Trump insists US troops will stay in Iraq 'to watch Iran'

WASHINGTON, 21 Feb. - (ANA)  - Speaking to American broadcaster CBS on Superbowl Sunday, President Donald Trump walked back on his commitment to bring as many US troops back home as possible, announcing that he intended to maintain an American military presence in the Ayn al-Asad Airbase in Iraq's Anbar governorate.

According to Trump, the 5,000 troops at the "unbelievable and expensive" airbase would be tasked with keeping an eye on nearby Iran so the US could be pre-warned in case of an Iranian attempt to develop a nuclear weapon. The troops would also be reinforced with the 2,000 soldiers set to be withdrawn from Syria at an unspecified time in the future.

Trump's announcement drew fire from a number of Iraqi officials and pro-Iran figures.

Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Monday that Washington had not asked Iraq for permission to watch Iran, and decried the US attempt to over-ride Iraqi sovereignty. Salih is a senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party that enjoys close ties with Iran.

"Don't overburden Iraq with your own issues," Salih said. "The US is a major power… but do not pursue your own policy priorities; we live here."

Officially, Iraq claims there are no US bases on Iraqi soil.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/21 February 2019 - - -