Dubai. May 22. INTERFAX-Paramilitary groups in Iraq that are opposed to the United States are trying to create conditions that would force the withdrawal of the American contingent from this country, said the head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Frank McKenzie.
"They believe that they can carry out attacks on a small enough scale that will not provoke a response, but will cause enough tension to eventually push us to leave," the general, who was on a visit to Iraq on Thursday, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press (AP) on Saturday.
According to him, such militia groups hoped that the United States would leave Iraq, especially after the death of Iranian General Qasem Suleimani in January 2020 in Baghdad as a result of a US special operation.
However, McKenzie expressed confidence that the international anti-terrorist coalition, led by the United States, still has work to do in Iraq - to help finally defeat the IS group (banned in the Russian Federation), whose forces still continue to operate in the north and west of the country.
In addition, McKenzie pointed out the danger of small suicide drones used by pro-Iranian militias, including against the United States: according to the general, the scale of their use will only grow in the coming years, and the US military needs to look for ways to counter such weapons in the Middle East and elsewhere.
