The Iraqi parliament’s security and defense committee claimed on Saturday that US forces are supporting a large number of tribal sheikhs and prominent leaders in Iraq’s western provinces to establish a military base for the purpose of gaining public support and prolonging the stay of US troops in the country.
A member of the committee, who preferred not to be named, said in a press statement that the US forces are supporting the leaders of tribes to establish an armed faction and a military base in the western provinces, pointing out that "Washington seeks through these attempts to create public support in the western provinces for their combat troops to remain."
According to observers, the US forces resorted to this step after getting the green light from President Donald Trump to form a front inside Iraq with control of the Sunni provinces to prevent the spread of Iran’s armed militias in preparation for the move against Tehran at a later stage.