Syria Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attacks Rocking Iraq, Voices Support for Iraq in Fighting Terrorism

 DAMASCUS, (ST)-Syria has condemned the terrorist attacks which are hitting Iraq and voiced support for and solidarity with the Iraqi government, army and people in their effort to confront the terrorist groups in Iraq.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said “Iraq is being exposed to terrorist acts within the framework of a global conspiracy on the Iraqi and Syrian peoples through a terrorist invasion targeting Iraq’s unity and infrastructure.”

Terrorists linked to al-Qaeda-affiliated organization called the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) attacked the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh and Salah al-Din and seized the Mosul area including its civil and military facilities and they became close to Kirkuk, the ministry added.

It stressed that “Iraq is facing the same foreign-backed terrorism Syria is experiencing”.

Syria urges all countries to commit themselves to the UN Security Council’s resolutions connected with the international cooperation to fighting terrorism, to work hard to dry the sources of terrorism facing both Syria and Iraq and to put an end to financing, arming, training and sheltering terrorists and facilitating their infiltration into the two countries, according to the ministry.

It said “Syria which affirms its determination to combat terrorism and defend the Syrian people, renews its full solidarity with Iraq and its readiness to cooperate with the Iraqi government in the confrontation of terrorism, the common enemy of Syria and Iraq.”

Concluding its statement, the ministry said “Syria calls on the Security Council and the United Nations’ Secretary General to issue clear resolutions condemning these criminal terrorist attacks, to act immediately against the countries sponsoring and supporting these terrorist groups and to pressure them to stop their financial and military support for the terrorists as this support endangers international peace and security in the region and the world.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday placed the country’s army and security services in full combat readiness to confront the terrorist attacks of the ISIL gunmen and urged international organizations to shoulder their responsibilities as regards supporting Iraq in fighting terrorism and called on neighboring countries to cut off terrorists’ supply routes.  

The Iraqi army and police forces immediately started a security operation to control the borders between Kirkuk and Nineveh with the purpose of chasing the terrorists.  

H. Mustafa