Iraqi Shia cleric, US envoy to Baghdad discuss developments in Iraq, region

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Iraqi Shia cleric Ammar al-Hakim and US ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski discussed political developments in Iraq and the region on Monday.

In a statement on X, Romanowski said she had good talks with al-Hakim, who is the leader of Iraq's National Wisdom Movement (Al-Hikma), "on political developments, security, democracy and human rights" as both parties take steps in the course of their partnership.

"The US and Iraq continue working together to build a stable, secure and sovereign Iraq," she added.

The Al-Hikma Movement issued a statement following the meeting which said that al-Hakim called for ending the mission of the US-led international coalition in Iraq "through dialogue."

He also called for replacing Iraq's relations with the coalition with bilateral relations between Iraq and some of the coalition's members.

Iraq previously announced that an agreement had been reached with the US on Jan. 25 to establish a timetable for the end of the military mission of the coalition, which was established under the leadership of the US against the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group, and the gradual reduction of coalition advisors.

Bases belonging to the coalition forces have come under attack from Iran-backed Shia militia forces many times.