ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday was invited to visit Iran, which backs the state-backed Hashd al-Shaabi forces that are fighting alongside Iraqi forces in the Mosul offensive against ISIS.
According to a statement from Abadi’s office, he discussed the Mosul offensive Saturday in a phone call with Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, who extended an official invitation for the Iraqi prime minister to visit Iran.
The statement said the two sides discussed the military advances against ISIS in Mosul by the Iraqi Army, the state-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary force and the Kurdish Peshmerga.
“The Iraqi forces are advancing on all fronts and gaining victories as they fight the group inside Mosul now,” Abadi told Jahangiri, according to the statement.
It said the Iranian vice president “congratulated Abadi” on the triumphs of Iraqi armed forces and expressed his country’s trust in the Iraqi premier to eliminate ISIS from Iraq.
“We believe in your leadership in the sense that you could prevail over the terrorists,” Abadi’s office quoted Jahangiri as saying.
Shiite Iran wields immense influence in Iraq, where it backs the Hashd al-Shaabi reportedly has troops involved in fighting and advisory roles.
According to a statement from Abadi’s office, he discussed the Mosul offensive Saturday in a phone call with Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, who extended an official invitation for the Iraqi prime minister to visit Iran.
The statement said the two sides discussed the military advances against ISIS in Mosul by the Iraqi Army, the state-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary force and the Kurdish Peshmerga.
“The Iraqi forces are advancing on all fronts and gaining victories as they fight the group inside Mosul now,” Abadi told Jahangiri, according to the statement.
It said the Iranian vice president “congratulated Abadi” on the triumphs of Iraqi armed forces and expressed his country’s trust in the Iraqi premier to eliminate ISIS from Iraq.
“We believe in your leadership in the sense that you could prevail over the terrorists,” Abadi’s office quoted Jahangiri as saying.
Shiite Iran wields immense influence in Iraq, where it backs the Hashd al-Shaabi reportedly has troops involved in fighting and advisory roles.
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