Suleiman was involved in the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, and he claimed that ISIL only constitutes 5–7% of the anti-government forces. He claimed that the majority of fighters are from Iraq's Sunni tribes. Suleiman also claimed that these tribal forces would be able to defeat ISIL, were the Maliki-run Iraqi government to withdraw government forces from north and north-central Iraq. However, Suleiman claimed that tribal forces would not fight ISIL until Maliki was removed from office and Sunnis are given their rights.