Iraqi parliament passes resolution to expel U.S.-led coalition troops from country

Iraq’s parliament passed a resolution calling on the government to end all foreign troop presence in Iraq, as backlash grew after the killing of a top Iranian military commander and an Iraqi militia leader in a U.S. strike in Baghdad.

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

“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," the AFP cited it as saying.

The resolution’s main aim is to get the United States to withdraw some its approximately 5,000 troops present in different parts of Iraq. It reflects the concern of many in Iraq that the US strike killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis could engulf them in a major war between two bigger powers.

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