“Syria-Iraq Military Cooperation to Accelerate Annihilation of ISIL”

Ali Maqsoud, a retired Syrian General, told FNA that bombardment of ISIL’s positions in Syria’s territories by Iraqi fighter jets is testifying start of serious cooperation between the two countries in war on terrorism.

“The Iraqi warplanes pounded ISIL’s positions in Albu Kamal region in Syria’s Deir Ezzur province after Iraqi soldiers and popular forces managed to take control over parts of Mosul and al-Qazlaniyeh neighborhood and could block ISIL’s pathway by taking control of their main passages and position, including Tal Afar,” the General told FNA.

“Simultaneous with the attacks (by Iraqi forces), the Syrian soldiers could advance against ISIL and reach nearby areas of Assad Lake, Maskaneh and al-Khafseh and liberated totally 600sq/km in Northeastern Aleppo, cutting ISIL’s lines of movement in al-Bab, Raqqa and Deir Ezzur with Aleppo,” Maqsoud added.

“These two simultaneous operations of the Iraqi Air Force and Syrian Army in two different flanks show high-level coordination between the two countries in the war on ISIL,” the Syrian General underscored.

In Late February, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the launch of airstrikes against ISIL in Syria.

“We have sent the Iraqi Air Force to carry out strikes on ISIL positions… inside the Syrian territory,” Abadi said, Al Sumariya reported.

Abadi said that airstrikes on ISIL would be conducted in Hosaiba and Albu Kamal. He said that the targets were linked to recent attacks in the Iraqi capital.

“We are determined to chase terrorism that tries to kill our sons and citizens wherever it is found,” he added.

Abadi also said the aerial operation had already been carried out, adding that “the heroes of the sky executed the operation and responded to the terrorists with amazing success.”

Albu Kamal is a city on the Euphrates river in the Deir Ezzur province in Syria, while Hosaiba is located near the border with Iraq.