RNA - Iraqi President Barham Salih extended gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support and stance during the three-year fight against the ISIL terrorist group from 2014 to 2017.
The Iraqi President Barham Salih was speaking in a ceremony attended by Iraqi lawmakers from the biggest bloc in Iraqi parliament called 'Construction Faction' to commemorate the anniversary of victory against the ISIL terrorist group.
During the ceremony, Salih expressed special gratitude to Iran as a neighboring, friendly, and allied country for its support and stance during three-year fight against the ISIL terrorist group from 2014 to 2017.
He expressed his appreciation to Iraqi religious clergies, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and other Iraqi armed forces over the victory over ISIL.
Elsewhere, Salih warned against divisions among Iraqi political factions and urged them to speed up efforts to complete the cabinet of the Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the president urged for cooperation among the executive and legislative branches of the government and called for opening a new chapter in the history of the country and rebuilding the country with the acitve participation of the youth.
Last year in November, Secretary General of Iraq's Badr Organization and Commander of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Hadi al-Ameri lauded Iran for its assistance to his country in the anti-terrorism fight, stressing that Baghdad would have fallen to the ISIL terrorist group had it not been for Iran.
"If the Islamic Republic of Iran had not supported Iraq, Baghdad would have collapsed; they stood on our side as military advisors after coordination with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi," al-Ameri told Iraq's al-Forat TV channel then.
According to Fars News Agency, he added that the Iraqi popular forces have now turned into a complete and integrated security body which enjoys basic elements for victory against enemies.
In relevant remarks in November 2014, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Brigadier General Esmayeel Qa'ani said Baghdad remained untouched by ISIL terrorist group due to Iran's support and assistance.
"The ISIL terrorists sought to surround Baghdad but they failed in reaching their ominous goals thanks to Iran's supports," Qa'ani said in North Khorassan province.
Noting that the ISIL terrorists have been left with no more command center and are searching for new shelters, he said ISIL is becoming weaker and weaker day by day and is being annihilated.
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