Iraqi Popular Forces May Fight Terrorists in Syria If Necessary: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesman for Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, did not rule out the possibility of the forces’ participation in Syria’s anti-terror campaign at the request of the Damascus government.
“If we were to be present (in Syria), it should be at the request of the Syrian government and with the approval of the Iraqi parliament and administration,” Ahmed al-Assadi said in a press conference here in Tehran on Wednesday.
He added that any presence of the Iraqi popular forces in Syria would be after liberation of Iraqi territories and should be within the framework of law.
What is happening in Iraq and what is going on in Syria are interrelated, the spokesman said, adding that every victory against terrorists that occurs in Syria has an impact on the anti-terrorism campaign in Iraq.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Assadi pointed to meetings with high-ranking Iranian officials, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and President Hassan Rouhani, by an Iraqi delegation which he is part of, and said during the talks, the delegation briefed the Iranian officials on the ongoing operation in Iraq’s Mosul against Daesh (ISIS or ISIL).
He went on to say in the meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader stressed the necessity for unity in Iraq and said it can prevent formation of more Takfiri groups in the Arab country.
Iraq has been facing the growing threat of terrorism, mainly posed by the Daesh terrorist group.
Daesh militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the summer of 2014, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.
However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the volunteer forces, who rushed to take arms after top Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for fight against the militants, blunted the edge of Daesh offensive.
Amid tensions in Iraq, Iran is known as the first country to help the Arab country and has always voiced support for Iraq’s solidarity and prosperity.
