Iraqi parliament passes resolution to expel US troops

Iraq's parliament passed on Sunday a resolution telling the government to end the presence of foreign troops in Iraq and ensure they do not use its land, air, and waters for any reason.

"The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting Islamic State due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory," the resolution read.

At present, the US has some 5,000 military personnel in Iraq. 

"The Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace or water for any reason."

Parliament resolutions, unlike laws, are non-binding to the government, but Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence.

What does the resolution mean?

The resolution is non-binding, but it is likely to be heeded by the government as caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi supports the measures, reports DW.

The resolution was passed two days after the US killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq by airstrikes.

"The parliament has voted to commit the Iraqi government to cancel its request to the international coalition for help to fight IS," parliament speaker Mohammed Halbusi announced.

Populist Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr called for a more substantial response to the killing.

"I consider this a weak response, insufficient against American violation of Iraqi sovereignty and regional escalation," Sadr, who leads the largest bloc in parliament, said in a letter to the assembly read aloud by a supporter.

Iraq summons US envoy, complains to UN

Iraqi officials have also summoned the US envoy to Iraq, Matthew Tueller, over the airstrikes, reports DW.

"[The airstrikes] were a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty," the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement, and "contradict the agreed-upon missions of the international coalition."

Iraq's foreign ministry also lodged an official complaint with the UN Secretary General and Security Council over the US air strikes on Sunday.

The complaint is about "American attacks and aggression on Iraqi military positions and the assassination of Iraqi and allied high level military commanders on Iraqi soil," according to the foreign ministry.

Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi, who was in attendance in parliament on Sunday, urged parliament to end the presence of foreign troops in Iraq.

"Despite the internal and external difficulties that we might face, it remains best for Iraq on principle and practically," he told MPs.

He also said that Soleimani was due to meet with him on Tuesday to discuss a Saudi offer to de-escalate tension in the area.

Abdul Mahdi, who resigned on December 1 but has remained in place as caretaker prime minister, also urged lawmakers to vote for a new prime minister and government as soon as possible.

Anti-Isis coalition suspends operations

The international coalition fighting Islamic State has suspended operations against the terrorist group so its forces can concentrate on protecting the US, UK and other troops at bases in Iraq, reports The Guardian.

The announcement came minutes before the Iraqi parliament passed a motion calling for the expulsion of US troops, in the aftermath of the assassination by the US of the Iranian general and the leader of Iraq's Hezbollah militia outside Baghdad airport on Friday.

A statement on Sunday from Operation Inherent Resolve said the US-led coalition was "fully committed" to protecting its bases in the light of "repeated rocket attacks" from pro-Iranian militias over the past two months.

"This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations against Daesh [Isis], and we have therefore paused these activities, subject to continuous review," the coalition said.