Syria condemns cowardly US aggression on Iraq’s Popular Mobilization forces, voices solidarity with the Iraqi people

DAMASCUS, (ST)-  Syria has condemned the American aggression on the Iraqi Hashd al-Sha’abi forces (Popular Mobilization forces), expressing its full solidarity with the Iraqi people and institutions and renewing its call on the United States not to interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs.

An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement to SANA on Monday that the American warplanes launched a bloody attack on the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces which have been defending the sovereignty and independence of Iraq pursuant to the decisions of the Iraqi state and official institutions.

 This brutal and cowardly attack resulted in the martyrdom and wounding of a large number of Iraqi citizens, the source added.

“The Syrian Arab Republic condemns this American aggression and any other aggression against the sovereignty, independence and freedom of Iraq and the Iraqi people,” the source said.

The source concluded by saying that Syria voices full solidarity with and support for the Iraqi people to surpass the difficult circumstances in the country and it extends condolences to the families of the martyrs, wishing the wounded seedy recovery.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the US strikes against several bases of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization forces- commonly known by its Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi- as “unacceptable and counterproductive,” urging all sides to avoid fuelling tensions in the region.

“We consider such actions unacceptable and counterproductive. We call upon all parties to refrain from further actions that could sharply destabilize the military-political situation in Iraq, Syria, and the neighboring countries,” a ministry statement said.

Hamda Mustafa