Iran extols Maliki for efforts to bolster unity in Iraq

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Friday that over the past eight years, Maliki made all efforts to establish a united, secure, developed and free Iraq and he is now an asset in new Iraq.

Maliki stepped down on Thursday to make way for Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi, saying his decision to give up the position to Abadi shows his desire to “safeguard the high interests of the country.”

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran strongly supports Iraq’s new government in its fight against terrorism.

He also gave a positive assessment of Maliki’s contribution to the development of strategic relations between Tehran and Baghdad during his tenure.

Iraq has been fighting ISIL Takfiri terrorists since they took control of the city of Mosul on June 10. Tribal fighters have joined the Iraqi army in the battle against the terrorists.

The ISIL Takfiri terrorists have been committing heinous crimes in the captured areas across Iraq, including the mass execution of civilians and security forces.

The United Nations refugee agency said on Thursday that tens of thousands of Izadi Kurds in Iraq have fled the ISIL-fueled violence in their homeland and sought refuge in northern Syria.

Thousands of Izadi Kurds have reportedly been killed or displaced since the ISIL terrorists attacked the mountainous Sinjar region in northern Iraq in early August.