Baghdad: Lieutenant General Dr. Qais Al-Muhammadawi, Deputy Commander of the Joint Operations, hosted a meeting at the Command headquarters with Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Lanusi, the Italian Joint Operations Commander, the Italian Ambassador to Iraq, and their delegation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Joint Operations Command released a statement highlighting that Al-Muhammadawi congratulated Lanusi on his new position and acknowledged his vital role as the Commander of the NATO Mission in Iraq. The discussions centered on strengthening cooperation and joint coordination between Iraq and Italy, focusing on shared interests.

During the meeting, Al-Muhammadawi elaborated on the key responsibilities of the Joint Operations Command, especially in the fight against terrorism and the pursuit of remaining threats. He asserted that Iraqi security forces have gained substantial expertise in addressing challenges and devising immediate solutions. Furthermore, he emphasized that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is actively overseeing all security and intelligence operations conducted by the Iraqi forces.

Al-Muhammadawi expressed gratitude for Italy’s support during Iraq’s battle against terrorist groups and acknowledged the collaboration in training, capacity building, and capability development.

In response, the Italian Joint Operations Commander commended the significant advancements in the performance of Iraqi security forces and reiterated Italy’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in the security sector.