UNITED NATIONS— The government of Iraq says it welcomes Russia or any nation’s attacks against the Islamic State in Syria if all operations are in synch with the efforts of the international coalition.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari told Rudaw his country would cooperate with any international body that forms to confront ISIS militants.
“Iraq is open for any country that wants to join the fight against Daesh,” Al-Jaafari said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS, and adding that the group still poses “immense threats” to the security of the country.
Jaafari is in New York with a large Iraqi delegation headed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to address the 70th opening of the UN General Assembly.
“We need international support militarily and financially and this is our message here at the UN,” he said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday their warplanes have carried out 20 missions against ISIS positions inside Syria. But US media, including the New York Times, reported that the Russian airstrikes also targeted US-backed rebels.
NATO said Wednesday there had been little coordination between Russia and US-led forces against the ISIS.
“In this very building last year, the international coalition against Daesh was formed,” Jaafari said.
“Iraq faces great challenges. Therefore, we welcome any help within or outside the [US-led] coalition, but it needs to be in line with the international coalition and not in opposition to it.”
Although most Kurdish areas in Iraq have been recaptured from ISIS, the group still holds large areas in central Iraq, including Mosul city with over 1.5 million population, and Ramadi in Anbar province, some 110 km west of Baghdad.
