Rouhani, Maliki stress eradication of terrorism in Iraq

Tehran and Baghdad have called for effective measures to root out terrorism in Iraq in the wake of terrorist attacks by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Arab country.

In a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed the need to combat terrorism and violence, condemning the heinous crimes, such as the slaughter of innocent people, committed in Iraq.

The president further praised unity among the Iraqi people in the fight against terrorism and violence.

The Iranian nation and government support Iraq’s people and government, said Rouhani, noting that Tehran spares no effort on both regional and international levels to confront terrorism, and it will not allow sponsors of terrorists to undermine the security and stability of Iraq through exporting terrorism to the country.

Maliki, for his part, thanked Iran for its backing, and fully briefed the Iranian president on the ongoing developments in northern Iraq, and the achievements of the Iraqi government and army in subduing terrorists.

He hailed the support and assistance being provided by the Iraqi people and tribal groups against terrorism, expressing hope Iraq would soon be purged of terrorists.

On June 10, Iraq’s northern Nineveh Province fell into the hands of ISIL militants. The Takfiri attacks have reportedly forced more than half a million people in and around Nineveh’s provincial capital, Mosul, to flee their homes.

The ISIL terrorists also managed to take control of two areas in Diyala Province on Thursday.

ISIL spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, has called on the militants to march on toward Baghdad and Karbala.

Takfiri groups are reportedly entering Iraq from neighboring Syria and Saudi Arabia to undermine security in the country.