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Iraqi leader says terror plot targets West, but U.S. officials express skepticism Iraq’s Abadi warns of plot against West; U.S. officials say they do not know of terror plan
(about 5 hours later)
NEW YORK – Iraq has “credible” intelligence that Islamic State militants plan terrorist attacks on subway systems in the United States and France, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Thursday, but U.S. intelligence and other officials said they are not aware of any such plot.NEW YORK – Iraq has “credible” intelligence that Islamic State militants plan terrorist attacks on subway systems in the United States and France, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Thursday, but U.S. intelligence and other officials said they are not aware of any such plot.
“Today, while I’m here, I’m receiving accurate reports from Baghdad that there was arrests of a few elements, and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks,” Abadi said. “They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the U.S.”“Today, while I’m here, I’m receiving accurate reports from Baghdad that there was arrests of a few elements, and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks,” Abadi said. “They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the U.S.”
Iraqi intelligence agencies informed Abadi on Thursday about what he described as an active plot by foreign fighters, including French and American citizens, he said during an interview on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly. Iraqi intelligence agencies informed Abadi on Thursday about what he described as an active plot by foreigners, including French and American citizens, who are fighting as part of the Islamic State group. Abadi made the remarks during an interview on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly.
Abadi said he had requested further information, and said the intelligence assessment was being shared with U.S. and French officials, Abadi said. He said he did not know whether the planned attacks were imminent. Abadi said he had requested further information. The intelligence assessment was being shared with U.S. and French officials, he said. Abadi said he did not know whether the planned attacks were imminent.
“This is not plotting that we have yet confirmed,” a senior Obama administration official said Thursday. “We want to seek to corroborate their information.” Separately, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss threat assessments, said they do not have information about such a planned attack. Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the United States has “not confirmed any specific threats against the United States” by the Islamic State group. “So we want to review information from the Iraqis and seek to corroborate that.”
National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden added that the White House is aware of Abadi’s claim. “We would certainly take seriously any information they’re learning as they have ISIL operatives detained or as they reclaim territory that ISIL may have controlled,” he said, using one of the acronyms by which the Islamic State is known. “We will follow leads based on the information we’re provided.”
“We have not confirmed such a plot and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making any further determinations,” Hayden said. “We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners. We’re obviously very focused on the issue of foreign fighters.” U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss threat assessments, said they do not have information about plans for such terror attacks.
The senior administration official stressed that Washington continues to assess that the Islamic State is not yet engaged in “specific plotting” against targets in the United States. The official added that a threat arising from foreign fighters cells “tracks with what our concern has been, but again it’s premature to characterize the United States as having a particular confirmation of a specific plot.” President Obama led a U.N. Security Council session Wednesday focused on the particular threat posed by radicalized Americans and others who travel to Iraq or Syria to fight and could easily return to their home countries to carry out attacks. The council approved new rules intended to stop those suspected of traveling to join militants in battle or attempting to return home from conflict zones.
President Obama led a United Nations Security Council session Wednesday focused on the particular threat posed by radicalized Americans or others who travel to Iraq or Syria to fight but could easily return home to carry out attacks. The council approved new rules for nations intended to stop suspects as they travel to join or return from the militants’ fight. Much of the U.S.-led military and diplomatic strategy to counter the militants in Iraq rests on Abadi, who took office just weeks ago. A Shiite, he has pledged to share power and resources with Sunnis and Kurds and strengthen the country’s internal defense forces while sending the Iraqi army to fight the militants.
Much of the U.S.-led military and diplomatic strategy to counter the militants rests on Abadi, who took office just weeks ago. A Shiite, he has pledged to share power and resources with Sunnis and Kurds and strengthen the country’s internal defense forces, while sending the Iraqi army to fight the militants on the ground. Abadi told a small group of reporters Thursday that he is committed to decentralizing power from Baghdad, but he took a hard line against Kurdish demands for what he called an unfair share of national oil revenue. He indicated that he would like to renegotiate an oil agreement with the government of the semiautonomous Kurdish region.
Abadi told a small group of reporters Thursday that he is committed to decentralizing power from Baghdad, but he took a hard line against Kurdish demands for what he called an unfair share of national oil revenue. He indicated he would like to renegotiate an oil agreement with the semiautonomous Kurdish government. Abadi also said that while U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq are crucial to defeating the militants, he will not cede full authority to the United States.
Abadi also said while U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq are crucial to defeating the militants, he will not cede full authority to the United States. “I have raised the issue of the sovereignty of Iraq” in discussion with U.S. and other leaders, Abadi said. “We don’t want to happen in Iraq what happened in Yemen and Pakistan.”
“I have raised the issue of the sovereignty of Iraq,” in discussion with U.S. and other leaders, Abadi said. “We don’t want to happen in Iraq what happened in Yemen and Pakistan.” The United States has long-running drone operations against terrorism targets in both of those countries. The U.S. operations are highly unpopular, especially among Pakistanis, and are seen by many as an infringement of national sovereignty.
The United States has long-running drone operations against terrorism targets in both those countries. The U.S. operations are highly unpopular, especially among Pakistanis, and seen as an infringement of national sovereignty. Targeting of terrorists should be coordinated with Iraq, Abadi said, and the air campaign should be “short and decisive.”
Terror targets should be coordinated with Iraq, Abadi said, and the air campaign should be “short and decisive.”
Greg Miller and Adam Goldman in Washington contributed to this report.Greg Miller and Adam Goldman in Washington contributed to this report.