By Afshain Afzal

Over the 3rd March rocket attacks that targeted US Ain al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province in western Iraq, where American and coalition troops are housed, White House warned that the US may consider a military response. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby issued a statement that an American contractor died but no other service members were killed or injured. There were no other statements issued but British and Danish troops were also deployed in the Airbase when attack occurred. The latest statement issued by Washington is an indicator that a new round of violence and terrorism is ahead as rule of law.

There were many rockets that hit the Airbase but Pentagon has confirmed just ten of them but according to estimate the loss reported is much more than what is projected. Who bombarded the rocket is quite tricky to answer at this stage as it might be an operation to set aside President Donald Trump’s policy regarding Iraq and Afghanistan and launch new offensives against civilian population in Iraqi ancient cities.

Interestingly, Washington claims that the attacks were the handiwork Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq and that US forces bombed Iran-aligned militia targets along the Iraq-Syria border in response but this is far from the reality. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was quoted to have said that US is planning renewed calculated airstrikes as a new model of US military response strategy. It is not any more secret that Biden administration’s desire to open talks with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal as well as renew US strategy in Asia that focus more attention on India and Iran as strategic partners. Will these future plans be achieved through regime change or what is too early to comment?

The fact cannot be denied that 3^rd March attacks came two days before Christian top religious-leader, Pope Francis was scheduled to visit Iraq. Although Pentagon in its briefing has doubted Shia-backed militia groups but the calculated airstrikes by US fighter aircrafts were on Sunni targets on Iraq-Syria border.

In the latest development, in which Pope Francis met Iranian-origin Ayatollah Ali Sistani at his residence in Iraqi city of Najaf on 6 March. Pope Francis in white robe and Ayatollah Sistani in black robe will avail one to one meeting without advisers to conclude a religious-strategic treaty in the name of interfaith harmony.

Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday as his first visit to the country as part of four-day trip. A deal is expected to be achieved to enforce religious diversity to give Christian access to certain heritage sites and building of new Churches and restoration of old disputed Mosques cum Churches. The visit is important for the Christians as they claim that Iraq is biblical land and they have plans to promote Christian-tourism. 

The visit in the indicator of Vatican strategic approach in pronouncing future Iraqi politics and Iran’s major rule in the future construction of the government. In a leaked consultation, the Western nations strategy against the orthodox Sunnis will be discussed by both the religious leaders which would allow Ayatollah Ali Sistani followers to consolidate their position with assurance of Shite- Christian and other minorities future government. If we recall in 2014, thousands of young volunteers from Iran. Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere fought battle against Muslims dubbed as Islamic State militants who had defeated Western occupation forces and were consolidating positions across Iraq. The western armed and funded battle allowed Iran-backed groups to consolidate their power and establish their influence. In the meantime, antigovernment protests across Iraq demanded restoration of democratic political system free of the corruption and foreign influence. One wonders when United Nations would take action and stop the bloodshed that streets of Iraq would witness in near future. Is it difficult to ban foreign troops from Iraqi and other soils?