US Downplaying Iran’s Role in Mosul Liberation: Analyst

Russia-based political analyst Andrew Korybko says the US is trying to downplay Iran’s key role in recapturing the Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIS terrorists.

In an interview with the Tasnim news agency, the commentator noted that Washington, predictably, seeks to blow its contribution to the Mosul recapture out of all proportion and deliberately play down Iran’s role in that victory.

“The liberation of Mosul is a great victory and achievement in the fight against terrorism, but it shouldn’t be celebrated too much because still much remains to be done in the campaign against terror in order to liberate more areas in Iraq and to establish security in areas already liberated,” the analyst highlighted.

“Moreover, the end of war on terror in Iraq wouldn’t mean a peaceful and prosperous future is guaranteed for the country, especially given the Kurds’ new scenario to hold an independence referendum in Iraq. This could very likely cause civil strife among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds in the country, or could even trigger a regional war similar to that of Arabs against Israel in 1948,” the commentator underscored.

He once again stressed that the US seeks to aggrandize its role in the recapture of Mosul although the US Air Force did play an important role in the liberation of the city.

“Only after the resignation of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki did the US take part in anti-terror operations in Iraq.”

“Only in the past year has the US become somehow serious in fighting terrorism in Iraq, which has been due to marvellous gains by the Syrian army backed by the Russian Air Force,” he said.

The analyst underscored that Iran took part in operations against terrorists only after receiving the go-ahead from Iraqi and Syrian governments.

“By fighting terrorists, Iran seeks to keep this country from turning into the next target for ISIS militants,” he added.

He then made predictions on the future developments in the region following the defeat of ISIS in Mosul.

“ISIS will most probably change its operations from territorial wars to conventional terrorist acts, exactly similar to the ones carried out by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Mali following France’s military intervention in 2013.”

He said many have forgotten or ignored the importance of this African war against terrorism.