Iraqi defence minister asks Iraqi sources of emulation for support

Rasa – Iraq’s defence minister has visited several sources of emulation and presented a letter to the representative of Ayatollah al-Sistani in Najaf requesting support for the Iraqi armed forces in their fight against ISIL.

News ID: 2499

Date: 11 May 2015 - 18:13

RNA – Rasa News' Iraq correspondent reported that Khalid al-Ubaydi, the Iraqi defence minister, has traveled to Najaf today to present a letter to the representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top source of emulation, calling for the support of all sources of emulation for the Iraqi armed forces’ fight against ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, al-Ubaydi left for Najaf on Monday morning, along with Adnan al-Zurufi, the governor of Najaf Governorate and a number of officers, where they first made a pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali.

According to the statement, al-Ubaydi delivered the letter to the representative of Ayatollah al-Sistani.

While in Najaf, al-Ubaydi and his delegation also visited the religious authorities, Ayatollyah Bashir al-Najafi, Ayatollah Muhammad-Ishaq al-Fayyadh, and Ayatollah Muhammad-Sa’id al-Hakim.

Hujjat al-Islam Ali al-Najafi, the son of Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi, said that his father has stressed the need to continue the war on terror, and demonstrated the importance of supporting the Popular Mobilization Forces with the Iraqi security forces during their battles against ISIL.

His Eminence also stressed that “even without the support of the security forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces managed to clear land usurped by ISIL.”

For his part, al-Ubaydi said that there are many issues and consequences that affect the progress of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Iraqi security forces in defeating the ISIL terrorists but stated that their campaign is progressing.

He stressed that the importance of the unity of Iraq and rejected the US Congress’ plot to divide Iraq into three parts, stating that “Iraq is one and there no place for terrorism in it.”

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