Iraqi Sunni sheikhs threaten US to ask Iran for help if needed

Rasa - One of the Sunni tribal sheikhs of Iraq has reportedly threatened US to resort to Iran to get the needed military support in their fight against ISIS if the US did not respond to their demands.

News ID: 1923

Date: 30 December 2014 - 00:02

RNA - During a meeting with US Senator, John McCain, who embarked on a short visit to Baghdad on Friday, one of the Sunni tribal sheikhs of Iraq has reportedly threatened to resort to Iran to get the needed military support in their fight against ISIS if the US did not respond to their demands.

McCain met with several Iraqi lawmakers and tribal sheikhs representing the Sunni-dominated provinces of Anbar, Saladin, Diyala as well as the towns constituting the belt of Baghdad, to discuss proposed plans to confront ISIL.

Three Iraqi Sunni figures who attended the meeting told Al Jazeera that a list of demands was submitted to McCain asking for US ground troops, weapons and funds to accelerate the liberation of areas seized by ISIL and grant them (Sunni tribes) a bigger role in the battle against ISIL.

The disgruntled tribal leaders, according to Sunni figures, made it clear that they were considering alternative options to get the much needed military support to drive away ISIL fighters, and that Iran was on top of the list of alternatives.

"[McCain] was told clearly that if the Americans kept watching the situation [in Anbar, Saladin and Diyala provinces] and did not intervene, we will ask another regional power to fill the gap," a senior Iraqi lawmaker who attended the meeting, told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity.

"We have already opened many channels with Iran and they have offered unconditional support including weapons, funds and even fighters if required," he said.

McCain, who was mostly just listening during the meeting, according to the lawmaker, asked for clarification relating to that point.

"McCain stopped us a lot when it came to that point, he looked very interested and was asking questions like who, when, where, why and how," the lawmaker said.

Iran was the first regional country that responded to the Iraqi government's calls for assistance to stop ISIL advances towards the capital.

Iranian military commanders, accompanying Iraqi forces and Shia militias, have played a vital role in gaining control over the border towns of Jalawla and Saadia, in Diyala province, a few weeks ago and driving ISIL fighters from Jurf al-Sakhar, one of the main supply routes for ISIL in southern Baghdad.

Iran, according to analysts, was also quick to cover the large shortage of weapons and ammunition for the Iraqi troops and Kurdish forces.

The meeting which lasted 90 minutes was held at the house of the Iraqi speaker, Saleem al-Joubori, in the Green Zone, the most fortified area in Baghdad that contains governmental buildings and many foreign embassies including the US and British embassies.

The tribal leaders and lawmakers had also expressed their dismay at the lack of a serious US policy to liberate their lands and "the US' double standards" in dealing with the Sunni tribes in these provinces compared to the Kurds.

"The attendees have expressed their anger and dissatisfaction at the US and the [US-led] international coalition that does not support them in their war against Daesh [ISIL] while they rose up when Daesh got close to the Kurdish region and quickly intervened," Salah al-Joubori, a senior Sunni lawmaker who also attended the meeting, told Al Jazeera.

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