The ambassador in Baghdad said the Islamic Republic is prepared to strengthen cooperation with Iraq in the fight against the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.
In a meeting with secretary-general of Iraq’s Islamic Dawa Party and former prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, in Baghdad on Sunday, Hassan Danaeifar added that Tehran seeks to broaden its amicable relations and cooperation with Baghdad in all spheres, including security issues and the campaign against IS, Press TV reported.
He also congratulated Iraq on the recent liberation of the western city of Al-Khalidiya from the grip of IS.
On August 27, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the full liberation of Khalidiya, which is located about 83 kilometers west of Baghdad, stating that Iraqi forces had dealt a “humiliating” defeat to IS terrorists with the liberation.
Iraqi Lieutenant General Rashid Falaih also announced that over 1,000 IS militants had been killed during the Iraqi Army’s operations to free the strategic town.
During the Sunday meeting, Maliki emphasized that Iraqi security forces, fighters from the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units and Kurdish Peshmerga forces are determined to put an end to IS presence in Mosul and eliminate the terrorists from Iraqi soil.
The Iraqi politician praised the Islamic Republic’s support for his country in the fight against terrorism.
The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence ever since IS terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago.
The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
The Iraqi Army and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have engaged in joint operations to retake militant-held regions.
