US report: The most important weapons of Iraq 'crouched' on the ground 6 months ago due to 'faction threats'!

[Mary B]

US report: The most important weapons of Iraq 'crouched' on the ground 6 months ago due to 'faction threats'!

2020.07.01

 

People - Baghdad  

A US report warned of problems threatening Iraq’s most important weapons represented by F-16s, while they were expected to be transferred from Balad Air Force Base to other locations.  

The report, published by Forbes and its follower, People, on Wednesday (1 July 2020), highlighted technical problems facing the squadron of the most advanced combat aircraft in Iraq, which made them perched on the ground 6 months ago.  

  

Following is the text of the report:  

  

Until now, 2020 was not a good year, especially for the Iraqi Air Force fleet of Falcon Jet F-16 bombers, taking into account the aforementioned, the future of that fleet is not necessarily so desperate.  

In January 2020, tensions between the United States and Iran worsened, with the United States assassinating Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by a drone attack on his convoy near Baghdad airport, and the Iranian response to bomb two air bases in Anbar and the Kurdistan region that includes American forces with a series of surface-to-surface missiles.  

As a result of these escalations of tensions, the United States began withdrawing from several bases in different regions of Iraq. As part of this reduction, American contractors were evacuated from Balad Air Force Base, where F-16s were roosting, due to the risks posed by missile attacks on the bases.  

These American contractors were helping the Iraqi side maintain its F-16 fleet and keep it operational.  

Since that time, several pieces of these aircraft have been grounded, as they lack technical support and maintenance. Even a high-ranking Iraqi official went so far as to say that the Iraqi F-16 fleet was "over".  

It is noteworthy that at the present time Iraq no longer maintains its periodic combat sorties with the F-16 aircraft that it used to march over Anbar Governorate, as these aircraft monitor the movements of ISIS infiltrators from the Syrian border.  

Iraq began receiving the first batch of F-16s in mid-2015 when it was in the midst of the battle against ISIS.  

These jet fighters are, to this date, one of the most advanced aircraft used by the Iraqi air force since the fall of the former regime.  

Despite these constraints that have occurred over the past six months, the F-16 fleet must not end or lose its importance so easily.  

Michael Knights, an Iraq expert and political analyst from the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, says, "It is unlikely that Iraq will write off the significant investment that it has spent on the F-16 fleet and its pilots. Iraq will not be the first country to offer to reduce flight hours. To its pilots due to a lack of funding, this happens in all NATO countries as well. "  

American soldiers and contractors present in Iraqi bases, including Balad, have been subjected to rocket attacks over the past year by armed factions loyal to Iran and several times.  

On the other hand, the new Iraqi government, led by Mustafa Al-Kazemi, took a position on these attacks. The anti-terror forces recently arrested 13 suspects of carrying out many of these missile attacks.  

Such an established position by the Iraqi government against these armed groups would help persuade the American contractors that the situation has become relatively safe for them to be able to return to Iraq and continue to assist Baghdad in keeping the F-16 fleet ready for operation.  

"The protection of foreign citizens is very important for the resumption of the support and maintenance efforts of the F-16s," Knights said. The analyst Knights also pointed out that taking the base of Balad as the headquarters of the F-16 fleet was always a matter of concern because the region was punctuated by armed factions as well as ISIS militants. .  

Analyst Knights predicted that Iraq would eventually move many of its F-16s to other bases in the country. Alternative rules may include Baghdad airport, in Erbil, or Ain al-Assad base in Anbar, near the Syrian border. Currently, Iraqi F-16s are not being used for ongoing operations against the remnants of ISIS militants in Iraq.  

Knights added, "Currently, the Iraqi F-16s are not that important because of the presence of the international coalition and its air force, but over time the rapid attacks against ISIS will be Iraqi attacks, not for the coalition, and that is why the need for Iraqi F-16s in carrying out these attacks will increase further."  

https://www.nasnews.com/view.php?cat=34364

[Mary B]

 

 

 

Turkish Defense Minister: We respect the sovereignty of Iraq ... but the military operations are continuing!

2020.07.01 

 

Baghdad - people  

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar confirmed on Wednesday that Turkish forces will continue their military operations in northern Iraq, and that Turkey respects Iraqi sovereignty at the same time.  

Akar said, after a meeting in Ankara yesterday, and was followed by "people" (1 July 2020), to assess the developments of the ground-based military operation, "Claw-Tiger", which was launched in two ditches in the Kurdistan region of Iraq last June 17, two days after the start of the air operation. Claw - Eagle »," The Turkish military operations against the PKK will continue until the situation in the region is controlled and the attacks on Turkish police stations on the border with Iraq are prevented. "  

Akar added that "41 elements of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were neutralized in the operation (the claw - the tiger), within the borders of the Kurdistan region, and that a large amount of weapons and ammunition have been found since the beginning of the operation last June."  

Turkish forces lost 3 soldiers in this process, according to what the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced.  

While the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) reported the killing of 36 Turkish soldiers, and the Turkish air strikes on the areas of Chiladze and Kani Masi resulted in the death of 5 civilians and the destruction of many homes.  

The Turkish forces continue their incursion into northern Iraq despite the protests in Baghdad, where the Iraqi presidency described the Turkish operations as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, in addition to violating international laws and the death of many civilians there.  

 Member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, Kata 'al-Rikabi, told Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper and its follower, "Nass" (July 1, 2020), "The Turkish forces bulldozed 15 Kurdish villages and their people were displaced within the past two days," stressing that "the Turkish forces' incursion into the north of Iraq has not stopped for two weeks, and its military operations are continuing. "  

Representatives in the American Congress expressed their annoyance at the strikes carried out by Turkey in northern Iraq, and called for holding them accountable for their actions and taking a decisive stand on what is happening in northern Iraq.  

Representative Elliot Engel expressed his condemnation of the air strikes and ground operations near the Kurdish and Yazidi regions, describing the Ankara operation as "reckless and dangerous" on the lives of civilians, especially from a NATO member, and called on Turkey to stop immediately.  

Representative Jim Cooper, who represents the American city of Nashville, which has a large Kurdish community, said he was "very upset" by the Turkish military operation.  

https://www.nasnews.com/view.php?cat=34361

[Mary B]

parliamentary security: turkey is conducting an occupation, not an incursion into iraqi territory

Author: Ahad8 On 7/1/2020 

The Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee indicated that Turkey is carrying out an occupation and not an incursion into Iraqi territory.
Committee member Badr Al-Ziyadi said in an interview with Al-Ahed TV channel today, Wednesday: "There is no coordination between the federal government and the region regarding the Turkish occupation of northern Iraq," noting that "Turkey is seeking to occupy some provinces in the north, especially with the weak position of the Iraqi government."
He added: "We called for an emergency session to discuss the Turkish occupation in order to take a firm stand," noting that "the region's refusal to enter any federal forces into Kurdistan reflected negatively on the security reality there."

 

https://alahadnews.net/80720/السياسية-2/

[nannab]

Thank you Mary B for all of the articles.  

[Donziman]

Unbelievable, Really. No coordination with the Federal Gov. That's like Texas gets invaded

but nobody gets on the phone and calls Washington. Turkey says we recognize Sovereignty

(lol) but we choose to ignore it.. Somebody is getting big money to keep this secret 

[gregp]

F-16

Suck! Bang! Blow!

Just like a dang goat!!!

Now figure it out!!!

 

[Calijim]

Hey let’s just start a world war. Then we can cover up all the corruption and steal even more. Maybe get some gold out of the C.B.I. before the Turks ransack it. Not sorry about the sarcasm but I don’t think the Iraqi government could fight their way out of a paper bag.

Edited July 2, 2020 by Calijim