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IRAN HAS SENT a “small numbers” of operatives into Iraq to bolster the Shiite-led government in Baghdad, but there is no sign of a large deployment of army units, the Pentagon said.
The comments by spokesman Admiral John Kirby marked the US government’s first public confirmation that Iranian operatives had crossed into Iraq, where the Baghdad government is struggling to counter the swift advance of Sunni extremists.
“There are some Iranian revolutionary operatives in Iraq but I’ve seen no indication of ground forces or major units,” Kirby told a news conference, apparently referring to Tehran’s Quds force, the covert arm of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
When US troops occupied Iraq between 2003 and 2011, Washington accused Tehran of using the Quds force to support Shiite militias attacking American soldiers.
“Their interference in Iraq is nothing new,” Kirby said.
But the United States and Iran now find themselves sharing a common interest in helping Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki fend off the onslaught by Sunni militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The Pentagon offered no further details on the nature of the Iranians’ presence or their operations, amid media reports that Tehran had launched a concerted effort to shore up Iraqi forces.
“I’ll let the Iranians speak for their activities,” Kirby said.
“We have indications that there are at least some operatives inside Iraq,” he said, saying the alleged deployment amounted to “small numbers” of agents.
Some Iraqi army and police units have collapsed against the ISIS fighters, in some cases ditching their uniforms and weapons before fleeing.
Rapid offensive
The rapid offensive by ISIS, which has overrun swathes of northern and central Iraq, has alarmed Tehran — which has close ties to the Maliki government — as well as Washington.
Western diplomats say Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Quds Force, has traveled to Baghdad to advise Maliki in the crisis.
Iran has previously sent military advisers to Syria to aid President Bashar al-Assad’s regime against rebel forces.
President Barack Obama announced Thursday plans to send up to 300 US military advisers to Iraq but stopped short of ordering air strikes against ISIS forces, though he left the door open to that possibility.
Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian dismissed the move as evidence that Obama lacked “serious will” to fight terrorism.
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Ironic seeing as USA sends troops into countries illegally all the time.
It’s their nature.
Sure they announced during the week that they were sending 500 ‘military advisers’ over.
Iran is not stupid….
They know damn well what is going on and I don’t think they will fall for any traps.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/06/20/367830/isil-saudi-creation-trained-by-west/
Patriarchal societies know nothing other than violence. Therein lied the problem, take the decisions of women out of society and all you have are scary little men wearing dresses and head dresses.
Phillis Murphy…….You are confusing Iran with Saudi Arabia.
Agreed Phyllis but as we are where we are now with Iraq can you enlighten us with the feminist approach to the conflict & how you would deal with all sides & bring peace & stability. In my view the empowerment of women would help greatly but I doubt that will happen with ISIS around.
Are them spuds clean?….Where’s Mt sambo?
@Phyllis With respect, could you perhaps show where in our human history we have had experience of matriarchal society structures, not matrilineal ones, and how these were somehow less violent than patriarchal ones?
You may want to read this, the evidence is online too should you want to research it:
http://www.nairaland.com/1646961/what-happens-when-drop-bunch#21729972
With regard to the article mentioning the Iranian Quds Force in Iraq, make no mistake these are not the average Middle Eastern man with an Ak47. These are extremely well trained and capable special forces who operate outside Iran, there is reported to be about 15,000 of them and they report to the Iranian Supreme Leader only. A few years ago the Americans reported they stopped a plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the US, that was Quds Forces, although it was never proven. They have links to several terrorist groups including Hezbollah. If they are in Iraq they mean business.
Was that Bandar Bin Sultan they were targeting? A shame they didnt get him then if so, he is/was the head of these terrorist groups operating across the middle east and beyond, that does not include Hezbollah btw, whose primary concern is defending Lebanon against Israeli terror.
two words phyllis MAGGIE THATCHER …..you absolute clown
2 Things here, Iran has said they have deployed forces into Iraq a good few days ago anyway. The US has no interest in stopping this ISIL group despite what they are saying officially.
Yes they do….The U.S does not want a regime change in Syria just a change of leadership and they want to support the government they installed in iraq….isis may have been set up by Saudi but as with all groups they never want to relinquish power (look at the garda in this country)….isis will get a serious knock on the head that will turn them into a ragtag grouping that we will hear about once in a blue moon
This is a stepping stone…
Of course the USA wants a regime change in Syria and Iran…..
They want their puppet government (Just like Kiev) also want Rothschild banking, access to their oil reserves, corporate, Monsanto and what ever other poisons that go along with them.
, ,
Frank, don’t forget Exon Mobile, Dick Chaney, the Bilderburg Group and the giant green shape-shifting aliens that really run the world.
Iran has no right to interfere in Iraq business, that’s Americas job.
I have a cat.
So do I, what a coincidence!
Wind your neck in Jeremy
learn to reply to comments james,you never answered me the last time,im sure you will now though,im all ears ???? :-)
And you’ve got such a reputation for replying to comments, Jeremy. You usually flee with your tail between your legs after achieving a spate of red thumbs.
such as ??? id say you are confusing me with the original jermy on the site,you’ll notice the difference in our comments i am sure !!! ask away and ill answer and if you knew what franco and me were disagreeing about you wouldnt be so swift to jump in
anyway james,im waiting ??
I noticed the differences in grammar and the lack thereof.
hahahaha ohhhh my grammar,you’ve stung me bad !!! well p O’ Neil,lets save the arguing for when we disagree about something and not you mistaking me for someone else and being a grammar nazi
ya know looking at this,you’d have to think its the same person on two different profiles :-)
James never replies he’s too much of a smart Alec
This lad never replies with sense….
The best you can do poneill is attack a guy over the same failings you have….for the love of god how the new age sinn feiners have turned out…
The world seems to be going south. Tensions are so high in the world right it is quite concerning.
Iran sorting out ISIS, much like the Vietnamese sorting out the Khymer Rouge. But we’ll see them as barbaric terrorists.
Vietmanese hated the kymer rouge….
thats his point i think seamus
“Their interference in Iraq is nothing new,” Kirby said. to most of ye that is pretty harmless,to me it blows my fuqing mind,its a mad world we live in
Here is a vidio of the Brits recruiting members for ISIS terrorisrs….
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/06/21/367894/briton-recruits-isil-terrorists-video/
You can understand now why the Brits want Irans Press TV banned in Europe…..
Even for you that’s a pretty bizarre post Frank, given the actual content of the video! :-D
Sky news are covering it Frank so you comment make no sense. Not surprised thought. Ha
http://news.sky.com/story/1286159/brit-jihadi-film-leaves-family-heartbroken
That’s not really covering it though John is it? Can you explain the hard on you have for Frank after you answer the first question in an intelligible manner, thanks.
Why are you hiding behind a fake name and profile picture?
Perhaps they are preparing the ground for an Iranian military take over of Northern Iraq while the Americans are preparing to evacuate their people altogether having lost interest in getting into a serious battle.
The green zone in Bagdad is the biggest embassy in the world….The U.S aren’t going to give that up…. soon Israel will not be the American sanctioned dominant power in that region….it’s called hedgemony
Israel will always be the dominant power in the region as long as it has US support. No reasonable political commentator points to any change to that in the foreseeable future. The influence Jews wield in the USA is incredible based on their small numbers. This is demonstrated by the enormous funding USA gives the Israeli military and how USA can’t force Israel’s hand on peace talks.
Is that the money you keep in your hedge fund?
That’s all going to change….read some noam chomsky….While you are at it read the Pentagon papers to see how America does what it does
Oh, do they have a ‘dossier ‘ to that effect or is it the usual “intelligence “?
How about reading the title this way;
“Iran knows that Washington has sent terrorist operatives into Iraq.” That would be more truthful of the facts.
Seamus cardigan secret agent for Mossad
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