A Baghdad-based spokesman on Thursday said the coalition remained committed to supporting Iraqi security forces, declining to speculate on the possibility of fallout on the battlefield from al-Obeidi’s departure, which he called “a matter for the government of Iraq”.
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According to Michael Knights, Iraq fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, while not having a minister is not an ideal situation for the military, it will not significantly disturb the Mosul operation. However the issue “may be tabled only at that Minister’s request or at the signed request of 50 (parliament) members after an inquiry discussion directed at him”.
Al-Obeidi had been embroiled in a row after accusing the parliament speaker and a number of lawmakers allegedly requesting him to pay $2 million in bribes in return for not questioning him into corruption allegation.
The vote of confidence followed accusations of corruption against al-Obeidi, The Washington Post reported. Al-Obeidi’s departure was precipitated by infighting among the country’s Sunni political parties, rather than by friction between Sunnis and Shiites.
“The sacking of the minister will not affect the course of the battle to liberate the city of Mosul”, al-Rikabi told The Associated Press. Our heroic forces have achieved a great victory, which is an important step for the liberation of Mosul.
Iraqi forces had already recaptured a nearby air field and Qayyarah is expected to become one of the main launchpads for an assault on Mosul in the coming weeks or months.
This is while the Iraqi army troops and allied volunteer forces are conducting large-scale military operations against the Daesh militants, who have been controlling swathes of land in the northern and western parts of the country since 2014.
Separately, Iraqi officials say a series of bombings and shootings across the Iraqi capital has killed 13 people and wounded 24.
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These moves have not eroded all of the terrorist group’s capabilities, however, as it “nonetheless retains limited freedom of movement in both areas and will likely conduct local counterattacks to pressure its opponents”, ISW noted, adding, “ISIS may also mount a resurgence in previously-cleared areas, in particular Southern Baghdad and the Southern Provinces”. However, unconfirmed reports have said Washington tried to persuade Iraqi officials to keep al-Obeidi in office for the sake of continuity at such a critical juncture in Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State.
