The United States has sought to defuse what could be the first battle
between Iran and Iraq since the end of the 1980-1988 war. U.S. commanders
said Iranian troops left the No. 4 well on Dec. 19.
"I continue to worry about the influence of Iran," Adm. Michael Mullen,
chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.
Al Dabbagh said the Iranian seizure pointed to the need for a defined
border with Iraq based on a 1975 agreement, Middle East Newsline reported. He said Baghdad and Teheran
have been discussing the Iranian incursion in Maysan.
"This is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty," Iraqi government spokesman
Ali Al Dabbagh said.
On Dec. 18, Iraq's National Security Council discussed the Iranian
incursion. The council demanded that Iran remove its flag and soldiers from
the well. Hours later Iraqi troops were sent to the area.
"Iraq demands immediate withdrawal from well No. 4 and the Fakah oil
field, which belongs to Iraq," Al Dabbagh said. "Iraq is looking for a
peaceful and diplomatic settlement to this issue."
On Dec. 19, Iraqi soldiers and security forces were amassing about a
kilometer from oil well No. 4. Officials said a small Iranian force was
still around the well, located in the southern Iraqi province of Maysan.
Later, the Iraqi military reported that it recaptured the well. The
military did not report any confrontation with the Iranians.
"An Iranian force entered this well and stayed for a few hours," Iraq
Army Gen. Habib Husseini said. "It was a provocative operation by the
Iranian forces."
Iraq's parliament has urged the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al
Maliki to ensure the Iranian withdrawal from Al Fakah. The deputies,
however, urged Al Maliki to resolve the stand-off through diplomacy.
"Everyone knows that Iraq has a lot of outstanding issues with Iran,"
Iraqi parliamentary speaker Iyad Al Samarai said. "These issues are not
resolved by force, rather through dialogue and understanding."
