Iraq, US to enhance security relations following Iran’s reckless strike

Davos – A top US official met Iraq’s Prime Minister on Tuesday and offered greater security cooperation after Iran carried out a strike in its western neighbour.

Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani as well as the Iraqi Kurdistan region’s leader Masrour Barzani.

Sullivan spoke with Al-Sudani about “Iran’s reckless ballistic missile attacks”, a White House statement said.

“Sullivan and Al-Sudani discussed the importance of stopping attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria and committed to enhancing security cooperation as part of a long-term, sustainable defense partnership,” it said.

Iran said it struck Israel’s intelligence services in Iraqi Kurdistan as well as targets of the Islamic State group in Syria.

Iraq has denounced the strike and challenged Iran’s claim that it targeted Israeli intelligence services.

On January 3, Islamic State suicide bombers struck crowds gathered near the tomb of Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran, killing around 90 people.