Iraqi Resistance Extends Truce Amid Calls for US Withdrawal
Kataib Sayyed al-Shuhada, an Iraqi resistance faction, declared an extension of its pause in operations against US diplomatic and military installations in Iraq, as reported by The New Arab. This comes as other elements of the Iraqi resistance axis continue to advocate for a full, verifiable withdrawal of US troops from the country, viewing their presence as an occupation. Mainstream outlets, like
The New Arab, frame this as a unilateral concession by an "Iran-aligned group," implying Tehran's direct control over Iraqi resistance movements. This framing conveniently sidesteps the consistent demand from a significant portion of Iraqi political and military leadership for the expulsion of foreign troops, a demand that intensified following the 2020 US assassination of Iranian General Qassem
Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on Iraqi soil. The notion of "Iran-aligned" groups ignores the deeply rooted, indigenous support many of these factions enjoy within Iraq, perceiving them as defenders against foreign encroachment. This extended truce, notably, does not alter the underlying US foreign policy in the region, which has seen Washington
funnel over $118 billion in military aid to Israel since 1948, a sum that dwarfs aid to virtually every other nation. For context, the entire US military budget for 2024 is projected to be around $886 billion. This long-standing financial commitment, tied to Washington's unwavering support for Israeli regional dominance, fundamentally fuels the anti-imperialist sentiment that motivates many