Iraq will not retaliate against US travel ban

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said that Iraq will not retaliate against US President Donald Trump's travel ban because it does not want to lose Washington's backing in its battle against Islamic State group. When asked at a news conference yesterday if he would act on the Iraqi Parliament's vote in favour of a reciprocal ban, Mr Abadi said we



will not do anything of the sort. He said the Government is studying possible decision but as the country is in a battle, they don't want to harm the national interest.

The United States provides air and ground support to Iraqi troops fighting the Islamic State. More than 5,000 US troops are currently deployed in Iraq.