IRGC, Iraqi Commanders Stress Anti-ISIL Cooperation, Warn of Consequences of Kurdistan Referendum

Rasa - Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh and Iraqi Air Force Commander General Anwar Amin underlined the need for the expansion of anti-ISIL cooperation, warning of the dire consequences of the referendum in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

News ID: 432559

Date: 20 September 2017 - 19:09

RNA - "The IRGC Aerospace Force has stood beside the Iraqi Air Force to fight against the terrorists since the early days after the ISIL attacks with its advisory aid and technical and training support and this trend continued until today that Takfiri terrorism is taking its last breaths in Iraq," General Hajizadeh said after the meeting in Tehran on Wednesday.

He also said that during his meeting with General Amin, they have discussed the latest issues related to the situation in the Iraqi Kurdistan region and the negative consequences of holding a referendum for independence in the region as well as the concerns during the post-ISIL era.

General Hajizadeh said that the US equipment of the ISIL with weapons and its flagrant and hidden supports for the terrorist group complicated confrontation against the ISIL.

General Ami, for his part, referred to the Iraqi Kurdistan region's bid for an independence referendum, and said, "Different ethnic Kurdish and Arab groups with different tastes have been living beside each other in Iraq for years and today, integrity of Iraq should be maintained through unity."

In relevant remarks on Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned that the Iraqi Kurdistan region's bid to arrange an independence referendum will pose risks to the security situation in Iraq.

"The new source of concern is holding a referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan Region which can lead to new and very serious tensions and conflicts," President Rouhani said in a meeting with Austrian President Alexander Van de Bellen in New York.

The Iranian president also pointed to the regional issues such as the fight against terrorism, and said, "Iran responded positively to the requests of the Iraqi and Syrian governments and will stay with them in confronting terrorism until achieving final victory."

President Rouhani also warned against changing geographical borders of regional states, and said, "It is a dangerous act."

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