Iraqi Commanders: Volunteer Forces to Continue Mosul Battle Despite US Pressures

“We are committed to the Iraqi government’s decision that the Iraqi volunteer forces should play an active role in the battles against the Takfiri terrorists in Mosul,” Spokesman of Iraq’s Ansarullah al-Nujaba Movement Hashem al-Moussavi told FNA on Wednesday.

He reiterated that the volunteer forces are waiting for the Iraqi government’s decision before moving towards Mosul.

“The US and the regional spy agencies are seeking to trouble the Iraqi volunteer forces’ partnership in the war against the ISIL in Mosul, but to no avail,” al-Moussavi added.

In a relevant development on February 16, A senior Iraqi volunteer forces commander underlined that his forces are determined to continue their war against the ISIL in the city of Fallujah.

“The US and some pro-US Iraqi politicians intend to exert pressure on the Iraqi government to prevent the volunteer forces from entering the Fallujah city, but the volunteer forces will not bow to such pressures,” Hassan al-Sari told FNA.

He underlined that some Iraqi political figures are dissuading the volunteer forces at the order of the US.

“The Iraqi volunteer forces will never given in to the demands of a few individuals who are not well-wishers of Iraq and are linked to the ISIL,” the Iraqi commander added.

In early February, Iraqi security sources disclosed that Washington is exerting pressure on the Baghdad government to end volunteer forces partnership in war against ISIL and dissolve the militia army that has the lion share in the war on terrorism in the country.

“The US government has conveyed the message to the Iraqi government through its diplomats that there is no need to Hashd al-Shaabi forces and their role should come to an end,” a senior Iraqi source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told FNA. “Battlefield and security intel indicate that the Iraqi government is also stepping in this path,” the source added.

Meantime, the Iraqi volunteer forces have reacted to the leaked intel by warning against any regional and international attempts to put an end to their life and operation.

In relevant remarks in early November, al-Sari underlined that the US is doing its best to weaken his country’s popular forces to block their further advances in key provinces.

“The US is exerting a lot of pressure to weaken the Iraqi volunteer forces and prevent them from advancing towards Salahuddin and Anbar provinces,” al-Sari told FNA.

He said that the Americans are trying hard to prevent the Iraqi volunteer forces from entering and capturing the city of Fallujah that is under the control of the ISIL now.

Al-Sari, however, reiterated that the Iraqi volunteer forces have maintained their readiness and will continue the fight against the ISIL until achieving all their goals.

In late November, Iraqi volunteer forces discovered and seized US-made military hardware and ammunition in captured terrorists’ positions.

The Iraqi forces discovered US-made military hardware and ammunition, including missiles, in terrorists’ command center in Salahuddin province, informed sources said.

The ISIL Takfiri terrorists currently control shrinking swathes of Syria and Iraq. They have threatened all communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Ezadi Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.

Senior Iraqi officials have blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Persian Gulf Arab states for the growing terrorism in their country.