Iraqi President Expresses Hope Pullout Of US Troops From Syria To Be 'Catalyst For Peace'

Iraqi President Barham Salih has expressed hope in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the withdrawal of US troops from Syria will contribute to the conflict settlement and will not result in a new escalation of violence, Salih's press service said.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd December, 2018) Iraqi President Barham Salih has expressed hope in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the withdrawal of US troops from Syria will contribute to the conflict settlement and will not result in a new escalation of violence, Salih's press service said.

The talks come after White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday that the United States began the pullout of its forces from Syria. She noted that the troops' withdrawal did not mean the end of the coalition's fight against the Islamic State terror group (IS, banned in Russia). The statement followed President Donald Trump's remark over the IS defeat in Syria.

"His Excellency confirmed that the withdrawal should be a catalyst for peace based on respect for the rights of the Syrians and their independent decision, and not to start a new phase of violence and interventions," the press service said.

During the conversation, Salih also stressed that "Iraq should not bear the burden of the international and regional tensions," and the country's sovereignty and national interests must be safeguarded.

Pompeo, in turn, reaffirmed US commitment to continue counterterrorism fight in Iraq.

The US-led coalition of more than 70 countries is conducting military operations against the IS in Syria and Iraq. The coalition's operations in Iraq are conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government, but those in Syria are not authorized by the Syrian government or the UN Security Council.