Iran to Stick by Iraq to End Terrorism

The Foreign Ministry condemned the suicide attack in Iraq's holy city of Samarra that killed several Iranian pilgrims on Sunday and vowed that Iran will stick by its war-ravaged neighbor to ensure the full eradication of terrorism.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by the Iraqi government and nation to help completely defeat and eliminate terrorism," the ministry's spokesperson, Bahram Qasemi, was quoted as saying by IRNA hours after the incident. Pilgrimage official, Mohammad Javad Daneshyar, said the Iranians were getting off a bus when an ambulance carrying the suicide bomber approached them and blew up.

Qasemi reminded the international community that it is their responsibility to help curb the spread of terrorist and extremist groups.

Thousands of Iranians have begun to arrive in Iraqi cities to visit Shia holy sites ahead of the mourning day of Arbaeen on November 20.

Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period following Ashura, in which religious ceremonies are held to commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grandson, Imam Hossein (PBUH), and his companions in 680.

Iranian military officers advise the Shia forces known as Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Forces, in the Iraqi war aimed at driving out the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.

The group has occupied parts of the Arab country and its neighboring Syria since 2014.

IS fighters are enemies of all countries on earth, hence many regional powers across the Middle East have claimed stakes in the fight against them.