ERBIL () — European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday, that the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and current developments in the country are linked to the threat posed by Iran, stressing that developments across the Middle East should be viewed together.
Responding to a question from correspondent Barzan Hassan, Kallas said the US troop withdrawal and the developments currently unfolding in Iraq are connected to Iran and the threats it poses to the country.
Kallas also emphasized that issues across the Middle East are interconnected and called for developments in the region to be monitored comprehensively and collectively.
Her remarks come as the United States and Iraq enter a new phase in their bilateral relations following an agreement to end the military mission of the US-led international coalition against ISIS in Iraq and complete the withdrawal of US forces by the end of September. The withdrawal is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30.
The US withdrawal has taken place amid years of pressure from armed groups on the Iraqi government and US forces to leave the country, including repeated rocket and drone attacks targeting coalition positions.
The withdrawal is also linked to attacks against US-linked targets by Iran-backed Iraqi militias during the wider US-Iran conflict.
The timing of the withdrawal has drawn particular attention in the Kurdistan Region, where US forces and air-defense systems have been targeted during the wider regional conflict.
Reports indicate that remaining US personnel and defense systems in the Region are being withdrawn ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline.
The broader regional context includes the ongoing confrontation involving Israel, Iran and Iran-aligned armed groups. European governments have sought to limit the spillover of regional conflicts into Iraq, amid concerns that the country could become a theater for proxy confrontation.
Kallas's comments come as European officials continue to monitor the wider security consequences of the conflict and its impact on Iraq and the region. She has also recently stressed the broader security and economic implications of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
