Shammari named Saudi Arabia’s charge d'affaires to Iraq

Abdulaziz al-Shammari has reportedly been appointed as Saudi Arabia’s chargé d'affaires in Iraq after Baghdad asked Riyadh to replace its ambassador Thamer al-Sabhan for his repeated interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.

In a post published on his Twitter account on Friday, Sabhan wished Shammari success in his new post as the charge d'affaires at the Saudi embassy in Baghdad, the Riyadh-based and pro-government Saudi daily Al Riyadh reported on Friday.

Ahmed Jamal, the spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, announced on August 28 that senior Iraqi officials had requested Saudi Arabia to find a replacement for 49-year-old Sabhan.

The Saudi ambassador to Baghdad had on occasions received warnings from Iraqi officials for his interference in the country’s domestic affairs.

In June, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi strongly urged Sabhan to remain committed to his diplomatic duties and avoid meddlesome remarks and actions.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has dismissed the Saudi foreign minister’s call for the exclusion of pro-government Popular Mobilization Units from the impending operation to retake Mosul from Daesh Takfiri terrorists as “worthless,” stressing that Baghdad does not care about voices coming from the terrorist sympathizers.

Jamal told Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network on Friday that the volunteer forces are the source of pride for the whole Iraqi nation, offer a beacon of hope to those threatened by terrorism, and have substantially contributed to the victories of the Iraqi government and people against Daesh and its sponsors.

Jamal further noted that Iraqi officials pay no attention to the angry outbursts of those sympathizing with Daesh and such comments expose the nature of those fanning the flames of tribal rifts and bitter feuds.

Also on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ankara is determined to play a role in the planned operation to recapture the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from Daesh Takfiris irrespective of Baghdad’s repeated protests.

“We are determined to join the coalition forces in Iraq to ensure Iraq's unity and solidarity. If the coalition forces do not want Turkey, we will implement plan B. If that doesn't work, we will implement plan C,” Erdogan said during a speech in the Anatolian city of Konya. 

He, however, did not provide any details on what the alternative plans would entail.

SS