Iraq denies intention to militarily intervene

Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmad Jamal on Sunday denied Baghdad's intention to militarily intervene in Syria to fight the terror group Islamic State (IS).

In an exclusive interview with the Saudi television channel Al Arabiya, Jamal said that the Iraqi Constitution prohibits it from intervening in the affairs of another country.

Jamal made the remarks after Iraq's Ambassador to Iran Rajih Al-Mousawi was quoted by the Iranian News Agency Tasnim as saying that Iraq does not mind in militarily intervening in Syria to fight IS, adding "Iraq has friends like Iran to help it."

But Iraqi officials immediately denied that Iraq would intervene in Syria, while others accused Iran of twisting the envoy's remarks, Al Arabiya reported.

In response to Mousawi's statements, Iraqi Vice President Osama Nujaifi said that they only represented "his own personal opinion."

Iraq just achieved a milestone in defeating IS with its victory in liberating Mosul from IS earlier the week. IS is still holding some remote parts of Iraq and major Syrian cities, such as Raqqa, its de facto capital in Syria.

source: xinhua