An American military official told CNN that the Iraqi government is likely to move forward with a plan to purchase 18 American F-16 Fighter Jets. Washington continues to worry about the development of Iran's power in the region, while it prepares to withdraw its forces from Iraq by the end of the year. Admiral Barry Johnson, the spokesman for the American forces in Iraq, said it seems the Iraqi government is moving towards completing the deal, worth $3 billion dollars.
Johnson clarified that Iraq announced its intention to review the situation during the last few months. Iraq and the United States had come to an unofficial agreement concerning the deal a few months ago, but hadn't reached an official deal, according to the American military spokesman. Johnson added that the Jet Fighters will be used to protect Iraqi airspace and is expected to be loaded with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
The final bill may reach $4 billion dollars after adding the cost of weapons, spare parts, and maintenance.
A spokesman for the American Army in Iraq mentioned that the deal will be paid for by Iraqi petroleum revenues. Another American official said the United States will impose restrictions on transferring technology to prevent it from falling into "unauthorized hands."
The Iraqi air-weapon arsenal contains military helicopters and small reconnaissance planes. Leon Panetta, the American Secretary of Defense, paid a visit to Iraq on Monday in which he stressed that the Iraqi government must crack-down on wide-spread factions armed with Iranian weapons.
American officials have evidence that Shia militias in Iraq use Iranian weapons to attack American Forces. The American Administration will start pulling its forces out of Iraq by the end of 2011, according to the signed security agreement between Baghdad and Washington. But both sides are studying the possibility of keeping some forces for an additional period. The United States has in Iraq today more than 46,000 troops, during the height of its military operations in Iraq, in 2007 ,there were over 170,000 forces.
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