Iran aside, Trump warn Iraq of dire consequences if it expels US troops from the country

And so it continues as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate following the attack of Iran's top military official by a US strike last week.



There has been tense exchange of threats between both countries yesterday, Sunday 5th, but it does seem President Donald Trump is making a little shift by warning the Iraqi government of a dire consequence should Iraq expels American troops from the country.

Trump's comments came on Sunday amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following its action against Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds force. Iran has vowed to retaliate and Iraq's parliament responded by voting Sunday to oust U.S. troops based in the country.


Iraq's parliamentary vote is non-binding and has yet to be ratified by the government.

Following last week's incident which sparked outrage in the Middle East, including in Iraq, where more than 5,000 American troops are still on the ground 17 years after the U.S. invasion, the Iraqi parliament voted Sunday, in favour of a nonbinding resolution calling for the expulsion of the American forces.




Trump said the U.S. wouldn't leave without being paid for its military investments in Iraq over the years. He added that if troops do have to withdraw, he would hit Baghdad with economic penalties.

"We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," he said.



"If there's any hostility, that they do anything we think is inappropriate, we are going to put sanctions on Iraq, very big sanctions on Iraq."


He added: "We're not leaving until they pay us back for it."