Iraqi lawmakers seek ban on Americans

The vote is not binding on the Iraqi government, but it could strain relations between Baghdad and Washington amid the military operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group.

The vote was described as “a recommendation,” by deputy speaker of parliament, Sheikh Humam Hamoudi, and called for the U.S. Congress to “pressure the American administration to reconsider that decision regarding Iraq.”

“It is a surprise that Iraq is covered with this order because it is not among the countries that export terrorists or Takfiri ideology,” the statement added, using an Arabic term that refers to Sunni extremists.

The Pentagon is compiling a list of Iraqis who have supported U.S. and coalition personnel to help exempt them from Trump’s ban, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.

Trump’s ban and the Iraqi parliament decision came as Iraqi forces are more than three months into the fight to dislodge Islamic State militants from Mosul.

The Iraq bill calls for a reciprocal measure “in the event the American side will not retreat from that order to maintain the state prestige and the dignity of the Iraqi people.”