{"id":44097,"date":"2019-09-29T15:57:22","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T15:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/29\/iraqs-removal-of-counterterrorism-chief-sparks-controversy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:06:12","slug":"iraqs-removal-of-counterterrorism-chief-sparks-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/09\/29\/iraqs-removal-of-counterterrorism-chief-sparks-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Iraq\u2019s removal of counterterrorism chief sparks controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BEIRUT \u2014 The Iraqi prime minister\u2019s removal of a top military commander from his post triggered heated political protests and uncertainty over the weekend, at a time of soaring tensions between the country\u2019s chief security partners in the region, Iran and the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi removed Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi from his post as the commander of the country\u2019s elite counterterrorism forces and transferred him to the Defense Ministry on Friday, without providing an explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision sparked speculation that some among Iraq\u2019s Iran-backed politicians were uneasy with the commander\u2019s growing popularity among Iraqis. The Arab state finds itself increasingly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/05\/19\/once-again-iraq-caught-up-in-tensions-between-us-and-iran\/\" target=_blank>caught in the middle between the U.S. and Iran<\/a>, as the two countries lead rival blocs vying for influence in a tumultuous region.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2019\/05\/15\/allies-hunker-down-in-iraq-drop-out-over-us-tensions-with-iran\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5245644.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Allies hunker down in Iraq, drop out over US tensions with Iran<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">U.S. allies involved in operations in the Middle East appear uninterested in the increasingly bellicose rhetoric from the White House and Pentagon regarding Iran.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 56-year-old general, who in recent years led the fight against the Islamic State group working alongside the U.S.-led coalition, said he did not know the reason for the proposed transfer and would prefer to retire rather than be moved to the defense ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is no job for me at the Defense Ministry &#8230; I prefer to retire,\u201d al-Saadi said by telephone from Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272260350328.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi\" class=\"wp-image-89028\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272260350328.jpg.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272260350328.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272260350328.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272260350328.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this Jan. 16, 2017, file photo, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, second from right, leads his soldiers on the battlefield during fighting against Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq. (Khalid Mohammed\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Al-Saadi told The Associated Press that Abdul-Mahdi informed him in a phone call that he had signed an order to move him to the Defense Ministry. Officials have not provided an explanation for the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">News of al-Saadi\u2019s decommissioning led most news channels in Iraq over the weekend, and triggered a supportive hashtag from Iraqi fans. Many were angered by what they see as the sidelining of a prominent figure credited with successfully leading several major battles against the Islamic State group, including the nine-month battle to recapture the city of Mosul after which the group was declared defeated in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/07\/02\/iraq-moves-to-limit-influence-of-iran-backed-militias\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19182728714124.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Iraq moves to limit influence of Iran-backed militias<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Iraq\u2019s government moved Monday night to control powerful Iran-backed militias in the country, placing them under the full command of the Iraqi armed forces.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Al-Saadi is known to be on good terms with the Americans who have been training and arming the counterterrorism force he commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few hundred Iraqis protested in a district of Baghdad Sunday, with one supporter saying he saw \u201cforeign hands\u201d behind the decision \u2014 a reference to Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272262260864.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi protest\" class=\"wp-image-89029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272262260864.jpg.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272262260864.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272262260864.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19272262260864.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, photo, Iraqi protesters chant slogans during a demonstration to support Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi in Baghdad, Iraq. (Hadi Mizban\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said the way al-Saadi has been sidelined \u201craises more than one question mark\u201d and said the winners will be \u201cthe terrorists and Daesh outlaw,\u201d a reference to remnants of the Islamic State group. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi tweeted: \u201cIs this how the state rewards its fighters who defended the homeland?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Al-Saadi, an officer since the days of late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, later was trained by the Americans. The elite counterterrorism force he commands was also armed, trained and equipped by the U.S.-led coalition. He was wounded four times in battles against ISIS militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iraq\u2019s prime minister has also recently moved to disarm the country\u2019s many Iranian-backed militias, seeking to bring them under the control of the national army.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Iraqi prime minister\u2019s removal of a top military commander from his post triggered heated political protests and uncertainty over the weekend, at a time of soaring tensions between the country\u2019s chief security partners in the region, Iran and the United States.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":89027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,8,23,93,12,25,67],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1209],"class_list":["post-44097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"MLSAKZVQGNG5HOJMZML37UEBKI","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2019\/09\/29\/iraqs-removal-of-counterterrorism-chief-sparks-controversy\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Iraq\u2019s removal of counterterrorism chief sparks controversy - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Iraqi prime minister\u2019s removal of a top military commander from his post triggered heated political protests and uncertainty over the weekend, at a time of soaring tensions between the country\u2019s chief security partners in the region, Iran and the United States.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Iraq\u2019s removal of counterterrorism chief sparks controversy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Iraqi prime 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