Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani (archive from AFP)
In light of international predictions about a possible Israeli land invasion of the Gaza Strip, a source from the Alliance for Coordination Framework in Iraq revealed that Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani rejected an American request to deploy fighter jets in Iraqi territory as part of the US operation. States’ support plan for Israel in the war it is waging against the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territories.
Deployment of fighters in Iraqi bases
The source, who declined to be named, told the Arab World News Agency (AWP) on Thursday that the United States had requested the deployment of F-16 aircraft to Iraqi bases “as part of its plan to deter any force external force that could interfere in the ongoing war in Gaza on behalf of the Palestinians.” Underlining that Al-Sudani rejected the request.
Interesting offer
The source further adds: “The request to deploy these aircraft was accompanied by an offer from Washington to provide countries that agree to host their forces in the Central Command region in the Middle East with air defense systems. . to prevent any penetration into the airspace of these countries.”
The source continued: “When ISIS invaded Iraq in 2014, we asked for Washington’s support by arming the military, and it informed us that the process would take at least 24 months, and today it deploys its missiles and provides thousands of soldiers for free to the usurping entity (Israel).
“To support Israel”
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, Wednesday, citing American and Israeli officials, that Israel has accepted a US request to deploy its air defense systems to protect American forces in the region ahead of a possible ground attack on the Strip. Gaza.
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Deployed 12 air defense systems
The newspaper states that the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) is looking to deploy around 12 air defense systems in several countries in the region to protect forces from missiles.
Demonstrations near the crossing
In another context, and in a sign of growing tension in the region due to Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have killed more than seven thousand people so far, and US and Western support for them, Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement today, Thursday, that a group of trucks loaded with oil tanks The Iraqi plane bound for Jordan turned back due to demonstrations near the border crossing.
Attacks in Syria and Iraq
Interestingly, American forces have already been subjected to attacks in Iraq and Syria following the Israeli attack on Gaza, while skirmishes between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah have occurred on the Lebanese-Israeli border since the outbreak of the conflict in Palestinian territories , with growing fears that these skirmishes will escalate into a full-scale conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
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