag-lickers. But today I will expend a couple words to the less fortunate mental cases out there. Keep rooting for the Hezbo body bags, I think they should throw them in the same hole with ISIS trash.

  2. Christina Metron Avatar
    Christina Metron

    Zionists need to be kept within their boundaries, and it seems as if these guys are keeping them on their toes.

Leave a Reply