Iraqi Sunni politicians reject visit by Iran general to Fallujah

BAGHDAD — Sunni politicians in Iraq condemned on Saturday a visit by Iranian General Qassem Soleimani to Shiite paramilitary forces fighting alongside the Iraqi army to drive the Daesh terror group’s militants out of the Sunni city of Fallujah.

Three lawmakers from the province of Anbar told Reuters the visit by Iran's Al Quds Brigade commander could fuel sectarian tension and cast doubt on Baghdad's assertions that the offensive is an Iraqi-led effort to defeat Daesh, and not to settle scores with the Sunnis.

Fallujah, which lies about 50 kilometres west of Baghdad, is a bastion of the insurgency that fought the US occupation of Iraq and the Shiite-led authorities that replaced former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein, a Sunni.

In recent days, Iranian media published pictures of what they said was a visit by Soleimani to Fallujah and a meeting he held with the leaders of the Iraqi coalition of Shiite militias known as Popular Mobilisation, or Al Hashid Al Shaabi.

It is the second time Soleimani has appeared in Iraqi conflict zones. About a year ago, witnesses said he was present when Popular Mobilisation fighters ousted Daesh militants from cities north of the capital.

An Iraqi government spokesman did not confirm Soleimani’s visit and stressed that Iranian advisers are present in Iraq in order to assist in the war on Daesh in the same capacity as those of the US-led anti-Daesh coalition.

Member of parliament Hamid Al Mutlaq rejected that, however.

“Soleimani’s presence is suspicious and a cause for concern; he is absolutely not welcome in the area,” said Fallujah parliamentarian Salim Muttar Al Issawi.

“I believe that the presence of such an official from the [Iranian] Revolutionary Guard could have sectarian implications,” said another MP from the city, Liqaa Wardi.

Fallujah was the first city captured by Daesh in Iraq in January 2014, and is the second-largest still held by the militants after Mosul, their de-facto capital.

The Association of Muslim Scholars of Iraq, a hardline political organisation formed after Saddam’s ouster to represent Sunnis, rejected the participation of the Shiite militias in the fighting in Fallujah.

“The militias... didn’t come to liberate areas, as they claim, but to carry out their sectarian goals with direct guidance from Iran,” it said in a statement on Friday.

“The presence of Iran’s military advisers in Iraq under the command of General Qassem Soleimani is at the request of the country’s legitimate government in order to fight terrorists,” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said, according to the Fars news agency.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir was quoted as telling Russia’s RT channel Soleimani’s presence in Iraq was “very negative”.