Dubai: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi has told the BBC he “totally” opposes Arab nations joining air strikes against Daesh in his country. In an interview, he said Western air power had “filled many gaps” in Iraq’s fight against Daesh. Several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, have joined the international coalition against Daesh. Their aircraft have carried out strikes in Syria, but only those from the US, UK and France have hit targets in Iraq.
Talking to the BBC in Baghdad, Al Abadi said Iraq’s army would defeat Daesh “if we have good air cover” but stressed that no foreign ground troops were needed. “We are very clear we will not accept any troops on ground except Iraqi troops,” he added.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s foreign minister also stressed Wednesday that international assistance in the fight against Daesh should respect the country’s sovereignty.
“We cannot accept that Iraq is becoming a land of conflict but we have to solve this problem in a way that preserves Iraqi sovereignty,” Ebrahim Al Jaafari told a news conference.
When asked about a comment in which the commander of Iran’s ground forces last week vowed to protect his own border “deep into Iraqi territory” if necessary, Jaafari said Iranian support was welcome.
“Iran has provided assistance to Iraq, as have some other countries. This is not a secret and we have to thank them for it,” he said.
Iran has been a close ally of Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government and Jaafari spent a whole decade in exile there when Baghdad was under Saddam Hussain’s rule.
Critics have questioned the legal basis and motives for Iran’s participation in the government’s military efforts against Daesh, who have conquered swathes of Iraq since June.
Iranian troops have been posted on the Iraqi side of the border in the south of Kurdistan while Tehran is also reported to play a key role in training and running some of Iraq’s Shiite militias.
