Iraqi Party Lauds Iranian Major General Soleimani’s Advisory Mission
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spokesman for the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) Sheikh Hamid Maala al-Saedi said Baghdad attaches high importance to the advisory role of Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in the Arab country’s anti-Daesh (ISIL) campaign.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Major General Soleimani plays a significant role in boosting the morale of the Iraqi forces, Sheikh Maala was quoted by the Arabic-language Alsumaria news network as saying.
He further emphasized that the Iranian commander has an advisory presence in Iraq with the approval of the Arab country’s government.
“The Iraqi government believes that General Soleimani’s advisory presence in the country is of great importance,” the cleric noted.
Earlier last week, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari also said Major General Soleimani is helping the Arab country’s forces in the fight against Daesh terrorists at the request of Baghdad.
His comments came after Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir recently accused Iran of military presence in Iraq and of interfering in the internal affairs of other regional countries.
In reaction, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari rejected the allegations, stressing that Iran’s advisory mission in Iraq is underway at the request of Baghdad.
“In order to recognize its own interests, friends and enemies, the Iraqi nation does not need statements by the foreign minister of a country that has been the biggest factor of instability and a sponsor of terrorism in Iraq, the region and the world in the past decade and a half,” Jaberi Ansari said earlier in May.
“The presence of Iran’s military advisors under the command of Major General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq comes at the request of the legitimate government of Iraq for confronting the terrorists and extremists causing instability and insecurity in the Arab country and the region," the spokesman added.
