The developments in Iraq were highlighted more rigorously by world media outlets over the past weeks as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorists, in a clear show of power, succeeded to make gains against the Iraqi security forces and could return to some of its formerly occupied strongholds.

Atop Iraq’s security concerns are the occupation of Ramadi, the provincial capital of Al-Anbar, and Salahuddin province as the new Iraqi government of Heidar al-Ebadi had just succeeded to drive the terrorists out of these regions a couple of months ago.

Three days ago, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps’ Quds Division Major General Qassem Soleimani, whose force is responsible for protecting the Islamic Republic’s interests overseas, said despite the fact that the United States’ military bases are only kilometers away from Ramadi, and despite the bloodshed taking place by ISIL terrorists in the city, the U.S. has done nothing to protect people.

General Soleimani made the remarks while some accuse Iran of interference in the domestic affairs of Iraq, particularly during the past year. For their history of cooperation, and in order to help Iraq in the face of the growing violence and extremism, and upon the request of the Iraqi government, Iran has dispatched military advisors to Iraq.

Soleimani’s comments came as the United States is, on the one hand, pretending to be seeking to form an anti-ISIL coalition, and on the other hand, has termed Iran’s cooperation with Iraq to contain ISIL insurgency as interference. To make matters worse, the U.S. has not done much to help the Iraqi government in difficult times particularly when the Iraqis have not had the power to stand against terrorists, chiefly in the past weeks that ISIL has been making gains.

During his trips to neighboring and regional states, as well as to the United States during the past months, the Iraqi prime minister had been trying to say that his country’s first and foremost challenge is security concerns. He also tried to underscore that Iraq needs to receive financial and military aid that it was promised to receive from Washington in order to be able establish security across the country. If the United States gave weapons to Iraq and trained Iraqi forces, and above all, provided the central government with intelligence, it could then prove that its presence in Iraq serves a purpose.

History has been indicative of the fact that all these events would simply pass and a nation, which has had high humane and realistic ambitions, would be eventually able to keep its head high in honor. Today, the Iraqi nation needs comprehensive security more than anything else, a security that has been threatened and jeopardized by ISIL. That is why General Soleimani has been outspoken against the United States. And given Washington’s military presence in Iraq, he has demanded that the White House do at least the minimum to help the Iraqis and their government.

MD/PA