Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Meets U.S. Secretary of State and Affirms Continuation of war on Lebanon will Lead to Further Wars in Region

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Fuad Hussein met with U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to defeat Da’esh, held in Washington on Monday, September 30, 2024. 

Minister Fuad Hussein commended the cooperation and joint coordination between Iraq and the United States in combating Da’esh terrorist organization, highlighting the joint efforts that continued for ten years, adding that Iraq has gained great experience in combating terrorist organizations, and we are committed to remain as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat the expansion of Da’esh in Africa and Asia. The Minister referred to the joint statement between the Iraqi government and the US government on the understandings reached regarding the timeline of the coalition forces withdrawal over the coming period.

Additionally the two sides discussed the current challenges facing the region, especially the war on Lebanon, which led to social disasters and created a humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of about one million Lebanese to other cities within the country, and tens of thousands of them are trying to seek refuge in neighboring countries, all as a result of the recent attacks on southern Lebanon and Beirut. 

Minister Hussein affirmed that these crises require concerted international efforts to deal with them, warning that the continuation of the war will lead to the outbreak of other wars in the region, and will contribute to the creation of new terrorist organizations or the revival of old terrorist organizations and the Takfiri terrorist ideology.

 His Excellency stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, de-escalate the situation and dealing with the worsening humanitarian crises, in addition he emphasized the importance of protecting Lebanon and ensuring that it remains an effective state and does not turn it into a failed state. 

At the end of the meeting Minister Fuad Hussein expressed his aspiration for a long-term partnership between Iraq and the United States, especially in the security and military fields, underlining the importance of the recent agreement that aims to enhance coordination on security, and complete the process of coalition forces withdrawal from Iraq.