Iraq’s charge d’affaires in Damascus says Turkish-Saudi interests behind instability in Syria and Iraq
Iraq’s charge d’affaires in Damascus Mr. Riad Hasson al-Ta’ee has said that the Iraqi army will deliver a knockdown blow to the ISIS terrorists, stressing that the end of the ISIS organization’s existence in Mosul city will weaken its existence in any area being held by it.
He told the Damascus-based al-Watan newspaper that the joint Turkish-Saudi interests are behind the instability in Syria and Iraq.
“The Turkish President Racep Tayyip Erdogan has the same greed in Syria and Iraq. He wants to restore the glory of the Ottoman Empire,” the Iraqi diplomat said.
He criticized the remarks made by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jobir last Thursday on the popular mobilization units, which he described as ‘sectarian militias led by Iran’.
“Al-Jobir’s remarks are nonsense,” Mr. al-Ta’ee said.
He stressed that the existence of the Turkish forces in Iraq territories without Baghdad’s approval will complicate the operation of liberating Mosul from the ISIS terrorists, calling on Erdogan to withdraw his forces.
“The Iraqi people’s strong preparations can confront any force on the ground,” the diplomat added, pointing out that the recent international development postponed the synchronization between liberation of Mosul in Iraq and liberation of Raqqa in Syria.
“Some international parties have no intention to drive ISIS out of Raqqa in the meantime,” Mr. al-Ta’ee asserted.
On Monday, the Iraqi army started the “mother of battles’ to liberate the city of Mosul.
Syria welcomed the Iraqi government’s announcement of the start of the operation to liberate Mosul, describing the decision as a ‘turning point’ in the war against terrorism.
Basma Qaddour