Hashd Al-Shaabi Commander: US Plans to Approach Iranian Borders in Cooperation with ISIL

Jabbar al-Ma’amouri said on Wednesday that the US forces are attempting to deploy in Cobra base near al-Sa’adiyeh region in the strategic region of Hawz Hamrin in Diyali province, near the borders with Iran.

He added that the measure is in line with US President Donald Trump’s remarks who said that Washington wants to keep an eye on Iran, warning that the US forces are attempting to foment insecurity at the borders with Iraq through collaboration with the ISIL terrorists.

Al-Ma’amouri said that the ISIL has increased efforts to infiltrate into regions near Khaneqein at the Iraqi-Iranian borders after Trump declared withdrawal of forces from Syria, adding that the US forces want to find a foothold in certain parts of Hawz Hamrin by creating tensions in the region.

He stated that all Iraqi groups have voiced opposition to this measure, noting that Hashd al-Shaabi will not allow the US to deploy in Diyali and Cobra base.

In relevant remarks last month, a senior commander of Hashd al-Shaabi in al-Anbar province warned that the US forces are attempting to provoke the Iraqi popular forces into starting war against them.

“The Americans are stirring tensions by spreading rumors of detention of Hashd al-Shaabi forces, bombing their positions or dissolving the group,” Qassem Moslih was quoted as saying by the Kurdish-language Basnews.

He noted that the Americans have lost everything in Iraq and want to provoke Hashd al-Shaabi into war, stressing that the Iraqi popular forces will not be the starter of any war, but they will fight if they come under attack.